USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 48
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WILLIAM H. McCARTNEY.
William H. McCartney, one of the leading merchants of Lake Odessa. this county, vice-president of the Lake Odessa State Savings Bank and one of the directors of the Lake Odessa Milk Condensing Company, former president of the council of that thriving village and in numerous ways actively identified with the material interests of the town, is a native of Ohio, having been born on a farm in Seneca county, that state, September 19, 1863, son of Charles and Julia ( King) McCartney, natives of that same county and both of Scotch-Irish descent, their respective families having been residents of this country for several generations. Charles McCartney, in his earlier life, was a druggist, but later engaged in farming and was thus engaged until his death. He and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest and the only one now living in Ionia county.
As a boy, William H. McCartney was reared to the life of the farm. He received his elementary education in the rural school in the neighborhood of his home and spent one year in the high school at Geneva, New York. In the fall of the year in which he attained his majority he went West and in the town of Gordon Grove, lowa, was engaged for four years as a clerk in a general store. He then returned to his old home and engaged
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in the hardware business in partnership with his brother and was thus engaged for eight months, at the end of which time they sold out and came to Michigan, settling at Lake Odessa, in this county, at that time a prom- ising village, which, though it had been established but two years, had a population then of more than seven hundred. There the brothers opened a store with a small stock of general merchandise and throve from the very start, gradually growing with the town until they had a very profitable business. In February, 1904. William H. McCartney bought his brother's interest in the business and has since been operating the store alone. long having been regarded as one of the leading merchants of Lake Odessa .. Mr. McCartney's business ventures are not confined solely to his store and he is interested in several extensive local enterprises. He is one of the prin- cipal stockholders of the Lake Odessa State Savings Bank, of which he is the vice-president, and is likewise a stockholder in, and a director of, the Lake Odessa Milk Condensing Company, of which he was one of the organ- izers. Ile is a Republican and has served as president of the council and as a member of the school board.
On November 26, 1891, William M. McCartney was united in marriage at Lake Odessa, this county, to May E. Cornell, who was born in the city of lonia, daughter of Alanson and Alice ( Rickey) Cornell, the former a native of this county and the latter of Oberlin, Ohio. Alanson Cornell's father was one of the early settlers of this county and owned the land where the brick factory at Ionia is now situated. Alanson Cornell, who was born on December 29. 1830, was united in marriage, at Carlisle, Ohio, Octo- ber 23. 1867. to Alice M. Rickey, who was born on November 5. 1843. daughter of Oren S. and Marcia (Webster) Rickey, and died on August 25. 1872. On October 15, 1873, his widow married Eugene T. Colwell and to that union was born one child, a son. Raymond A. Colwell, born at Detroit, February 26. 1877. The Cornells were among the foremost settlers of lonia county. This family is a branch of the Colwell family and with the latter claims direct descent from Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. Mrs. McCartney's ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were numbered among the earliest settlers of the New England states. Gov- ernor John Webster was in Hartford, Connecticut, as early as 1636. having arrived there from Norfolk county, England. In Hartford he was a magis- trate from 1639 to 1655: in 1656 was made governor and in 1642 was a member of the committee that framed the code of criminal laws for the colony. Lucretia Webster, sixth in descent from Governor John Webster. married Elisha Mason in 1785. Elisha Mason served three years in the
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patriot army during the Revolutionary War. Lucretia Mason, daughter of Elisha and Lucretia ( Webster ) Mason, born at Litchfield, Connecticut, November 1, 1790, married, in 1810, Guy Webster, afterward a lieutenant in the army of the United States during the War of 1812. Marcia Web- ster, daughter of that union, born at Hanover, New York, September 15. 1819, married, at Carlisle, Ohio, December 14, 1837, Oren S. Rickey, grand- son of John Rickey, who served as aide to General Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga, and Alice M. Rickey, daughter of that union, who married Alanson Cornell, as set out above, was the mother of May E. Cornell, born on November 18, 1870, who married William M. McCartney.
To Mr. and Mrs. McCartney four children have been born, William C., born on May 26, 1892, a clerk in the Lake Odessa State Savings Bank, who married Verda Figg and has two children, Hale and Frances; Alice, born on May 29, 1893, who is a student in the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing; Grace, born May 26, 1895, who is a stenographer in the State Savings Bank at Lake Odessa, and Arthur, born on May 4, 1898, who is a student in the Lake Odessa high school. The McCartneys are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a general interest in the benefi- cences of that church, as well as in all local good works, and are held in high regard throughout that entire community.
GEORGE ROBBINS.
George Robbins, a well-known carpenter and building contractor of Clarksville, this county, and a well-to-do retired farmer of Campbell town- ship, is a native son of Michigan and has lived in this state all his life. He was born in Kent county, this state, August 16, 1853, son of George and Elizabeth (Crawford) Robbins, pioneers of this section, the former of whom, an honored veteran of the Civil War, died from the effects of illness contracted in the army in 1863, and the latter of whom spent her last days in lonia county.
George Robbins was born in Yorkshire, England, and when he was eighteen years of age he came to the United States. He settled in Oneida county, New York, where he engaged in farming and where he married Elizabeth Crawford, who was born in that county. About the year 1840 he and his wife came to Michigan, settling in the neighboring county of Mont- calm at the point where the thriving city of Greenville is now situated, Mr.
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Robbins digging the first cellar in that town. Later they moved to Kent county where they established their home on a farm and where their children were reared. When the Civil War broke out George Robbins responded to the call, and in August, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company E, First Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, for the preservation of the unity of his adopted county, and served until a severe illness overtook him in the spring of 1862. He received his honorable discharge on a physician's cer- titicate of disability and returned home, but was unable to recuperate, and his death occurred shortly after his return home. In August of the same year his eldest son, John, who then lacked four days of being fifteen years old, enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry and served with that command until the close of the war. John Robbins was captured by the enemy during a hot engagement and for four months and ten days was confined in Libby prison. To George Robbins and wife five children had been born, Hannah, John, Emma. George and Frederick, of whom the two latter are now the only survivors. Frederick Robbins also being a resident of lonia county.
After the death of her soldier husband Mrs. Robbins kept the children together, and when George Robbins established his home in this country she made her home with him until her death in 1890. George Robbins was reared on the home farm in Kent county and received his schooling in the neighboring district school. Early in 1877 he married and continued to follow farming as a vocation. In 1882 he bought a farm of eighty acres in section 24 of Campbell township, this county, and there made his home until 1907, in which year he retired from the farm and moved to Clarksville where he ever since has been quite successfully engaged as a carpenter and building contractor. Previous to leaving the farm Mr. Robbins had been more or less engaged in carpentering and was well known as a builder throughout the southern part of the county. He continues to retain posses- sion of his farm, which is well improved and profitably operated. Mr. Robbins is a Republican and for years has given his earnest attention to local political affairs. He has served the public in the capacity of high- way commissioner and in certain minor township offices.
On January 28, 1877, George Robbins was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Deifenbacher, who was born in Bridgeport. Ontaria, May 2, 1855, daughter of Jacob and Christina ( King ) Deifenbacher, both natives of Ger- many, whose respective families had emigrated to Canada and who were married after coming across the water. In 1863 Jacob Deifenbacher and his family came from Canada to this state and settled in lonia county. After living on a farm in Keene township for some time they moved to
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Kent county where they bought another farm and there Jacob Deifenbacher and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.
To George and Elizabeth ( Deifenbacher ) Robbins three children have been born, as follow: Ralph F., born on November 18. 1880, who married Mary Bassler who was born in Tennessee, and has two children, Willis and Eustace T .: Laura, June 26, 1883. who married George Bartell and has two children, Bernice and Owen, and Anna, August 15, 1893, who after graduating from the Clarksville high school took a course in the State Nor- mal School at Ypsilanti and is now a member of the teaching force of the Jonia public schools, being employed there under a life certificate. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are members of the United Brethren church and take an earnest interest in all local good works.
MAURICE A. REED.
The records of men of industry and successful affairs in general would indicate that sound judgment, persistency and honorable ideals always win the goal sought. Maurice A. Reed, of the Citizens' Light Company of Belding, Michigan, was born on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, August 8, 1860, the place now being overspread by the city of Chicago. He is a son of Henry and Nancy (Totman) Reed, both natives of Jefferson county, New York. Henry Reed, the grandfather was a Methodist minister, who went from Connecticut to the state of New York, where he bought a farm; also preached in Bristol Center, Ontario county, that state, and there he spent the rest of his life. Ward Totman, the maternal grandfather, was born in the state of New York, in 1803. His mother was born in Scotland and his father died when Ward Totman was nineteen years old. When the latter was nineteen years old he was captain of an Erie Canal boat, which line of endeavor he followed some time. then settled on a farm in Ontario county, New York. He became a deacon in the church of which Abner Reed was pastor. He lived awhile in Jefferson county, New York. He became a deacon in the church of which Abner Reed was pastor. He lived awhile in Jefferson county, New York, where his daughter, Nancy. the mother of M. A. Reed, was born, and there she met and married Henry Reed, about 1853. They came immediately to Cook county, Illinois, where they worked for a farmer named Gooding for two years. Henry Reed had been West before and had pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of
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land in that locality, and he moved there about 1855, on which he lived until 1864 when he sold out and went back to New York state, locating in Ontario county, but a year later removed with his family to Will county, Illinois, where he rented land one year then bought one hundred and forty acres on which he settled and spent the rest of his life. On that farm was made the first steel plow, which was put on the market by John Lane, who purchased the place. The death of Henry Reed occurred in 1903. but his widow is still living on the old homestead. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church to which he also belonged. Five children were born to these parents, namely : Maurice A., the subject of this review; Edna L. is the wife of Fulton B. Ormsby, an old school teacher in Englewood schools, Watertown. New York, now living at Pierpont, Manor, that state: Wallace L. is president of the Lake Transportation Company at Conestoga, On- tario county, New York: Frank L. lives in Will county. Illinois; Henry B. lives on the old home place with his mother, in Will county, Illinois.
Maurice .A. Reed lived on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, working during the summer months and attending the district schools in winter, then he was sick for three years, returning to high school when nineteen years of age for two years, after which he took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College. In 1882 he became assistant book- keeper for the firm of Wilson, Luther & Wilson, in Lake county, Michigan, at a town called Luther, remaining with the firm until it failed in 1800. after which he worked for their successors, Tucker. Hoops & Company. until 1893 in which year he came to Belding, Michigan, as cashier of the Peoples' Savings Bank, which position he held until 1910. In 1900 he had organized the Citizens' Light Company, of which he became cashier but retained this position in the bank for ten years, and since 19to he has given his attention exclusively to the light company, of which he is now manager. secretary and treasurer, in fact, has been the prime motive force of the same all the while and has made it a pronounced success.
Mr. Reed was married on October 1. 1884, to Carrie L. Gregg, a daugh- ter of William and Ellen ( Severence ) Gregg.
Politically, Mr. Reed is a Republican. He is a member of Bekling Lodge No. 355. Free and Accepted Masons, also the Dewitt Clinton Con- sistory and Belding Lodge No. 8. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Lodge No. 543. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Ionia. He is a member of the Belding board of commerce. While living in Lake county. Michigan, he was township clerk for a period of six years.
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ALEXANDER MINTY.
Alexander Minty, superintendent of the famous "Woodcote Stock Farm," a splendid place of five hundred acres lying at the north edge of Ionia, this county, where Dwight Cutler, the owner, has brought to a high degree of perfection the several breeds of live stock to which he has given his close attention during the years he has been thus engaged, is a native of Scotland, having been born at Hill Head, in Aberdeenshire. December 6, 1868, son of John and Jane ( Laing) Minty, farming people, the parents of eleven children and who spent their last days in Scotland.
When he was eighteen years old Alexander Minty came to America and located at Groose Isle, near Detroit, where for four years he was employed in the establishment of Savage & Farnham, importers of Percheron horses. lle then returned to Scotland and for three years gave his assistance to his father on the farm, after which he returned to the United States and took employment with the Cutler & Savage Lumber Company at Grand Haven, this state, where for ten years he was employed in the office of that company. In 1900 when Dwight Cutler took over the "Haddington Stock Farm" on the outskirts of lonia, this county, Mr. Minty was installed in "the big house" as the superintendent and there he ever since had made him home, during this time having come to be recognized as one of the most expert and successful breeders of pure-bred Percheron horses and Aberdeen-AAngus cattle in the country, his stables being the only ones in the state that exhibit at the international live stock exhibitions at Chicago. When the Cutlers became the owners of the big stock farm the name of the same was changed to "Woodcote," and as such, under the competent and skillful superinten- deney of Mr. Minty, has become famous over the country. "Woodeore Stock Farm" is most admirably equipped for stock raising purposes, its modern buildings and stables all being up to date and designed with special reference to the best results and is a model of its kind.
Alexander Minty has been very successful in his scientific efforts to improve the strain of the breeds under his direction, and since 1907 has held the grand championship at the Chicago international live stock exhibits for both males and females in the Aberdeen-Angus classes. In fon, with "Erica of Woodcote the Second," he won the junior championship, at which time he refused two thousand dollars for the prize-winner. In 1910 he bought the bull "Egerton W.," which proved very successful and which was resold in 1913 to the Amos Plantation Company of Memphis, Tennessee,
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which showed him in 1914 at Memphis and he was placed as grand champion in a very strong class at the age of ten years. Recently there has been placed at "Woodcote" five fine fillies and a fine stallion to supplement the Percheron stables there, which already possessed "Grand Marshal." junior champion at all the Eastern fairs, and "Miss Modiste," grand champion mare in the hackney classes. Mr. Minty gives his closest attention to the superintendency of the fine breeding plant under his charge and has justly earned a high reputation in that line.
In August, 1896, while living in Grand Haven, Alexander Minty was united in marriage to Mary Donnelly, who was born in that city, daughter of Timothy and Ellen ( McMann) Donnelly, who came to this county from Ireland and settled in Grand Haven, where they died when their daughter. Mary, was a little girl. the latter thereafter making her home with the family of George Hancock, the well-known florist of Grand Haven, until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Minty three daughters have been born, Frances, Mary and Catherine. Mrs. Minty and her eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Minty is a Knight Templar. Mason and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the affairs of both of which orders he takes a warm interest.
MARJORY M. ORR, M. D.
Dr. Marjory M. Orr, of Belding, one of the best-known and most snc- cessful physicians and surgeons in Ionia county, is a native of lowa, having been born at Albia, that state, on January 20, 1874, daughter of Adam and Anna (Schooley) Orr. Orphaned at an early age by the death of her par- ents, her youth was spent at Hastings, Nebraska, and she was graduated from the high school in that city, after which she became a stenographer in a newspaper office and while thus engaged gave her attention seriously to the study of medicine. Later she entered the office of her uncle, Dr. E. W. Schooley, at Toledo, Ohio, and under his able direction prepared herself to enter medical college. She then matriculated at the Grand Rapids Medical College and after the full four-years course in that excellent institution was graduated in 1902, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Thus admirably equipped for the practice of her noble profession, Doc- tor Orr came to this county and opened an office at Belding, where she ever since has been located and where she has met with much success in the prac-
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tice of her exacting profession. Doctor Orr is a member of the Congrega- tional church, of the order of the Ladies of the Maccabees, of the order of the Royal Neighbors and of the Daughters of Rebekah, in the affairs of all of which organizations she takes a warm interest.
SILAS H. PILKINTON.
Silas H. Pilkinton, president of the village of Portland, Ionia county. Michigan, since March of 1915, was born in Portland township, this county, on a farm on November 22, 1847. He is a son of Stephen and Henrietta ( Bradley ) Pilkinton, the former a native of Dublin, Ireland. Stephen came from a well educated and refined family, and during his boyhood days in Dublin was given a good education. He was a good student and made the most of his opportunities. After his school days were over he was bound out to a tradesman but did not long remain with him, coming to America when twenty-one years of age. Ile located for a time in New York state, went from there to Canada and finally located in Oakland county, Ohio. where he followed farming. While still a young man he came to Ionia county and in Sebawa township bought a farm of eighty acres, being among the earlier settlers there. He remained here a year when he returned to Oakland county, Ohio, and was united in marriage with Henrietta Bradley, born in Wayne county, New York, and brought in her girlhood to Oakland county, Ohio, by her parents. Stephen Pilkinton brought his bride to his farm here and they lived thereon for two or three years, when they traded for a farm in Portland township on Grand river and about three miles north of Portland, which at that time was but a small Indian trading post. Stephen passed the remaining active years on that farm and in latter life retired to Portland, where he died.
Silas H. Pilkinton is one of a family of nine children, five of whom are now living. The others are Mary, wife of Samuel A. McVey; Fred. located in Portland; Lucy, widow of a Mr. Baker, of Boise City, Idaho, and Oren, living at Twisp, Washington. Silas HI. was given a good common and high school education, and at the age of nineteen he took a clerkship in a general store in Portland. After clerking for two years, desiring a better business education he attended the college of Bryant & Stratton under a Mr. Jewell, and took a complete business course. He clerked until 1874 when he went into the general mercantile business for himself, re-
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maining therein until 1895. His health failing, he disposed of his business and purchased a small farm where he has continued to reside. He had quite a nice nursery business for a time and now has his fruit orchard, to which he gives especial attention.
Silas H. Pilkinton was united in marriage to Adelaide 1. Brown on March 20, 1872. She is the mother of nine children, six of whom are living. Bruce and Grace died in infancy; Dora is at home with her parents; Arthur in Morenci, this state: Emma is the wife of George H. McMullen, of Athens, Michigan; Frank is in Traverse City, Michigan; Ethel in Maple Rapids; Glenn at home, and Lucy, the youngest, died in infancy. Mr. Pilkinton is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of the temperance committee of that church. For eight years he was superintendent of the Sunday school and has served in other official capacities. He holds membership in Portland Lodge No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, and has long been active in both lodge and church circles. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never taken an active part in the political game, although often urged to do so. His present office is the first he has ever held, and needless to say he is discharging its duties in a highly satisfactory manner.
RAYMOND ALBERT COLWELL.
Raymond Albert Colwell, one of the best known lawyers at fonia and widely known throughout the county, having been a resident of lonia county since he was five years old, is a native son of Michigan, having been born at Detroit, this state, February 26, 1877, son of Eugene F. and Alice M. ( Rickey ) Colwell and the sole issue of that parentage.
Eugene F. Colwell, for many years a well-known business man of lonia county, was born in the state of New York, son of Joseph Colwell. a well-to-do manufacturer, and was the youngest of the children born to his parents, the others having been Edwin, Charles, Albert and Laura. He left New York when a young man and came West, locating in Detroit where for some years he engaged in the drug business. He married a Miss Smith, who died, leaving two sons. Engene, who was drowned at Muir, in this county, at the age of fifteen years, and Clayton M., who now lives at San Jose, California. Eugene F. Colwell married, secondly, Mrs. Alice M. Cornell, widow of Alanson Cornell and daughter of Oren S. and Marcia (Webster) Rickey, Eastern people who came from Ohio to Michigan at
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the close of the war and settled on a farm in Orleans township. this county, where both spent the rest of their lives, dying at advanced ages. Oren S. Rickey and wife were the parents of four children, Edwin, Edgar. Alice M. and Eva, the latter of whom, now deceased, was the first wife of Luther E. Hall. To Mrs. Colwell's first marriage there was born one child, a daughter, Mrs. May McCartney.
Upon discontinuing the drug business at Detroit Eugene F. Colwell engaged in farming near that city and was thus engaged for a short time. after which he moved to Sturgis and after a brief residence in the latter place moved on into Wisconsin, from which state he presently returned to Michigan and settled in lonia county where the remainder of his life was spent. Upon coming to this county Mr. Colwell engaged in the hardware business at Muir, afterward engaging in the same line of business at Sebewa where he remained for four years, at the end of which time he moved to Lake Odessa where he engaged in business in the hardware line until his retirement in 1894. His death occurred on February 2, 1898, he then being sixty-nine years of age. His widow still survives.
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