USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 5
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Politically, Mr. Butler is a Republican, and is one of the leaders of his party in lonia county. He was a candidate for state senator on the Pro gressive ticket a few years ago, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 76, Free and Accepted Masons. also the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Baptist church at Portland, and is one of the trustees of the same. He has always been ready to assist in all movements intended for the general improvement of his locality, and a director of the Wolverine Paveway Association.
WARREN HIXSON.
Warren Hixson, one of the best-known and most progressive farmers mi the southeastern part of lonia county, proprietor of a fine farin of one hun- dred and twelve acres in Danby township, situated on rural route No. 1, out of Grand Ledge, is a native of Michigan and has lived in this state most of his life. He was born in Eaton county, Michigan, August 19, 1855, son of William and Louise ( Moore) Hixson, the former a native of the state of
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New York and the latter of Michigan, who later became residents of lonia county, but whose last days were spent in the state of California.
William Hixson, who was born in 1833, was but four years old when his parents came from New York state to Michigan in 1837. The family settled in Eaton county and there William Hixson grew to manhood. He married Louise Moore, who was born in Livingston county, this state, and established his home in Eaton county, becoming a prosperous farmer. In later years he went to California with his family and there he died in July, 1901. To William Hixson and wife eight children were born, of whom seven are still living. those besides the subject of this sketch being as follow : Emerson, of California : Fremont, of California : Jason, also of California; Wilbur, who also lives in California: Mary, wife of Judson Hastings, and Mattie, wife of Benjamin Smith.
Warren Hixson was reared on the farm on which he was born in Oneida township, in the neighboring county of Eaton, and received his schooling in the schools of that vicinity. He grew up as a farmer and has been engaged in that vocation practically all his life and has done very well. After spending some time in the West he returned to his native state and on August 19. 1890. married Lottie Benton, of Clinton county, this state, who was born in that county, July 3, 1865. daughter of Hiram and Marian ( Crumb ) Benton, the former of whom was born on March 4. 1828, and died on September 8, 1903. and the latter, born on November 4. 1835. died December 29. 1888. Hiram Benton and wife were the parents of four children, those besides Mrs. Hixson being Julian H., a farmer, of Bancroft, Michigan ; Mertie Alexine, who mar- ried Thomas J. Bigstaff. an attorney, of Mount Sterling, Kentucky, and Le- land S., a retired farmer.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hixson lived for two years at Grand Ledge and then went onto a farm in Clinton county, presently returning to Grand Ledge, where they remained until they came to this county in 1896 and settled on the farm of one hundred and twelve acres in Danby township. where they ever since have made their home and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Hixson gives careful attention to his live stock and is a methodical, progressive farmer who made his place pay well for the energy expended upon the same. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class.
To Warren and Lottie ( Benton) Hixson four children have been born, namely: Alexine, born on March 8, 1894. who married Arthur Traver ; Emerson, February 18, 1897, a capable assistant to his father on the home
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farm; AAlton, October 8. 1898, and Warren, Jr., February 26, 1902. Mr. Hixson and his son Emerson are members of the Modern Woodmen of America and Mrs. Hixson is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
EUGENE L. VOHLERS.
Eugene L. Vohlers, a well-known and progressive farmer of this county, supervisor of Ionia township and for years actively identified with the best interests of Ionia county, is a native son of Michigan, having been born at Bay City, August 5. 1871, son of Henry and Mertilla ( Corbett ) Vohlers, the former a native of Germany and the latter of New York state, who came to lonia county in 1884.
Henry Vohlers was born in the Prussian city of Hanover, March 11. 1832, and was reared in that city. When twenty-two years of age he came to this country and made his way into Michigan, locating near Bay City. where he became employed as a farm and timber laborer and in a short time became the owner of a farm of his own in that then sparsely settled country. On October 26, 1858, Henry Vohlers married Mertilla Corbett, who was born in New York state, October 31, 1836, daughter of David and Roxa (Curtis) Corbett, both natives of New York, who came to this state when their daughter, Mertilla, was about eight years old and located near Bay City. Through a series of unfortunate investments Henry Vohlers lost his farm and practically everything he owned in the early eighties, and in 1882 moved to Cadillac, where he lived two years, at the end of which time he came with his family to lonia county and settled in Orleans town- ship where on August 23, 1884, not long after coming here, he lost his life by the caving in of a ditch which he was digging . He left nine children. of whom the subject of this sketch, then twelve years old, was the eighth in order of birth. The widow bought a home in fonia and kept her younger children with her, the older children having gone out to make their own way, thus leaving the boy, Engene, the mainstay of the little family. While living at Cadillac he had worked as a boot-black in order to contribute his mite to the family support, and upon locating at lonia he began working at farm labor at a wage of four dollars a month. He remained a farm laborer until his marriage, at the age of twenty-three years, in 1894, after which he rented a farm and began farming for himself. Two years later he bought a farm of seventy acres in section to, Eastern township, and there he re-
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mained for eight years, at the end of which time he sold the farm and bought a store at Dildine Corners, where he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness for three years. He then bought the farm of his father-in-law, George R. Leach, a quarter section in section 4. Easton township, the old home place where his wife was born, and there he was engaged in farming for three years, after which he became superintendent of the E. H. Stafford Manufacturing Company's interests at Bois Blanc Island. There he erected a saw-mill, built a boarding house and several other houses, quite a little hamlet presently springing up around the mill. Three years later he resigned that position and returned to fonia county in order that his children might have better educational advantages. He bought a tract of one hundred and fifty-three and one-half acres one mile north of lonia, on the east side of the state road, and there he has made his home since March, 1912. In addi- tion to his general farming, Mr. Vohlers also engages to some extent in road contracting and other similar forms of construction work. Mr. Vohlers is a Democrat and for years has taken an active part in local politics. He was clerk of Easton township for five years and supervisor for five years, resigning that position when he moved to Bois Blanc Island. While living on the island he also served as supervisor and in the spring of 1915 was elected super- visor of his district in lonia township. In the fall of 1906 he was nomi- nated by the Democrats of lonia county for the office of sheriff. At that time the Republicans had a normal majority of two thousand in this county and Mr. Vollers ran almost sixteen hundred ahead of his ticket, coming within four hundred and twenty-nine votes of election in a contest in which Roosevelt led the Republican ticket by a majority of more than twenty-two hundred. Mr. Vohlers received his heaviest support in the precincts where he was best known and had not the liquor element in the county opposed his election he certainly would have carried the county. thus signalizing one of the most notable political victories in the history of lonia county.
On November 22. 1804. Eugene L. Vohlers was united in marriage to Altha M. Leach, who was born in Easton township, this county, daughter of George R. and Lucy Viola (Carpenter ) Leach, well-known residents of that township. George R. Leach was born in Genesee county. New York. November 21. 1849. and while a small boy came to this county with his parents. Calvin and Maria Leach, who settled in Baston townhip and be- came active in the pioneer life of that community. George R. Leach is a carpenter, though he has lived on a farm most of his life. His wife was born in lonia, daughter of Luther and Emily ( Kellogg ) Carpenter, who came to Michigan from New York state in 1850 and settled at lonia. Luther
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Carpenter was a wagon-maker and for some years followed that trade in lonia, after which he moved to a farm in Easton township, and it was there his daughter, Lucy Viola, was living when she married Mr. Leach.
To Eugene L. and Altha M. ( Leach ) Vohlers four children have been born, namely : Walter, who died in infancy, and Grace, Lylia and Mildred. Mr. Vohlers is a member of the local lodges of the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Gleaners, of which latter order Mrs. Vohlers also is a member. Mrs. Vohlers and her daughters are members of the Church of Christ at lonia and take a warm interest in the various activities of the same.
ED. N. LOWREY.
Ed. N. Lowrey, sheriff of lonia county and one of the most popular officials in the court house at lonia, is a native son of this county, having been born on a farm in Berlin township on August 5, 1880, son of Ebenezer N. and Carrie ( Thomas ) Lowrey, prominent and well-known residents of that township, both members of pioneer families, the former an honored veteran of the Civil War, and both of whom are still living, highly respected by all who know them. For further details of the history of this interest- ing family in this county, the attention of the reader is called to a biographi- cal sketch relating to Prof. Harvey H. Lowrey, commissioner of schools for Ionia county, brother of Sheriff Lowrey, presented elsewhere in this volume.
Ed. N. Lowrey was reared on the paternal farm in Berlin township. receiving his elementary education in the district school at Berlin Center. after which he attended the schools at Saranac. He grew up on the farm and remained at home, a valuable assistant to his father in the work of the farm, until January 1, 1907, at which time he was appointed turnkey and deputy sheriff under Sheriff Elmer F. Cilley, in which capacity he served for four years, performing the difficult duties of his position with such effectiveness that he was retained in the position, under the incumbency of Sheriff William R. Taylor, for another four years. During these years of efficient service Mr. Lowrey was making himself extremely "solid" with the people of lonia county and when the Republicans presented him as their candidate for sheriff in the fall of for4. his election was a foregone con- clusion. Sheriff Lowrey entered upon the duties of his important office on January 1, 1915. and has since been serving in that capacity, making a most efficient and painstaking official.
EIN. LOWREY
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On January 12, 1911, Ed. N. Lowrey was united in marriage to Har- riet Frederika Dingman, who was born in Tawas City, losco county, this state. August 2. 1889. daughter of Thomas C. and Julia Fredericka ( Steck ) Dingman, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Wurtemberg, Germany, both now living in fonia, who are the parents of four children, Allen Prescott, deceased: Mrs. Lowrey, Florence C. and Thomas C., Jr. The elder Dingman is a well-known manufacturer of cement walks at Ionia. His father, who was reared in Pennsylvania, later moving to Illi- nois, was a blacksmith and met his death by a kick from a horse. Grand- father Dingman was twice married, but had children only by the first mar- riage, as follow: Henry Herkimer, Alexander Arzeno, Cordelia Sophia. Hattie Maria. Mattie Elvira and Thomas C. Mrs Dingman is the elder of the two children born to her parents. Jacob and Fredericka Steck, she hav- ing a brother. Jacob. The elder Jacob Steck, who spent all his life in Ger- many, also was twice married, by his second marriage having had one son, who is still living.
To Ed. N. and Harriet Frederika (Dingman ) Lowrey one child has been born, a daughter, Florence Julia, born on May 24, 1912. The Lowreys have many friends in and about Ionia and are held in high regard by all. Sheriff Lowrey is a member of Saranac Lodge No. 168. Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Tonia Lodge No. 548. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Tonia: of Lodge No. 908, Loyal Order of Moose at the latter place, and of Saranac Camp. Modern Woodmen of America; also of Lodge No. 76, Knights of Pythias, at Tonia, while both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Daughters of Rebekah.
F. W. BRALEY, M. D.
Dr. F. W. Braley, a well-known and successful physician of Saranac, this county, was born at Lander, Warren county, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1861, son of Jesse W. and Lovina ( Averill) Braley, both natives of that same county, members of old American families, the former of Welsh stock, whose family entered Pennsylvania by way of Vermont, and the latter of English descent, whose family had entered Pennsylvania by way of New Jersey. After their family had grown Jesse W. Braley and wife moved to Jamestown. New York, where Mrs. Braley died, and where Mr. Braley is still living at a ripe old age. They were the parents of five children.
(5a)
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of whom the subject of this sketch is the eklest, the others being David F., of Jamestown, New York; Beatrice, wife of James Bohal, of that same city; Alice, wife of Bert Hart, also of Jamestown, and Guy A .. of Falconer. New York.
F. W. Braley received his elementary education in the schools of his native town, continuing his schooling in the high school at Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania, and at the Collegiate Institute at Jamestown, New York, after which he taught school for about three years in Pennsylvania and then in Levant, New York, for one year. He then came to Michigan, joining at Frankfort, his uncle, who was in business at that place, and for six months was engaged in his uncle's establishment, after which he resumed teaching and for five years taught school at Arcadia and at Pierport, in Manistee county. He then was employed as superintendent of schools at Palo, this county, and after four years of such service there was engaged as superin- tendent of the schools at Saranac, which he served for two years, at the end of which time he entered the Detroit College of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1897. During his junior year at medical college. Doctor Braley was vice-president of his class and in his senior year was president of the class. Upon receiving his degree, Doctor Braley returned to Sarnac. where he opened an office and engaged in the practice of his profession, hav- ing been thus engaged ever since that time and has been very successful. Upon locating in practice at Saranac Doctor Braley bought the office and practice of Doctor Conley. Doctor Braley keeps fully abreast of the modern advancement in his profession and is a member of the lonia County Medical Society, of which he was secretary for two years; a member of the Michigan State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Ile is a Republican and takes a good citizen's part in political affairs. He has been president of the local board of education since 1900 and for two terms further served the public as president of the village corporation.
On October 22, 1884. Dr. F. W. Braley was united in marriage to Anna M. Wagner, daughter of D. C. and Nicolina Wagner, of German parentage, and to this union three children have been born: Carl, who died at the age of eighteen months: Lena L., a graduate of the Saranac high school, who later took a course in the State Normal at Ypsilanti, after which she taught school for three years in this county, then married J. Howard Payne and is now living in Detroit, and Lyle W., a graduate of the Saranac high school and of MeLaughlin's Business Colloge at Grand Rapids, who is now receiving
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teller of the Kent State Bank at Grand Rapids. Doctor Braley is a member of Boston Lodge No. 246. Free and Accepted Masons, a member of the chapter of that order at Lyons, of the council and commandery of the order at Ionia and of Saladin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids. He also is a member of the lodge of the Odd Fellows at Saranac. of the Elks at Ionia, of the Knights of the Mac- cabees and of the Court of Honor, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes an active interest.
HENRY GROFF TINGLEY.
Henry Groff Tingley, a well-known farmer of Easton township, this county, was born in Erie county, New York, March 1, 1850, son of Joseph and Lydia (Groff ) Tingley, both natives of New Jersey. Joseph Tingley was born in Essex county, in the latter state, April 30, 1805, son of Lemuel Tingley, who was born in 1761, son of Nathaniel Tingley, born in 1733, who died in Morris county, New Jersey, in 1800. Both Nathaniel and Lemuel Tingley were soldiers in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. The Tingley family in this county is descended from Palmer Tingley, who came from Kingston-on-Thames, England, in April. 1635, and settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts. Palmer Tingley took part in the Pequod War in 1637. Joseph Tingley moved from New Jersey to New York, settling about fifteen miles east of Buffalo at a time when that town was but a village of about six hundred inhabitants. For a time he was a station agent for the New York Central Railroad in the days when locomotives used wood for fuel, and many farmers in that then comparatively new country paid for their farms by furnishing wood to the railroad. Joseph Tingley spent the rest of his life in New York state and died there in 1884.
Henry G. Tingley very early started out to make his own way in the world. When he was thirteen years old his imagination was excited by word then proceeding out of the big timber woods in this section of Michigan, and he came here alone looking for work. He first stopped in Jackson county, but two years later came to Ionia, from which point he presently went to Stanton, in the neighborhood of which place he took employment in the pine woods, and there he remained until 1876, in which year he came to fonia county and at Palo began working in a saw-mill, running the saw and planer. The next year he married and a little more than a year later, in
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March, 1879, bought a forty-acre farm in section 12. Easton township, this county, where he established his home and where he still lives. In 1884 he bought an adjoining tract of thirty acres and has developed a very fine farm, well improved and managed under up-to-date methods.
It was in 1877 that Henry G. Tingley was united in marriage to A zelia P. Shaw, who was born in Medina county, Ohio, daughter of James and Minerva ( Hall) Shaw, and to this union five children have been born, as follow: Harry, who is at home; Cora, who married George Harris, of Barrytown, and has three children, Irwin, Cecil and Helen: Fannie, who married Frank Houghton and lives at Jackson, this state; Della, wife of Edward York, of Lansing, and Anna, wife of Hiram Alonzo Tucker, of Ionia. Mrs. Tingley died on February 18, 1916.
DENNIS J. GUILFORD.
The long years that Dennis J. Guilford, of Danby township, lonia county, has devoted to agricultural pursuits have not been disappointing to him, but on the contrary have been filled with both profit and pleasure. He was born in Washtenaw county, Michigan, February 1, 1847, and is a son of Arvin and Caroline (Clark) Guilford, natives of Vermont and New York state, respectively. They came with their parents to Washtenaw county, Michigan, when children and there they grew to maturity and married and began life on a farm, where they remained until in 1868 when they came to Ionia county, locating in Danby township where they spent the rest of their lives. They were upright in all walks of life and respected by all who knew them. They were the parents of three sons, namely: Rufus, who died in February, 1901 : Dennis J., the subject of this sketch, and Edwin, who lives in Mulligan, Michigan.
Dennis J. Guilford was twenty-two years old when he came to Danby township. He grew up on his father's farm where he worked hard when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. He remained at home until he was married, October 27, 1875. to Clara Bonghner, who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1856, and is a daughter of Isaac and Lavinia ( Klase) Boughner. These parents were reared in Pennsylvania where they married and settled, but in 1864 removed to Lenawee county, Michigan, where they resided until 1870, when they came to lonia county and located in Danby township.
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After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Guilford located on the farm they still own. The original place consisted of but fifteen acres. They now have a farm of fifty-four acres, which is under good improvement and on which is to be found a commodious residence, which Mr. Guilford built some time ago.
To the subject and wife one son has been born, Chauncey D. Guilford. whose birth occurred August 21, 1878. He grew up on his father's farm, and was educated in the public schools of his district, and in Portland he also owns a farm of eighty acres which adjoins his father's place. On August 14, 1897, he married Helen Gilden, who was born in Portland, Michigan, where she grew up and attended school. To this union two sons have been born: Howard C., who was born on July 24, 1898. is a student in the Portland high school; Harold C., born on November 14, 1900, is also a student in the Portland high school. Denis J. Guilford is a member of the Grange.
The subject of this sketch is a Democrat, and he has been township clerk for three terms, was treasurer for two years and supervisor seven years. filling all these offices in a highly acceptable manner, the last named from 1907 to 1914. Fraternally, he belongs to Portland Lodge No. 31. Free and Accepted Masons, and Portland Chapter No. 29. Royal Arch Masons, and the lonia Commandery, Knights Templar. He and wife are members of the Congregational church at Portland.
LOUIS NEY OLMSTED.
Louis Ney Olmsted, one of the best known and most progressive farmers of this county, now living at lonia, is a native son of lonia county, having been born in North Plains township, this county, January 15, 1852, son of Jay and Anstrus ( Case ) Olmsted, pioneers of this section of Michigan, who for many years were accounted as among the most influential residents of the community in which they settled in the days when this whole country hereabout was practically a wilderness.
Jay Olmsted was born in Onandaga county, New York, and in the carly thirties of the past century came to Michigan, entering a tract of land in Washtenaw county, which he later sold to Kinsley S. Bingham, who after- wards became governor of Michigan. In 1836 he made his way to lonia county with two or three ox-teams and on the way fell in with the Hector
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Hayes family, also laboriously making their way through the big woods to this county. The party settled in North Plains township, where Jay Olmsted entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 31, where the N. B. Hayes house now stands, being among the very earliest entrants in that part of the county. That fall Mr. Olmsted made his way back to his old home in New York and there married Cornelia A. Eaton, returning to Michigan the following spring with his bride and the two established a home on the homestead tract in North Plains township, a son presently being born to them. Mrs. Olmsted died within a year or two after settling here and Mr. Olmsted again returned to Onandaga county, New York, where he married Anstrus Case, who had been born and reared in Hill township, that county, and who had been brought up fully acquainted with the requirements of pioneer living. Returning to this county with his bride. Jay Olmsted re- sumed the labors of reducing his wilderness tract to a tillable state, and soon became one of the most substantial farmers in the county. He also became heavily interested in the pine timber business and as he prospered added to his holdings until at the time of his death on April 21. 1864, a month before his fifty-seventh birthday, was the owner of about seven hundred acres of fine land in the northeastern part of the county. He left a widow and four children. The son born of his first marriage died when quite young, and there were four children born to his second marriage, namely: Jay, of Muir. this county ; Mrs. Cornelia DeGarmo, of Highland township. Oakland county, this state; Mary, who married N. B. Hayes, who was but a baby when his father, Hector Hayes, settled in this county with Jay Olmsted, and Louis N., the subject of this sketch.
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