History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 111

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 111

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Amos Rathbun, a pioneer of Grand Rapids, was born in Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 1808. He is son of Amos and Mary (Williams) Rathbun; was brought up on a farm, and educated in the district schools. In 1834 he engaged in mercantile pursuits in

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Covington, Fountain Co., Ind. In 1838 he came to Grand Rapids. He arrived in the fall, and bought two lots on the same block where the Saenger Hall is located, situated directly east on the hill, then a prominent place for building. He paid $400 each for the lots, and also bought the ready-hewn oak timber for the old yellow house, still standing near the hall, owned by W. T. Powers. He returned the same fall to Indiana, and, in the spring following, came back to this city. In the fall of 1839, a letter from his brother notified him that the provisions for the city had been water-soaked in a gale on the lake, and they were in distressed cir- cumstances. Amos loaded a wagon with provisions, and brought his load with seven yoke of oxen, four yokes for the team, three yokes for relief; also brought 50 head of cattle and half a dozen horses. He sold his outfit on reaching Grand Rapids. He con- tinued in similar traffic three years. He opened a general store in 1840, on Monroe st., nearly opposite the end of Waterloo st. His stock was worth about $6,000, and owned, one-half, by his nephew, G. R. Rathbun. In about 10 years, Mr. Rathbun sold out and engaged in the lumber trade; bought a saw-mill at Lapham, now Rockford; also built a mill on White river, Oceana county, and owned interests in several other mills. He retained his lumbering interests some six or seven years; shipped mostly to Chicago over the lakes. In 1868 he engaged in the plaster business with G. H. White, the Godfrey Bros., and A. D. Rathbun, in the old White plaster-mills of Wyoming, on the Grandville road. They carried on an extensive business until 1880, when they abandoned it. Mr. Rathbun retired from active business, and has a handsome resi- dence at 86 N. Division st. He has also built 12 stores on Monroe and Division sts., of which he owns 10. He was married Feb. 9, 1845, in Grand Rapids, to Amanda, daughter of Dyer and Lucy (Rathbun) Carver, born in Scipio, N. Y., in 1810.

Julius Rathmann, wagon manufacturer and repairer, 150 Canal st., was born in Prussia, Sept. 1, 1839. He obtained a fair educa- tion in the schools of his native land, and, in 1854, emigrated to America, locating at Utica, Macomb Co., Mich., where he learned his trade with Joseph Moses, now of Lapeer, Mich. He remained with him about four years, then went to Ohio, and enlisted in the 1st Ohio Reg. Vol. Inf., serving till the close of the war. He next located at Grand Rapids, where he obtained employment at his trade with Robert Rasch. Soon after he bought out Mr. F. Austerly, and formed a co-partnership with Henry Fiebig in his present business. The firm remained as such until 1878, when they' dissolved partnership, each one now using one-half of the brick block they had previously erected. Mr. Rathmann is a member of Custer Post No. 5, G. A. R., and also of the Republican party. He was married, in 1867, to Mary Schneider, a native of Alpine tp., this county. Two children have been born to them -- Josephine and Lizzie, both attending school in the fourth ward. Mr. Rathmann is connected with the Workingmen's Aid Society. Mrs. R. is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church (W. S.).

William Birdsall

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

Andrew J. Reeves, attorney, was born at Ellicottville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Dec. 15, 1829. His father, Daniel R. Reeves, a car- penter by trade, was a native of Long Island, N. Y. In 1832 he removed from Ellicottville to Batavia, where he pursued his call- ing. Mr. Reeves, of this sketch, obtained his education at Cary- ville Collegiate Institute, and afterward was a teacher there; he also taught at Elba, Oakfield and Batavia in Genesee Co., until 1854. In 1855 he went to Burlington, Iowa, and operated a year in grain in connection with D. W. Irwin, now of the Board of Trade, Chicago. He then bought the Bucher House at Medina, Orleans Co., N. Y., and a year later embarked in a commercial enterprise at Mendon, St. Joseph Co., Mich., in company with Chas. Halleck, now of Denver, Col., and Lewis .B. Lyman, as partners. The relation continued two year's, during which time Messrs. Reeves and Halleck laid out the Halleck and Reeves addition to the vil- lage of Mendon. In 1860 he went to Ann Arbor and attended the first year of the law school there, taking lectures two terms and graduating in 1861, and was admitted to practice the same year. He returned to Mendon and remained there until May 16, 1864, and held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk. He came to Grand Rapids and entered the law office of Byron D. Ball, and the following year was with John W. Champlin. A year later the partnership of Ball & Reeves was established and continued until Mr. Reeves was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Kent county in 1867, a position he held two terms. He was associated one year with S. D. Clay, and then became a member of the firm of Thompson, Reeves & Pratt, which dissolved in 1876. He then formed a connection with G. Chase Godwin (Godwin & Reeves). Eighteen months later the firm of Reeves & Felker was estab- lished, and later became Reeves, Felker & Robinson. The latter subsequently withdrew. Mr. Reeves was married July 26, 1856, to Rachel, daughter of A. Sanford, of Batavia, New York.

Theodore F. Richards, Vice-President of the Widdicomb Furni- ture Company, Grand Rapids, was born in Columbia, Morris Co., N . J., Jan. 29, 1828, and is a son of Cyrus Richards, also a native of New Jersey. He was brought up on a farm and educated in Caldwell Seminary, at Caldwell, N. J. In May, 1854, he came to Grand Rap- ids, and settled on the farm which he still occupies, on sec. 26, Walker tp., just west of the city limits, on West Bridge st. The land between his place and the Grand river was at that time all covered with a heavy growth of timber. He was married in March, 1851, to Miss Julia A. Tuttle, by whom he has had four children; of these but one is living, viz !: Miss Dr. Lizzie T., a graduate of the Philadel- phia Female Medical College. Mr. and Mrs. Richards' fathers were both in the war of 1812, and Mr. Richards' great-grandfathers were both soldiers in the Revolution. Mr. Richards engaged in

his present business in 1868. He has always been characterized by a lovė of religious exercises and labors, was Superintendent of' Sabbath-school at the First Presbyterian Church 16 years, and has

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

been a member of that organization for the past 30 years, and has served as Elder of the Church for the last 20 years.

Henry Ringelberg, groceryman, No. 391 North Ottawa st., son of Peter and Jane Ringelberg, was born in Holland in 1827. He came to the United States in 1865 and settled at Grand Rapids the same year. He was employed three years in a limestone manu- factory, and in 1868 opened his present business. He carries a stock of staple and fancy groceries, liquors and cigars, and does an annual business amounting to $40,000. He owns his store and lot besides nine houses and seven lots in the same quarter of the city. He was married in Holland in 1850 to Kate Von Sluis, born in Holland in 1827. They have six children-Peter, Susanna, Mary, Sarah, Gerit and Jennie.

John R. Robinson, only child of Rix Robinson, was born near Duck Lake, between Muskegon and White river, March 5, 1826. Under the superintendence of Rachel Lasley he was sent to the mission and select schools at Mackinaw at an early age, where he was kept in the closest application to study seven years. In 1836, after the first Indian "payment " by Schoolcraft, he was sent to Ada, Kent Co., his prospective home. After a few years he was sent to Flat River, now Lowell, to the first school established in that vicinity, and composed chiefly of Robinson children and the young Indians who were so plenteous in Kent county at that period. The school was taught by Caroline Beard, who was married during the session to Caleb Page, brother of Deacon Page, of Grand Rapids. Some years after he was sent to Grand Rapids to a school taught by Henry Raymond and afterward by Henry Seymour, whose wife was a member of the Hinsdale family. He was in the employ of A. Roberts & Son, L. Campau, Wm. N. Godfroy and I. F. Godfroy, operating as general fur-buyer. Mr. Robinson has been all his life in communication with the Indians in various capacities, especially that of " trader." He lived among them after their removal to their reservation at Pentwater and Pere Marquette; built a large store at the former place and established his business there. In 1862 he was converted through the in- fluence of the Methodists, and in 1863 was licensed to preach. In '64 or '65 he transferred his business to Ada and met with com- mercial disaster through ill-directed confidence. His knowledge of the Indian dialects has made him a valuable factor in the trans- actions of the Government with the aborigines, and he has acted as special Indian interpreter for all the Government agents of the State from the time of Hiram Lee to the present period; is con- sidered as the most accurate and reliable interpreter of the Chippewa and Ottawa languages in the State. He was appointed as missionary among the Indians by the Methodist Conference in 1875, where he has since labored with 'much faithfulness and efficiency among whites and Indians. He has also been appointed Farmer and General Superintendent among the Indians, who have made great advancement in civilization and self maintenance

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

under his supervision. The leading citizens of the community concur in the opinion that he has contributed more to the social, moral and spiritual well-being of the Indians than all others who have occupied the post.

Dennis L. Rogers, attorney at law and solicitor of patents, is a son of Justus C. Rogers, of Wyoming, one of the pioneers of the Grand River Valley; was born upon his father's farm in Wy- oming, about four miles .south of the city of Grand Rapids, July 26, 1850; pursued the usual course of farmers' sons, working on the farm summers and attending school winters until strong enough to walk to the city, where he attended the high school, being a member of the class of 1865. After leaving school he worked for some time as a tinner and led a roving life with- out any settled home for some years, visiting all of the prin- cipal Eastern cities; served as a common sailor before the mast, and in this capacity landed at San Francisco in March, 1869, from the clipper ship "Flying Eagle," after a voyage of about 120 days from New York, around Cape Horn; spent the succeeding summer and early fall in California and adjacent territory, visit- ing the mining towns and paying his traveling and other expenses by working at his trade; returned to Grand Rapids overland, and arrived in the early part of the winter of 1869-'70; engaged for a short time in the tin and hardware business, but sold out to com- mence the study of law in 1871; studied without any instructor for about one year, and was admitted to the bar of Kent county upon examination; afterward studied in the office of E. A. Bur- lingame, Esq., then prosecuting attorney, and also in the office of John W. Champlin, Esq .; entered the law department of the Mich- igan University, and graduated in the class of 1874; returned to this city, and took a clerkship in the office of L. W. Wolcott, Esq., where he continued until entering into partnership with the late Hon. Byron D. Ball, under the firm name of Ball & Rogers. This partnership was dissolved by the death of Mr. Ball in 1876.

Mr. Rogers has continued to reside in the city in the practice of his profession, part of the time as a partner with E. A. Burlingame, ever since; is a close student and a hard-working lawyer; has con- ducted some important suits to a successful end, though his spe- cialty is Patent Right Law; is a member of no Church and is dis- posed to be liberal in his religious convictions. Married on Dec. 2, 1876, to Miss Ada Cook, daughter of Wm. N. Cook.

L. A. Rogers. M. D., dentist, was born Sept. 11, 1828, in Jefferson Co., N. Y .; is son of Asa and Emily (Clapp) Rogers, natives of Connecticut; the former died at an early age and the latter at 86. Dr. Rogers is one of eight children left fatherless, and when six years old went to live with his grandfather at Columbus, O. . When he was 14 years of age he commenced teaching and earned sufficient money to pay his expenses at the University of Dela- ware, O., two years. He entered the College at Cleveland, and graduated from the Medical. Department in 1849. He practiced

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

two years at Farmington, Ill., and one year at Bloomington, and then entered the office of Geo. P. Bennett, dentist, of Jackson. In 1854 he opened an office at Grand Rapids. In 1870 he went to Baltimore and thence to Wheeling, W. Va., and engaged in the manufacture of wooden "bent work," barrels, etc., where he con- tinued two years and one-half, returning to Grand Rapids. Dr. Rogers practices dentistry in all its branches and is a dealer in dental goods. He is a prominent and active member of the Ma- sonic order; has been Master of the Grand River Lodge; was High Priest of Grand Rapids Chapter five years; has been Secre- tary of Lodge and Chapter about 20 years; has also been Recorder and Commander for several years; was also active in the organiza- tion of the Masonic Mutual Benefit Association of Western Mich- igan, and was Secretary five and one-half years. He was married in 1850 at Farmington, Ill., to Cornelia C. Hitchcock, born in Ohio; they have two sons and one daughter.

Joseph Rowland, proprietor of Custom Mills, Mill street, was born in Somersetshire, England, April 18, 1831, and is a son of John Rowland, a farmer of that shire. When 10 years of age Mr. Rowland accompanied his parents to Monroe Co., N. Y., remain- ing there on a farm till of age. He obtained his education in the common schools, and upon attaining his majority went to Rochester, N. Y., where he learned the milling business with E. K. Livingston & Son, Thomas Ashton being the " boss miller." He remained at Rochester one year, and then went back to the farm. He was married April 11, 1866, to Jennie Champeney, a . native of Rochester, N. Y., and a daughter of Edwin and Mary (Holden) Champenev, natives of England. Soon after marriage, Mr. Rowland settled on a part of the old homestead, where he re- mained, engaged in farming, until 1867. He then came to Grand Rapids and purchased the present site of the Valley City Iron Works, started a feed-mill, renting the remainder of the building. Two years later he suffered the loss of all his earthly possessions by fire. After being again engaged in the feed-mill business, and also as landlord of a hotel at Rochester, N. Y., he rented the Custom Mills, which he has since successfully operated. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have one child-Edward.

L. P. Rowland, General Secretary of the Young Men's Chris -. tian Association of Grand Rapids, and the oldest working Secretary of this association in the world, was born near Norwich, Conn., De- cember, 1837. When nine years of age he accompanied his parents to Springfield, Mass., where he attended the common and high schools. When 18 years of age he was employed as a clerk in a book store, and a year later went to Salem, thence to Boston, where he entered the employ of A. Williams & Co., and subsequently Tilton & Co., book publishers. While a resident of Salem, Mr. Rowland was converted to the religion of Christ, and after removing to Boston, became connected with the Y. M. C. A. In 1858 he was elected Secre- tary of the Y. M. C. A. of Boston, Mass., serving in that capacity

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15 years. During the war, Mr. Rowland was elected agent of the Christian Commission of New England, and had charge of the business till the close of that fratricidal strife. He forwarded over $1,300,000 in money and clothes, and also compiled and arranged a hymn book especially for the soldiers. Some 25,000 were printed and distributed throughout the Eastern armies. Mr. Row- land was the first to import into this country the publications of the Dublin Tract Repository, of Dublin, Ireland. He had 27 tons of tracts shipped to this country, this being before the American Tract Society was organized, and were the first of the kind seen in the United States. During the Chicago fire, in 1871, Mr. Row- land succeeded in raising and forwarding to the sufferers $240,000 in money and provisions. In 1873 he accepted the Secretaryship of the Philadelphia Y. M. C. A., and labored there five years. When Mr. Moody went there in 1875, under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A., Mr. Rowland proved an earnest and faithful assistant, and after Mr. Moody's departure assisted in holding over 1,900 relig- ious services, and helping 5,000 people into the different Churches of the city. In 1878 Mr. Rowland accepted the position of State Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. of Michigan, and for two years had his headquarters at Detroit. In the fall of 1880 he came to Grand Rapids, where he has succeeded in building up a lively interest in the cause he represents, and in placing the society on a sound financial basis. A marked characteristic of Mr. Rowland's labors is his success in personal work. During his stay in Philadelphia, he was instrumental in the conversion of 125 students of Olivet College. Mr. R. was married at] Boston, Mass., in 1861, to Frances Lester, daughter of a prominent Boston merchant. Of the five children given them three survive-Dwight Prentice, Russell Sturgis and Bessie Morrison. Harriet P. and Lawrence L. are deceased. When 16 years of age Mr. Rowland was converted to the Congregational faith, but by a subsequent force of circum- stances was led to attend the Presbyterian Church, and is now a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, as is also his wife. Mr. Rowland has officiated at the organization of more young men's Christian associations than any man in the cause, and is the oldest working Secretary in the world, the next oldest being Robert Binney, Secretary of the New York Association.

Oscar F. Rumsey, manager of J. H. Smith & Co., saddlery, hardware and horse-furnishing goods, 102 Canal street, was born in Watkins Glen, N. Y., July 16, 1846. His parents were Will- iam H. and Fanny (Owen) Rumsey, the former a native of Schuyler county and a farmer, and the latter a native of Pennsyl- vania. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and educated at the People's College, Havana, and the Academy at Watkins Glen. When 18 years of age he went to Colorado, and for two and a half years had charge of a station, and the putting up of hay, for the Smoky Hill stage route from Topeka, Kan., to Denver, Col. He afterward went to Topeka, and attended a three-

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month's course in the Commercial College of that city. He then went to Chicago, and was employed as entry clerk in the P., F. W. & C. depot, and four months later went to Muskegon, Mich., where he erected a steam shingle-mill. Three years later a fire destroyed the mill, caused by explosion of the boiler. Mr. Rumsey was standing near it at that time, and was blown some 20 feet but suffered no serious damage. He had previously 80 acres of timbered land, which he still owns. He was engaged as bookkeeper of a grocery and dry-goods firm until 1873, when he came to Grand Rapids, and accepted same position with J. H. Smith & Co. In 1877 he took full charge of the business, which position he has since filled. The firm do the largest business of the kind in the city, and their sales will average $45,000 annually. Mr. Rumsey was married Nov. 22, 1870, to Alice A. Russell, a native of Steuben Co., N. Y., and a resident of Muskegon Co., Mich. They have three children-Pearl F., Earle W. and Ray. Mr. Rumsey is Democratic in politics.

Joseph Rupprecht, 113 Canal street, Grand Rapids, was born at Windischeschenbach, Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 19, 1849. He was reared in his native land, and attended a commercial school at Bainberg, remaining three years. After he graduated he en- tered a wholesale drug store as bookkeeper, and three years later went into a commission house as bookkeeper and traveling sales- man. He remained with this latter firm one year, and in 1870 came to America, locating at Grand Rapids. He was clerk of the Canal Street House, and subsequently the Ohio House, and in 1875 opened a restaurant at 98 Canal street. In April, 1880, he re- moved to his present quarters. Mr. Rupprecht is a member of the Arbeiter Verein, and obtained the first prize for intellectual exer- cises at the Turnfest held at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1874. He is also connected with the Turn Verein, Walhalla Lodge, No. 249, I. O. O. F., and has filled all the offices in Supporter Lodge. He has been Chief Patriarch of Grand Rapids Encampment, No. 43, and at present is F. A. Degree Master of the Degree Lodge, and Deputy Grand Master of the home lodge. He was married March 29, 1875, to Lizzie Mittelmeyer, a native of Long Island, N. Y., of German descent. Of the three children born to them two are living-Mary and Joseph. Cecelia Josephine Celestina is deceased.

Henry G. Saunders, M. D., was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., June 15, 1819. His parents, Isaac and Matilda (Wells) Saunders, were natives of Rhode Island and settled in New York at an early date. He passed the years of his minority mostly on a farm, attending district school winters. At the age of 18 he at- tended a select school at Bellville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and con- tinued attendance there three winters, where he also was employed as assistant teacher, after which he attended one term at Union Academy, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and one term at Deruyter Insti- tute, Madison Co., N. Y. He then returned to Jefferson county

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and engaged in teaching school, but after a time was attacked with inflammation in the eyes and compelled to abandon school- teaching. He then applied to Dr. Wm. V. Rosa, of Adams, Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., for medical aid, and as soon as sight was restored commenced the study of medicine and surgery with said Rose, where he continued about three years, during which time he was appointed Superintendent of Schools in said tp., and continued to hold that position three years, when he resigned. In the winter of 1845-'46 he attended medical lectures at Geneva, N. Y .; in the fall and winter of 1846-'47 attended lectures at the medical de- partment of the University of New York city; also lectures at Broadway Hospital, and a course of lectures at Dr. Detmold's School of Surgery and Medicine, receiving a diploma therefrom, and also a diploma from the University in the spring of 1847. He continued at New York city for a time, attending at the hospitals, cliniques and infirmaries, then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and con- tinued for a time in attendance at the hospitals, cliniques, infirm- aries and almshouses of that city. He then returned to Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., commenced the practice of medicine and sur- gery there, and immediately secured a very extensive business. He continued there one year and then established an office at El- lisburg, about nine miles west of Adams, where he engaged in a very extensive business in the line of his profession, and also en- gaged in prosecuting claims against the Government for pensions, back-pay and bounty, doing most of the business in that part of the county. He continued at Ellisburg 11 years, doing an exten- sive business. In the year 1855 he visited Grand Rapids for the first time. The place then contained about 5,000 inhabitants, but they claimed a larger population. He went from there to Owosso Co., Mich., bought 1,500 acres of land, returned to Ellisburg N. Y., and resumed his profession. In 1856 he went to Iowa and

Minnesota and bought some land and city property. In 1858 he

located at Grand Rapids, and has continued there to the present time. He came to Grand Rapids in the winter of 1858, intending to engage in the lumber business, and in the spring of 1859 went to Oceana county; on the way he stopped at Muskegon and saw a good quantity of lumber piled on the dock. He inquired what it was worth and was informed that he could have it at $3.38 per thousand. He saw no money in the lumbering business and aban- doned the idea of engaging in it. He then returned to Grand Rapids and commenced the practice of his profession and also col- lection of claims against the Government, which business he has carried on to greater or less extent to the present time. He did a. very extensive business in the practice of medicine and surgery in and about Grand Rapids until 1875, a period of 16 years, when, his health failing, to some extent declined doing a general busi- ness, and confined his practice mainly to the city and old friends since that time. Within 18 months after he arrived here he was burned out three times withont insurance, losing most of his per-

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 111

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434