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 114

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 114

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Milo B. Stewart, Secretary of the Grand Rapids Manufacturing Company, is a life resident of this county, and was born in Cas- cade tp., June 12, 1851. He is a son of John R. and Sarah E. (Martin) Stewart, natives of Vermont. When three years of age, his parents removed to Grand Rapids, where Milo has since re- sided. He received his education in the common schools, and subsequently attended the Grand Rapids Commercial College. In 1872 he entered the employ of his father, in the grocery trade, and two years later established himself in the insurance business. In 1877 he accepted a position with the old Grand Rapids Mfg. Co., and when the new firm was formed a year later, accepted the po- sition of Secretary. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Division st. M. E. Church, and was formerly a member of the Grand Rapids Guards. He served one year as President of the Red Ribbon Club. He was married Sept. 23, 1879, to Clarabel Bailey, a daughter of S. S. Bailey, Collector of Internal Revenue of the 4th. District of Michigan. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Congrega- tional Church.

Billius Stocking, jr., son of Billins and Patience (Grey) Stock- ing, was born in Lisbon, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 12, 1808. His parents were natives of Massachusetts, his father born Aug. 7, 1779, his mother in 1777. In 1833, Sept. 10, he started for the West with his brother, and reached St. Joe, Mich. In May, 1834, they set out on foot for Kalamazoo, the first two travelers that 'came through. After a tedious journey they reached Grand Rap- ids; the first night they slept in the woods, the second at Gull Prairie, the third found them in the woods again, and the fourth at Joel Guild's, the only place where a pretense of keeping travelers was made, the accommodations consisting of a garret floor. After a stay of two weeks they went to Grand Haven, and remained over night, working their passage both ways. They returned on foot to St. Joe, went aboard a schooner bound for Chicago, where they

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arrived June 12; remained two days and went to Ottawa, Ill., on foot. They returned to Chicago, reaching there June 12, the fol- lowing year. Mr. Stocking bought 160 acres of land 12 miles northeast of Ottawa, on the Illinois river. After a stay of two or three days in Chicago they went to Milwaukee, returning to Chi- cago July 5; they started the same night for Buffalo, spent four weeks on the route; went to Rochester by canal, and to Ogdens- burg by steamer. The latter place was eight miles from their father's house, and they reached home just in time to help about the haying. In September they began to build a saw-mill; had $40 in money to commence with; their father boarded them and they worked 18 hours a day, earning money and working at the mill, which they finished. The following July found themselves out of debt, with $40 in cash and each a suit of clothes. In the fall of 1836 Mr. Stocking started again for Grand Rapids, travel- ing by water. After a stormy passage he reached Fairport, 30 miles below Cleveland, and walked the rest of the way, reaching this city in November. He chopped wood and split rails during the winter. In the spring of 1837 he settled on thie land where he now lives, on sec. 33, northeast quarter. When the land came into market he paid $3 per acre for 160 acres, of which he cleared 50 acres; about 40 acres still remain within the city limits. Stocking street running northwest from Bridge street to Seventh street, was named for him, he and his brother having run the line of road, which they did by " sound " without compass. It was afterward surveyed and proved true. He was married Dec. 5, 1838, to Mary H., daughter of Salmon and Mary (Orr) Hunt, born June 20, 1818, in Halifax, Vt. Of five children born to them, two are now liv- ing-Mary F., wife of John Widdicomb, and Alida, living at home. July 4, 1839, Mr. Stocking and his brother determined on a celebration. 'They cut two tamarack poles, raised one near the house, built a small platform, and Daniel C. Stocking read the Declaration of Independence, printed on a piece of cloth in the center of a bed quilt, and then delivered a short oration. By the time the proceedings were over, a crowd, proportionate to the pop- ulation, had gathered, shouldered the surplus liberty-pole and declared their purpose to plant it for the man who first offered a bottle of brandy. Lovell Moore sent for the liquor, and the pole was set in front of his house, near Bridge st. bridge. At that time all the land west of the river was "Walker tp.," of which Mr. Stocking was Treasurer six years; was Justice of the Peace one term after the city absorbed his place. He was Supervisor six years of the 4th (now 6th and 7th) ward, and Supervisor of the 6th since the re-organization. He has held all minor offices, especially pertaining to schools, in which he has always been greatly interested; was also Under Sheriff of Kent county two years. Since 1853 Mr. Stocking has been occupied much in ex- ploring and locating land in Northern Michigan, and is still quite active. He is one of the few early pioneers still living. Mr. and

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Mrs. Stocking were the first couple ever married by the Rev. James Ballard.

Austin E. Stockwell, of the Stockwell & Darragh Furniture Company, was born at Newport, Sullivan Co., N. H., Oct. 25, 1848. His parents were Austin and Melita J. (Fletcher) Stockwell, natives of the Granite State. Mr. Stockwell grew to manhood- in his native place, and received his education at Lowell, Mass. In 1869 he came to Grand Rapids, and entered the Commercial College, where he remained one pear. At the end of that period he entered the employ of E. F. Ward & Co., manufacturers of sashes, doors and blinds, as bookkeeper, remaining with them three years. He then entered the employ of Cody, Olney & Co., wholesale grocers, as traveling salesman, and was on the road nine months. Mr. Stockwell then purchased a third interest in the firm of A. D. Bor- den & Co., in the sash, door and blind business, and in 1877 pur- chased Mr. Bordeu's interest. In 1879 he bought out John Lind- sey, the other partner, and remained alone in the business till Oct. 1, of the same year, when Arthur W. Byrne and James C. Darragh were admitted as partners. On Dec. 3, 1880, Charles E. Belknap purchased Mr. Byrne's interest, and the firm became Stock- well, Belknap & Co., remaining as such until Oct. 1, 1881, when the Stockwell & Darragh Furniture Company was incorporated, of which our subject is the President. Mr. Stockwell was married in 1872, to Myra Belknap, a resident of Grand Rapids.

Hon. John W. Stone, of Grand Rapids, was born in Wads- worth, Medina Co., Ohio, July 18, 1838. His father, Chauncy Stone, a farmer and a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, removed from Medina Co., Ohio, to Dorr, Allegan Co., Mich., in the fall of 1856 and settled on a farm, where he died Aug. 30, 1880. His mother, Sarah, daughter of John Bird, of Vermont, is still living and resides on the homestead in Dorr. Mr. Stone acquired his early education in the district schools of Medina Co., Ohio, and afterward attended a select school at Spen- cer, Ohio. In the spring of 1856 he came to Michigan and taught school for four winters. In 1859 he began the study of law in the office of Silas Stafford, at Martin, Allegan Co. In 1860 he was elected County Clerk of Allegan county, and was re-elected in 1862. While discharging the duties of his office he continued the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1862. In 1864 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Allegan county and held the office for six years. In January, 1865, he formed a partnership with D. J. Arnold, now Judge of the Twentieth Circuit of Mich- igan. This business relation continued until Mr. Stone was elected Circuit Judge in April, 1873. He held this office until November, 1874, when he tendered his resignation and entered the law firm of Norris & Blair, of Grand Rapids. In November, 1875, Mr. Norris retired, and the two remaining members formed a partner- ship with Mr. Willard Kingsby, under the firm title of Blair, Stone & Kingsby. He continued a member of this firm until after his

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election to the Forty-fifth Congress, when he retired therefrom. During his term in Congress and in the summer of 1878 he formed a co-partnership for the practice of law with Hon. N. A. Earl, un- der the firm name of Stone & Earl. On Jan. 1, 1879, they united business with Mr. Edward Taggart, under the firm name of Taggart, Stone & Earl, which co-partnership still continues. Judge Stone was elected to Congress in 1876 from the Fifth Con- gressional District of Michigan and was re-elected in 1878. In the Forty-fifth he served on the House Committee on Mines and Min- ing and in the Forty-sixth Congress he was a member of the Com- mittee on the Postoffice and Post Roads. Judge Stone is a Republi- can. In 1861 he married Delia M. Grover, danghter of A. P. Grover of Trowbridge, Mich. They have five children-three daughters and two sons.

Russell J. Stow, of the firm of Stow & Haight, was born in Sum- mit Co., Ohio, Aug. 6, 1837. He engaged in farming and the dairy business during his younger days. He came to Grand Rapids in 1863, and purchased a farm, then removed with his parents to the farm in 1864, and still continued to farm until 1871. His father was Zebulon Stow, who died very suddenly one morn- ing in September, 1871, of heart disease. Our subject's grand- father, William Stow, was a naval captain during the war of 1812. Mr. Stow was married Oct. 17, 1864, to Miss Harriet Henshaw, daughter of Horace Henshaw, who is a descendant of Captain Henshaw, of Revolutionary fame. They have two children-Ella and Leon.

Thomas W. Strahan was born in York, Haldimand Co., Ont., March 14, 1854. His father, Thomas Strahan, was a native of Ireland, came to America in 1834, and engaged in mercantile business in York. Thomas [W. received a business education at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, at Newark, N. J., and in 1869 learned the tailor's trade; engaged in trade in Hillsdale, N. Y., for a time; returned home, and remained until 1879, when he came to Grand Rapids and opened a general stock of clothing, hats, caps and gents' furnishing goods; manufactures his own stock and does custom tailoring. He was married May 9, 1871, to Emma H. Coon, of Hillsdale, N. Y. They have two children- May and Nellie.

Prof. Edwin A. Strong, Principal of the Grand Rapids High School, was born at Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1834. His parents were Phineas and Fanny (Pomeroy) Strong, natives of Southampton, Mass. Prof. Strong spent a portion of his child- hood and youth with his grandparents and friends in Central Mas- sachusetts. He prepared for college, mainly at Cortland Acad- emy, Homer, N. Y., and during this time taught a district school one winter, and had charge of the boys' department in Onondaga Academy for one season. In the autumn of 1856 he entered Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., as a junior, graduating in 1858. In the fall of the same year he came to Grand Rapids,

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Mich., and assumed charge of the High School. He has labored in Grand Rapids either as Principal of the High School, or Super- intendent of Schools until the present time, with the exception of a year and a half, in 1871-'2, spent in Oswego, N. Y., in charge of the department of Natural History, in the Normal School of that city.

Prof. Strong was married Aug. 8, 1861, to Harriet J., daughter of the Rev. M. Pomeroy, of Auburn, N. Y., who was born Feb. 18, 1835. They have two children-Lizzie M., born April 16, 1862, and Fanny M., born Feb. 12, 1867. Prof. Strong and wife are members of the First Congregational. Church.

William James Stuart, son of Alexander and Martha (Noble) Stuart, who were married Nov. 27, 1840, was a farmer of Yankee Springs tp., Barry Co., Mich., born Nov. 1, 1844, at the above- named place. Wm. James suffered the loss of his mother when a small boy, and was thus deprived of the home influences, the guardianship and the fostering care that only a mother can extend to her children. She died Sept. 20, 1854, aged 37 years and 23 days. The days of his boyhood and early youth were spent on the farm, until in 1859, when he entered the public school at Hastings. There he remained two years, and then entered the High School at Kalamazoo, Mich., under Prof. D. Putnam. He continued his course there until June, 1863, when he graduated with the first class from that institution. After teaching one terin of country school, Mr. Stuart entered Michigan University in March, 1864, and pursued the classical course of study until the middle of his junior year. After spending several months in Illinois, he was, in the fall of 1866, employed as Superintendent of the Union school (of his school-boy days) at Hastings. He occupied this position one year, and then returned to the Michigan University, completed his course of study, and graduated in the class of 1868, receiving the degree of B. A. He now returned to Hastings, and occupied his former position in the public schools for two years, and, at the close of his school season, commenced reading law with Balch, Smiley & Balch, of Kalamazoo, and in the fall of that same year returned to Ann Arbor, and entered the Law School of the State University. He remained there until he completed his course and graduated in the spring of 1872, receiving the degree of LL. B. He then returned to Kalamazoo and became temporarily connected with the law firm of Balch & Son, making the firm Balch, Stuart & Balch, the partnership continuing until November, 1872. when Mr. Stuart came to Grand Rapids, and on Jan. 1, 1873, entered the office of E. A. Burlingame as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Kent county, and very soon became his partner. The firm of Burlingame & Stuart continued until April 20, 1876, when the present firm of Stuart & Sweet was formed. He received the appointment of City Attorney of the City of Grand Rapids in the spring of 1870, and has since held that position. He was married in April, 1874, to Miss Calista Hadley, of Hastings, Mich. His

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

father died at Kalamazoo, July 31, 1878, aged 62 years. Mr. Stuart is a member and vestryman of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, a man of recognized ability in his profession, and of high standing in the community as a citizen.

Simon P. Swartz, wholesale dealer in lumber and shingles, office room 26 Pierce block, was born near Williamstown, Lyco- ming Co., Pa., in 1840. His father, Peter Swartz, was a lumber dealer of that State. When eight years of age, he removed with his parents to Clearfield Co., Pa., where he was reared and edu- cated. When 18 years of age, he was engaged as pilot, running rafts on the Moshanon creek and Susquehannah river, the former being a very rapid and dangerous stream, marketing the lumber usually at Harrisburg, Pa. In the summer of 1862 he was attend- ing school at Dickinson College, at Williamsport, Pa. During this time the State was invaded by Gen. Lee's army, and Mr. S. went at the call of the Government for militia in defense of the State. In 1864-'5 he engaged in the lumber business for himself, his first purchase being 2,000,000 feet of standing pine timber, which he cut and delivered to the river, clearing nearly $7,000 on this con- tract. In the spring of 1865 he contracted to drive 15,000,000 feet of logs from Moshanon creek to Lock Haven and Williamsport, Pa., with 35 men in charge of the " drive." On March 16 a tre- mendous flood broke the "boom," and scattered the logs from a quarter to a half mile distant from the main channel, involving a loss to Mr. Swartz of several thousand dollars. In 1866 he attended Bryant, Stratton & Kimberly's Commercial School, at Philadel- phia, where he remained six or seven months. After leaving school he clerked in his father's store, at Phillipsburg, Pa., for two years, and then came to Michigan, locating at Grand Rapids. He soon after engaged in the lumber and shingle trade, handling about 1,000,000 feet the first year. He now handles over 11,000,000 feet annually, shipping to some 16 different States. The amount shipped this year (1881) will load 1,000 cars. Mr. Swartz was married June 7, 1873, to Harriet S., daughter of W. W. Weatherly. They have one daughter-Lillie B. Mr. Swartz casts his vote for the candidates of the Republican party.

Edwin F. Sweet, a member of the law firm of Stuart & Sweet, was born at Dansville, Livingston Co., N. Y., Nov. 21, 1848. His father, Sidney Sweet, is a banker of Dansville, N. Y., and was for four years, from 1836 to 1840, a resident of Calhoun Co., Mich., where he was engaged in the mercantile and milling business. Sidney and Hannah Sweet have two sons and two daughters, and Edwin is the youngest of the family. He received his early schooling at district school, and afterward attended the Dansville Seminary, where he prepared for college. He entered Yale Col- lege in the fall of 1867, and remained there until he graduated, in the summer of 1871. Oct. 9, the same year, Mr. Sweet left his native county to make a tour of Europe and the Holy Land. He sailed from New York the above date for Liverpool; he visited

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most of the noted European cities and countries, passing through Wales to London, thence to Paris, Marseilles, Rome, Naples and Brindisi. He next sailed to Alexandria, Egypt; up the river Nile to the first cataract; subsequently spent one month in Pales- tine. On his return pas-ed through Syria, Constantinople, Athens, thence to Venice; and from there he passed through Switzer- land, Austria, Prussia, Sweden Denmark, Scotland, etc. He sailed from London and arrived in New York, Oct. 9, 1872. Jan. 1, 1873, he went West to Ann Arbor, and entered the law depart- ment of the Michigan University. From this school he graduated in April, 1874, and came to Grand Rapids upon invitation of Hughes, O'Brien & Smiley to enter their employ as clerk. Here he remained two years, until April, 1876, when the present firm of Stuart & Sweet was formed, of which he is a member. Mr. Sweet was married to Miss Sophia Fuller, daughter of Edward P. Fuller, of Grand Rapids, April 26, 1876, and they have one son- Carroll H.

Andrew Tabor, son of Henry and Almira Tabor, was born at Rochester, N. Y., in 1834. About the year 1844 his father engaged in a contract with the Buffalo & Lake Erie R. R. Co. to build the Ft. Erie docks. The family removed to Buffalo, where the father died two weeks before the completion of his contract. In 1855 Mr. Tabor came to Grand Rapids and worked 11 months at the trade of carpenter; returned to Buffalo and was employed nine years as conductor of the omnibus line of S:las Hemenway between Buffalo and Black Rock. He enlisted in New York city in Co. A, Fire Zouaves, under Col. Ellsworth; at the end of three months was promoted Second Lieutenant. The Captain and First Lieuten- ant were killed at Bull Run, and he conducted the company to Washington, where it was discharged. He went to Newbern, N. C., under Capt. James Walker, as Assistant Wagonmaster with a company of teamsters; the Master died and he succeeded to the position ; spent three months in the dock service as stevedore, and on the appearance of the yellow fever went North. He went from New York to Nashville, Tenn., as Wagonmaster with a party of teamsters, and after reaching there, engaged as brakeman on the Nashville & Chattanooga R. R .; became conductor, remained six months, and in 1865 was called to Grand Rapids by the death of his uncle, Hugh Dorsey. A few weeks later he went to Buf- falo, and passed five years in the employ of the Niagara street R. R. Co .; became a member of the Metropolitan police, and was soon placed on the city detective force; was sent to the Black Rock precinct as Captain, and a year after bought a boat-house with three steam yachts and 60 small boats, which he operated three years, at the same time acting as secret detective of the U. S. Custom House; sold out, bought a half interest of a prairie stock farm of 1,020 acres and lost it all in one year; bought 80 acres as a vent- ure, built house, barns, etc .; the crops were killed by frost and another loss followed. He returned to Grand Rapids without

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much responsibility in a financial sense, not having sufficient money to bring his wife. He worked 18 months for Sydney Ball, at hack-driving, borrowed some money, and bought a hack, and began livery business on a small scale. Good management has placed his affairs in a prosperous state; owns 17 horses, etc., and operates a hack. baggage and livery line at 56 N. Ionia street. He was married in 1871 at Buffalo, to Helen, daughter of Cyrenius Gordon, born in Vermont, in 1846.

Moses Taggart, of the law firm of Taggart &. Wolcott, of Grand Rapids, was born Feb. 27, 1843, at Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y. His father, Rufus Taggart, was a farmer by occupation, and a gen- eral business man. Moses received his early education in the district school of his native place, and afterward attended the Wilson Collegiate Institute, where he prepared for college. At the breaking out of the Rebellion his two elder brothers, Rufus and John, left home to defend their country. This disarranged Moses' school plans and he returned home to work on the farm, where he remained until 22 years of age, and then entered the Michigan University. He graduated from the law department of this institution in the class of '67, and then went to Batavia, Gen- esee Co., N. Y., and entered the law office of an uncle, Moses Tag- gart, an ex-Justice of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of New York, to further prosecute his studies. He was admitted to the bar at a general term of the Supreme Court in Buffalo that

same year. He remained at Batavia but a brief period and then went to Lockport, N. Y., where he practiced his profession until December, 1868. He then came to Michigan, and after practicing five months at Cedar Springs, he opened an office in Grand

· Rapids. In 1870 he formed a partnership with Judge B. A. Har- lan, who was at the time Judge of the Probate Court. They prac- ticed together until 1872, when Mr. Taggart took as a partner

Eugene E. Allen. The firm of Taggart & Allen, existed until March, 1875, when Mr. Wolcott became a member of the firm, changing the title to Taggart, Allen & Wolcott. In this year Mr. Allen withdrew from the firm on account of ill health, which re- turned to them their present title of Taggart & Wolcott. Mr. Taggart was married Oct. 17, 1872, to Miss Lillie Ganson, daugh- ter of Cornelius N. Ganson, a retired banker of Ypsilanti, Mich. They have three sons-Ganson, Ralph C. and James M.

T. J. Tanner (deceased) was born at Bristol, R. I., in 1803. He was a merchant and for a time was engaged in the West India trade. He located in Paris in 1846, purchasing 1,800 acres of heavily timbered land, which he proceeded to improve for a homestead. In company with his son, T. J. Tanner, jr., and the late Charles Rath- bun, he entered into a contract to furnish an immense quantity of three-inch oak plank for the Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo Plank Road Company, which necessitated the erection of a steam saw- mill, the first in Kent county, and operated about three years. Mr. Tanner was afterward connected with the late Henry Miller in

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heavy transactions in real estate in Kent county; he died Oct. 18, 1879.

T. I. Tanner, jr., was born in Bristol, R. I., Nov. 4, 1828. He came to Michigan one year earlier than his father and later en- gaged in milling as above stated; afterward interested himself in general farming in Kent county until 1859, when he went to Ford Co., Ill., and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1865 he went to the oil region of Pennsylvania, and operated on Oil creek; put in the second torpedo wheel introduced for the development of oil, at an expense of $300; it proved entirely successful, increasing the capacity fourfold. At one time he owned a fifth interest in one of the largest oil wells in the region. He returned to Grand Rapids and engaged in taking wool from pelts; under the financial press- ure of 1874 was obliged to close operations; has since been en- gaged in buying wheat and wool at Grand Rapids. He was married in Grand Rapids to Mary E. Groger.

Thomas W. Teevin was born in the village of Pine Grove, York Co., Ont., July 24, 1850, son of Edward B. and Mary J. Teevin; was brought up and educated at Lloydtown, Ont. When 13 he entered the hardware store of J. B. Wylie, of Fergus, Ont., re- mained six months and left on account of failing health. He then learned the harness-making trade, which he has followed chiefly since. He came to Michigan, January, 1871, and located a short time at St. Clair, St. Clair Co., then went to Marine City. In 1876 he came to Grand Rapids where he has been ever since; married May 13, 1879, to Llewella Smith, daughter of Charles Smith, of this city. They have two children, one now living in this city, Winnifred, born Feb. 16, 1878. In 1877 he became connected with the Pioneer Lodge, United Sons of Industry; was President of the society two terms in 1879; one term as Grand President of the State, the same year. He then served three years in Co. E, 3d Bat., from 1865 to 1868. In 1872 he sailed between Sandusky and Saginaw cities, in the lumber trade, on the "Sylvia Morton," of Sandusky. In February, 1880, he formed a partnership with his brother in harness-making and carriage-trimming, 61 Canal st., which continued about 16 months. In April, 1881, he was em- ployed by George H. Wilmot, on West Bridge st.

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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 114

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