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 116

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 116

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W. H. H. Walker was born in Clarke Co., O., April 15, 1842. His parents were John and Margaret (Jenkins) Walker, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Mr. Walker attended the pub-

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lic schools of Springfield, O., and when 15 years of age, went to work on a farm, where he remained four years. He then enlisted in Co. E, 16th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf. (three months' troops), serving four months; then re-enlisted in Co. I, 44th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., for three years, serving with McCleilan in West Virginia; thence to Kentucky and Tennessee, and was with Burnside at the siege of Knoxville. He there re-enlisted as a veteran in the 8th Ohio Cavalry, and served till Aug. 5, 1865, when he was honor- ably discharged, as 2d Lieut. He was under fire 107 times, but never received any serious wounds. After the war, he returned to Ohio, and was soon after elected Marshal of Springfield, serv- ing in that capacity for nine months. He then went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and established a gold and silver plating business, which he operated for two years. He then sold out his business and emigrated to Whitewater, Wis., and took a large contract for making wagons. Two years later, he came to Grand Rapids, and was in the employ of William Harrison for one year, Grand Rap- ids Mfg. Co., three years, and set up the machinery for the Grand Rapids Bending Works, remaining with the latter firm one year. For five years he was Superintendent and foreman of Henry S. Smith's manufacturing business, and made a noted improvement on a wringer, which is now being patented under the name of the Rudell Folding Wash Bench and Wringer. He was President of the Eagle Mfg. Co., in the fore part of 1881. Mr. Walker has been a member of the Board of Education for four years, is Re- ceiver of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, and connected with the N. W. Mutual Benefit Association, of Kalamazoo, Mich. He was mar- ried Jan. 16, 1868, to Maria Payne, a native of Clarke Co., O. Four children have been sent to them, two of whom survive -- W. H. H., jr., and Mary E. Tillie and an infant are deceased. Mr. Walker and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

Henry D. Wallen, jr., Proprietor Michigan Iron Works, corner Louis and Campau sts., Grand Rapids, was born at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 24, 1845. He is a son of Henry D. and Laura (De Camp) Wallen, the former a Colonel in the U. S. Army. When two years of age, Mr. Wallen's father was stationed in Florida, where he remained till Henry D., jr., was 16 years of age. He was then appointed to a cadetship at the West Point Military Academy, where he remained five years, and graduated as 2d Lieut. of Ar- tillery. He was first stationed at Eastport, Me., but three years later resigned his commission, and accepted a position on the G. R. & I. R. R., as civil engineer, and remained in that position during the construction of the road. He was subsequently ap- pointed Superintendent of Division, filling that position for some years. In the spring of 1876 he purchased Crawford Bros.' Iron Works, and changed the name to Michigan Iron Works. A sketch of this business will be found in another chapter. Mr. Wallen was married in 1869, to Augusta Cass, a grand niece of Lewis Cass, the pioneer military chief and statesman of Michigan. Of the four children sent to bless this union, two are living-

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Ralph and Charles. George and Henry are deceased. Mr. Wal- len and wife are members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, of Grand Rapids.

John M. Waltz, butcher, No. 41 W. Bridge street, and son of Michael and Mary Waltz, was born in Wirtemberg, Germany, in 1840. In the spring of 1857 he came to the United States and re- mained in Ann Arbor, this State, two months with relatives. He then came to Grand Rapids city, and worked for his father-in-law, John M. Zinser, one year in the butchering business. He then began busi- ness on his own account in the same line, which he carried on till the spring of 1859, when himself and cousin, John Mohrhard, took the gold fever and went to California .. Mr. M. returned after an absence of six months, but Mr. Waltz remained nearly 10 years, five years of which time he carried on the butchering business in Idaho City. He returned to this city in the fall of 1868, with some- thing over $4,000, and again opened in the meat business with John M. Zinser and Frederick Fredrich, corner of Scribner and W. Bridge streets. They ran two markets. They remained together one year, then dissolved partnership, and Mr. W. bought a building of his own and commenced business alone. In the spring of 1875 he was burned out; loss, between $6,000 and $7,000. He then bought the site and built his present place of business. He carries a choice stock of $3,000 to $4,000 in fresh, salt and dried meats. In the season he does 'a very extensive packing business. He was married in this city Nov. 3, 1870, to Mary, daughter of John M. Zinser, who was born in this city in 1852. They have two children, William and Mary, also born in this city.

Arthur Webster, foreman at Cutcheon's sash and door factory, was born in Grafton Co., N. H., Dec. 4, 1831. On the 4th day of December, 1849, he left his parental roof and made his way on foot to Troy, N. Y., where he took the cars for Buffalo. From Buffalo he walked to Fairport, O .; here he took passage on a boat for Detroit. From Detroit he walked to' Grand Rapids, arriving here in the fol- lowing August, having stopped several months on his way at the various points mentioned. In 1859 he went to St. Louis, Mo., remaining near that place until 1861, when he enlisted in the U. S. service, in Co. E, 26th Ill. V. I. He served his time out and re-enlisted in 1864 and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of New Madrid, Mo., Island No. 10, Corinth, Iuka, second battle of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Jack- son, Miss., Mission Ridge, siege of Atlanta, from May 1 to Sept. 9, and was present at the time McPherson was killed. He also accom- panied Sherman on his noted march to the sea. He held the offi- ces of Corporal, Sergeant and 1st Lieutenant. He came to Grand Rapids in 1865. He has been married twice, and is the father of six children, four of whom are living. He first worked awhile for . Berkey Brothers & Co., and afterward ran a job shop of his own. In 1870 he built a planing-mill near the D. & M. depot; it burned in '73, but he soon rebuilt it. He sold it to Withey & Co., in

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1875. In 1876 he engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds at the west end of Pearl street bridge, which he continued until 1878, when he sold to Mr. Cutcheon, for whom he has acted as foreman up to the present time.

Peter Weirich, proprietor Michigan Brewery, West Bridge street, Grand Rapids, was born in Germany Jan. 18, 1831, and during his early life obtained a good education in the common schools. In 1852 he came to America and first located at Milwaukee, Wis., where he found employment at Blatz's brewery. A year later he came to Grand Rapids, and was employed in Christopher Kusterer's brewery until the fall of 1855, when he opened a boarding-house on East Bridge street. The following spring he purchased his present property and commenced the brewing business for himself. A sketch of this business has been given on a former page of this work. Mr. Weirich has always taken special interest in the welfare of his adopted city, and for six years represented the 8th ward as Alderman. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Turn and Arbeiter Vereins. He was married in May, 1856, to Josephine Arnold, a native of Austria. Of the eight children born to them six are living-Matilda, Rosetta, Oscar, Louisa, Emma and Julia. Josephine and Peter are deceased. Mrs. Weirich departed this life in 1875, and Mr. W. was again married, the same year, to Mary Peterman, also a native of Aus- tria. Henry and Peter have been born to this union, the latter of whom is deceased.

John C. Wenham was born in Sussex Co., England, Sept. 14, 1825. His parents, with six children, came to America in 18 0, and settled in Ohio City (now Cleveland), O. After the age of 10 years Mr. Wenham had his own way to make in the world, and at 15 commenced to work. in a bookbindery. He continued in the same establishment 15 years, and in 1847 was at the head of tlie management and operated a force of 20 employes with success and satisfaction to his chiefs. Meanwhile he established some real estate interests in Cleveland and Chicago. He closed liis connection with the bindery and settled his real estate transac- tions in Cleveland in 1855, and came to Grand Rapids with $1,000, which he invested in landed property. He platted Wenham's Addition, and built his residence (cost $3,000) and several tenant houses. In consequence of the panic of '56-'7 he abandoned real estate transactions for a few years. He fitted up and put in good working order the second bindery in this city, and sold the busi- ness under good auspices at the end of two years, when he en- gaged in trade in liatter's merchandise, made ladies' fine furs and dealt in all kinds of glovers' wares; carried on a wholesale and retail enterprise for 10 years, and sold out late in 1871 and retired from active business. In 1872 he built three brick stores, 18x80 feet, three stories above basement, on Nos. 14, 16 and 18 Division st., within 20 feet of Monroe st. In 1874 he built a brick residence, No. 168 Fountain st., his homestead, at an expenditure of $13,000.

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In 1878 he bought land on the northeast corner of Monroe and Division sts., and erected a three-story and basement brick, frontage of 71 feet. He also owns other valuable property. Mr. Wenham was married May 1, 1852, to Sarepta M., daughter of Obadiah and Marilla Bliss, born May 12, 1835, in De Ruyter, N. Y. Mrs. Wenham is a descendant of a musical family, of whom she in- herited a high order of musical talent. Her parents. moved to Chagrin Falls, O., when she was but four years of age, that place being her home until her marriage at the age of 15. Mrs. Wen- ham entered the Willoughby Ladies' Seminary as a pupil and teacher of vocal music, and also held the situation of soprano of the Presbyterian Church of that village. One year and six months were passed at this place, when she was married, and removed with her husband to Cleveland, O. In that city Mrs. Wenham sang in the First Presbyterian Church for six months, and then as soprano in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, until the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Wenham to Grand Rapids. Soon after coming to Grand Rapids Mrs. Wenham accepted a position at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, retaining the same situation for 18 years. Subsequently, while on a visit to Chicago, she accepted a situation and sung in St. James' Episcopal Church of that city. Mrs. W. is well known in all the above-named cities as a lady of rare musical talent and attainments. Mr. and Mrs. Wenham have had a family of four children-an infant son, who died Aug. 22, 1853; Wm. Bliss, born Sept. 14, 1856, and died Sept. 22, 1871; Nellie M., born June 16, 1859, died March 1, 1862, and Cora, their only living child, born Feb. 20, 1861. The last named has inherited that love for, and excellence in music, which is so characteristic of her mother's family. As a pianist and vocalist she is pronounced by musical critics to be highly accomplished. Miss Wenham is now complet- ing her education at Cincinnati, O.

We give on another page a portrait of John C. Wenham from a photograph taken at the age of 50 years.

Isaac M. Weston, cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, was born April 20, 1845, at North Anson, Me. Removed to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1859. He is a son of William and Mari- anne (Hopkins) Weston. In 1862 he was engaged in the Little Crow Indian Campaign, as Lieutenant in a Minnesota Regiment. In 1863 he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he spent two years. In '65 he entered the employ of the United States Government as Military Storekeeper at Fort Laramie, Dak., and the year following was managing editor of the Salt Lake (Utah) Daily Vedette. In 1867 he embarked in the lumber business at Whitehall, Mich., and Milwaukee, asso- ciated with his father. In 1877 he became cashier of the First National Bank of Whitehall, Mich., of which institution his father was president, and in September, 1879, on the retirement of the latter from active business life, he succeeded to his position, which he still retains. In January, 1881, he accepted the position of

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cashier of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Grand Rapids. He is also at the head of two lumber and saw-mill firms at White- hall, and has pine land interests on Muskegon and Manistee rivers. He is a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for the Fifth Congressional District, and in 1880 was the Democratic Candidate for State Treasurer. At Whitehall he was Vestryman and Treasurer of the Episcopal Church and Society for several years.

Julian M. Wheeler, senior member of Wheeler & Green, manu- facturers of fanning mills, was born in this city, Sept. 28, 1846. He is a son of Josiah L. and Julia (Norton) Wheeler, natives of New York, who removed to this county at an early day. Mr. Wheeler received a good education in the public schools of his native city, and subsequently served a three and a half years' apprenticeship at the book-binding trade, with Julius Fry, of East Saginaw, Mich. Soon after he located at Oil City, Pa., where he remained two years; then returned to Grand Rapids, and engaged with Reuben Wheeler in the sash, door and blind manufacturing business, on Mill street, the firm employing 65 men, and doing the largest business of the kind in the city. Mr. Wheeler sold out his interest in this business, and subsequently formed a co-partnership with William Green in the present business. Mr. Wheeler is a member of Valley City Lodge (Masonic), and one of the charter members of the Junior Old Settlers' Association. He was married July 5, 1869, to Emma A. Hunter, who was born at Rockford, Kent Co., Mich., June 20, 1847. Mrs. Wheeler is a daughter of Harrison and Lydia (Church) Hunter, of New York. In 1877 Mrs. Wheeler became connected with the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union of Grand Rapids, and the following year was elected its Secretary. She has always taken an active interest in the cause of temperance reform, and since becoming connected with the society has labored earnestly and faithfully to sustain the society and to promote its interests. Her efforts have been uniformly suc- cessful, and she enjoys the confidence and esteem of the better class of citizens of Grand Rapids and the county at large.

William K. Wheeler was born Nov. 22, 1814, at Thetford, Orange Co., Vt. His father, Leonard, also a native of the Green Mountain State, was a farmer by occupation and a mechanic by trade. He moved from Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1816, and re- turned to his native State in 1825 to stay two years, when he moved west to Genesee Co., N. Y., and settled in the town of Bennington. Here he remained until he came to Michigan in 1870, and died at his son's residence at Grand Rapids, in Decem- ber, 1871, at the age of 81. William K. obtained his schooling mostly in Genesee Co., N. Y., and at the age of 16 he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has made the business of his life. He came to Grand Rapids in September, 1846, and for the first five years made teaching of vocal and violin music his business through- out Western Michigan. Since that time he has followed his trade vent to the State, and as a pioneer justly merits mention in a his- tory of Kent county.

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In the fall of 1849 he joined Grand River Lodge, No. 34, of the order of Free Masons, and in 1856 became its Master for one year. Soon after, in 1857, he was admitted to the Valley City Lodge, No. 86, and in fall of 1861 was made its Master successively for seven years, from fall of 1861 to '68, also from 1879 to 1881; and in 1876 the Doric Lodge, No. 342, was organized, and he has been its Mas- ter since its organization. He was married in January, 1836, to ' Miss Louisa Woodard, of Genesee Co., N. Y., and they have two daughters -- Almira, now Mrs. S. O. Dishman, of Grand Rapids, and Louisa, a music teacher of rare attainments, and John, a mechanic of Grand Rapids.

Hon. Geo. H. White was born at Dresden, Yates Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1822 ; is son of Joseph and Lucy (Rowley) White, natives of Watkins, at the head of Seneca Lake, N. Y. Mr. White is the eldest of five children-only two of whom survive. He attended the schools of Dresden until his thirteenth year, when he went to Fountain Co., Ind., with his grandfather, Ezra Rowley. He spent a year on the farm and engaged as clerk in a store at Portland, in the same county. A year later he went to Covington, the county seat, and was occupied as a clerk until 1842. May 2 of that year he entered the employ of A. & G. B. Rathbun, of Grand Rapids. In 1844 he was elected Register of Deeds, of Kent county, which position he held two years, being at the same time silent partner in the dry-goods house of Amos Rathbun. Messrs. White & Rathbun extended their business interests and engaged in the lumber trade, Mr. White going to Rockford to manage a store as auxiliary, and remaining five years. He returned to Grand Rapids and officiated

one term on the Board of Kent County Supervisors. He was elected Mayor in 1861 and re-elected in 1862. He was elected in the fall of the same year to represent the Grand Rapids District in the Legislature. In 1863, in connection with Wm. T. Powers, he engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Rouge river and Grand Rapids; this relation continued three years. In 1865 a partnership including Mr. White, Amos Rathbun and Alfred D. Rathbun, under the style of Geo. H. White & Co., was formed, and pur- chased the " Old Plaster Mill," and 425 acres of land. This mill is located near the southern limits of Grand Rapids and is the oldest of the kind in the State. Mr. White is a stockholder and director of the G. R. & I. R. R., and has devoted much time to its interests. He was also a member of the Continental Improve- ment Co., through whose efforts the road was completed from Ft. Wayne, Ind., to Little Traverse Bay. In partnership with Amos Rathbun, he built nine stores on Monroe st., and in 1874 one third of the Aldrich, Godfrey & White block in the same street -- one of the finest buildings in the city, 132 feet front, 112 feet deep and four stories above the basement. It is finished from top to bottom in the best style for business offices. Mr. White also deals largely in real estate and is part owner of Godfrey & White's addition in the southern part of the city. In

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1861 he became a member of the Masonic order, and in 1848 of the Odd Fellows; was a charter member of the eleventh lodge organized in the State; is also a Knight of Pythias. He is liberal in his religious views ; was a Whig until the political issues of the period obliterated the party and he became a Democrat. He was married Dec. 12, 1853, at Rockford, to Sarah A. Hetfield, of Cov- ington, Fountain Co., Ind .; they have two daughters - Georgiana Rathbun and Hattie Hetfield White. Mr. White has achieved success in every financial enterprise of his life. He has given his best energies and judgment to whatever business he had in hand, having early adopted the principle that it mattered little what ' business interests a man pursued if he pursued them with his might. He has simply taken ventures as opportunity served and pressed them to success by resolution and persistency. A portrait of Mr. White is given on another page of this volume.

George H. White, of the firm of White & Dodge, attorneys at law, No. 81 Monroe st., and son of George F. and Esther A. White, was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., July 17, 1834. He attended the common schools till 11 years old, when he was placed under private tutors till the age of 14. In his 15th year he com- menced as a civil engineer which he followed till nearly 19, having charge of a sub party on location and construction most of the time. Then, at the suggestion of Mr. J. B. Mckean, late Chief Justice of Utah, he commenced the study of law intending to study with him, but Mr. McKean being elected to a judicial office, he studied with Hoag & Crane, of Saratoga Springs. After studying nearly two years he entered the office of Reuben H. Walworth, late Chancellor of the State of New York, under employment in con- nection with the patent suit, pending before him under reference from the Supreme Court of the United States in which Burdan and sons, of the Troy Iron Works. were plaintiffs against Erastus Corn- ing and John F. Winslow, being the famous hook-headed railroad spike case. He continued studies under the personal supervision of Chancellor Walworth, who had previously interested himself in our subject's studies. He then took the Western fever and went to Iowa and practiced a few months at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co. He then left on account of poor health and went to Chicago, and finally settled in this city in the fall of 1855, where he has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession ever since, himself and part- ner enjoying a very lucrative practice. He has been Justice of the Peace four years, Circuit Court Commissioner two years, City Attorney one term, Acting Prosecuting Attorney of Kent county part of one term, and assistant the remainder of the term; was As- sistant United States District Attorney under the administration of F. O. Rodgers, United States District Attorney; Attorney of Western Michigan, also during part of the administration of his successor, A. D. Griswold. He is now having quite an extensive practice in the Courts of Kent and surrounding counties, the Uni- ted States Courts of Western Michigan and the Supreme Courts of

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the United States. He was married at Grand Ledge, Ingham Co., Mich., in 1864 to Hattie, second daughter of Harrison Halbert, a capitalist of that place.

Isaiah J. Whitfield, M. D., for the past 10 years practicing physician at Grand Rapids, is a native of Hamilton, Canada, and was born Feb. 23, 1835; he is a son of Frederick J. and Susanna (Churchill) Whitfield, the former born in England and the latter in Nova Scotia. Frederick J. Whitfield was a minister of the "Christian Church " and came to Vergennes tp., this county, in 1847, bringing his wife and family of six sons; here he remained some six months, when the family moved to the town of Keene, Ionia county, where he bought a farm which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared. A daughter was born to them in Kent county, and the seventh son was born in Ionia county.

From 1847 until 1862 he was widely known throughout Ionia county and the northeastern part of Kent; he is still well remem- bered by the residents of these localities as a preacher of rare na- tive eloquence. As a Bible scholar he was seldom surpassed. His faith in the Christian religion was unbounded, and the business of his life was to preach the gospel pure and simple, without money and without price. He was called by those who had listened to his eloquent preaching one of Nature's greatest orators, who at will, through the magnetic influence of his voice, moved whole audiences to tears. While still in harness, and discharging his ministerial duties in Canada, he was taken sick and died, Oct. 22, 1865. His wife had preceded him some three years, departing this life in Ionia county, in July, 1862.

The subject of this sketch passed his minority on his father's farm, in the meantime receiving such advantages for an education as were afforded by the district schools. At the age of 21 he made an extended tour of the Western country as far as the Rocky Mountains. On his return to Michigan in 1860 he was married in Ionia county, to Miss Kate Knapp. Soon afterward he moved to Fremont Co., Iowa, where he began reading medicine in the office of R. R. Hanley, M. D.

In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 4th Iowa Vol. Inf., to serve in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and in consequence was obliged to leave his wife and a babe three months old among comparative strangers. This was a great trial, but his duty to his country beckoned him on, and when next he met the loved ones the babe was a prattling child of nearly three years, and lisping the name "Papa." Soon after his enlistment, the regiment was ordered to Missouri, and was in camp at Rolla until February, 1862, when they took part under Gen. Curtiss in driving the rebel army under Gen. Price out of Springfield, Mo., and beyond "Cross Hollows," Arkansas. Soon afterward occurred the battle of "Pea Ridge," at which memorable battle the Doctor participated; his comrades on either side were shot down, although he escaped without injury. During this engagement he was con-

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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 116

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