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 117

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 117

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

tinually in the fight, and discharged many rounds of ammunition at the enemy, estimated to be in weight three pounds of lead. Half of his company was killed or wounded. After this battle he received the appointment of Orderly Sergeant of his company, and on the arrival of the regiment at Helena, Ark., at the solicita- tion of the surgeon, he was appointed " Hospital Steward," dis- charging the duties of that office for two years and a half. This position kept him always at the front and in constant service. The Doctor was with his regiment in 35 different engagements, begin- ning at Sugar Creek, Mo., and ending at Bentonville, N. C., cov- ering a period of four years and one month. Among the most notable in which he participated was that of Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicksburg; Arkansas Post, where 7,000 rebels were taken prisoners; the Vicksburg campaign until its surrender; battle of Lookout Mountain. The first night after this battle commenced, there was but one other surgeon besides the Doctor to attend to the wounded, who comprised men from 16 different regiments.

In 1864, he, with his entire regiment, re-enlisted as veterans, and after a short visit home on furlough he again entered active service, participating in the Atlanta campaign, and was with Gen. Sherman's army in its famous " march to the sea." On the arrival of the regiment at Savannah, Ga., the Doctor received his commis- sion as Assistant Surgeon, but had discharged the duties of that office for the two preceding years. From Savannah the regiment marched to Beanfort and Columbia, S. C., and thence to Bentonville, N. C., where it took part in the last battle of the war. The regi- ment paraded in the grand review of the Union army held in Washington in 1865; was then ordered to Louisville, Ky., and two months afterward to Davenport, Iowa, where it was mustered out of the service Aug. 24, 1865.

The war having ended, he returned to his family at Lowell, Mich. It may be mentioned that five brothers of Dr. W. served as soldiers in the Union army, two being severely wounded in the seven days' fight before Richmond; subsequently one, Thos. N., died at Annapolis, Maryland, while still in the service. During the whole period of the Doctor's service he lost but three days' time from sickness, and it was computed that his regiment during serv- ice traveled S,000 miles.

On his return home he resumed the study of his chosen profes- sion, and in the winter of 1865-'6 he attended a course of medical lectures at Ann Arbor. In the spring of 1866 he moved to Big Rapids, and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1869 he attended lectures at the Homeopathic Medical College at Cleve- land, O., where he graduated in the spring of 1870, and in Novem- ber, 1871, he located permanently at Grand Rapids, where he has built up a fine practice and has won an enviable reputation as a thorough, competent, and successful physician. The doctor is dis- tinctly a homeopathist, liberal in his views, and tolerant of other schools. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and Kent county

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Homeopathic Medical Societies, and of the American Institute of Homeopathy, one of the oldest medical societies in existence in this country.

Dr. Whitfield has four children living, three daughters and one son. He has three brothers that are physicians, one living in Grand Rapids, Mich .; the second in Dakota, and the third in New York.

A good portrait of Dr. I. J. Whitfield will be found on another page.

Charles A. Whittemore, machinist, corner S. Front and Pearl streets, was born in Lincoln Co., Me., in 1850, and removed to Cumberland county at an early age. He is a son of Enoch and Rebecca (Frost) Whittemore, natives of Maine. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native State, attending the common schools. In 1872 he entered Bowdoin College, and graduated from the mechanical engineer department in the

class of 1876. When 18 years of age, he had resolved to learn the machinist's trade, and worked at it some before entering college; after leaving college he taught school for a short time, and in 1878 came to Grand Rapids. He was first em- ployed in the Buss Machine Works, remaining there 10 months. He afterward entered the employ of H. D. Wallen, jr., of the Michigan Iron Works, with whom he remained until the spring of 1881. He then established his present business, and in the short time since intervening has built up a rapidly increasing trade. In 1881 he received the degree of Mechanical Engineer from Bowdoin College, and has lately taken charge of a class in mechani- cal drawings. His father died when he was a babe, leaving to his mother the care of a large family of children. In the short time since Mr. Whittemore's arrival at Grand Rapids, he has made many friends, and succeeded in establishing a rapidly increasing business.

John Whittemore, Vice-President of the Grand Rapids Stave Company, was born at Malden, Mass., June 24, 1824, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Bentley) Whittemore. When two years of age he accompanied his parents to New York, and eight years later to Hookset, in the same State, where he obtained a good common-school education. When 17 years of age, he went to Chelsea, Mass., where he learned the mason's trade, and worked at it until 1866, when, in company with George W. Hewes and Marshall S. Lord, he purchased the cooperage business of J. W. Converse. When the present company was formed, in 1878, Mr. Whittemore became its Vice-President While a resident of Chel- sea, Mass., Mr. Whittemore was Superintendent of the streets, and since coming to Grand Rapids, has officiated as a member of the School Board. He was married Feb. 13, 1855, to Lavina D. Slade, a native of Chelsea, Mass. Of their five children three are living-Edward, Nellie and Carrie. Annie and Alice are deceased. Mr. Whittemore is a faithful and consistent member of the Division street M. E. Church.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Dr. Henry Wildberger was born in Bamberg, Bavaria, April 6, 1840; is son of Johannes and Louise Wildberger. His father was a man of position and was Court Counsel in Germany at one time. At 10 years of age Dr. W. entered the Gymnasium in Bamberg and remained eight years, and then attended the Polytechnic School at Carlsruhe, Baden. Two years after, in 1860, he began the study of medicine at Wuerzburg, graduating four years after, and studied a year at the University of Munich, and another year at Berlin. In 1866 he entered the Bavarian army and served through the troubles with the Austrian Govern- ment. He then entered the hospitals of Vienna and Prague, and in 1867 began as a practitioner in Bavaria. In 1870 and 1871 he was surgeon in chief of a corps of hospital physicians and surgeons, and at one time the institution had 1,200 wounded soldiers in its wards. In 1871 he organized a private hospital at Jaegersburg Castle, which he managed until 1875, when he came to America, aud settled at Grand Rapids, where he has an extensive and popular practice, and is considered a thorough and reliable practitioner. He was married in 1868 in Bavaria, to Adelgunde Pfisterer, a native of that State. They have four sons and three daughters. When the doctor came to this city he understood no English, and only by dint of hard work and perseverance has reached his present prosperity. Office, 82 Canal street.

John L. Wilkes, dry- goods merchant, at No. 60 Monroe street, is a native of Danbury, Conn. Mr. Wilkes spent his boy- hood and youth at home on the farm, attending the school of the neighborhood, and at 12 years of age entered the Danbury Military Academy; afterward the State Normal School, at 15 years of age. In 1860 he became Principal of the Bethel Institute, at Bethel, Conn., which position he retained six years. In 1865 he came West and located at Grand Rapids, where he entered the em- ploy of C. B. Allyn, a dry-goods merchant, as salesman, where he continued about seven years. In 1871 he opened a new stock in the same line at No. 56 Monroe street. In 1876 he removed to his present location, No. 60 Monroe street. He occupies the first floor and basement, size 22x100 feet, and carries a complete line of the fine grades of dry goods. He employs eight salesmen and enjoys a rapidly increasing trade. He was married, June 3, 1873, to Miss Sophia Putnam, of Grand Rapids, and they have one son- John L., jr.

James B. Wilkinson (Wilkinson & French, 51 Kent street) was born in Townsend, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1836; is son of Nehemiah and Sarah (Hunter) Wilkinson. They moved to Lagrange Co., Ind., when he was four years old. His father's calling was that of carpenter and joiner, and he learned the blacksmith's business in Iro- quois, Ill., followed it seven years, and learned photographing. Three years after he engaged as foreman and conductor on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. He remained seven years; went on the G. R. & I. R. R., in 1865, as conductor, and afterward engaged eight years

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as contractor. He was married in Newaygo county, in 1854,to Sarah J., daughter of George and Sally French, born in New York, in 1836. At the end of his engagement with the last-named road, he and his wife spent some months in California; returned to this city and opened a general loan office at the corner of Pearl and Campau streets; a year later kept a hardware store at 73 Canal-street, and the next year spent six months traveling through the Western and Southern States. On his return he embarked in his present business. Feb. 1, 1881, he established his present location, and keeps nine horses, one hack, sale and boarding stables, etc .; is doing a prosper- ous business; is a member of the Odd Fellows order.

J. A. Williams, M. D., was born in Ameliansburg, Canada, Jan. 26, 1843; is son of Isaac and Charlotte (Harrington) Williams. The latter died in 1878; the former is still living in Canada, where he has been a prominent farmer and politician, and is regarded as an able man. Dr. Williams passed the first 13 years of his life on a farm, when his father purchased a woolen mill and caused him to be instructed in the details of the business, and at 18 was placed in charge. The next year he entered the office of his brother, W. S. Williams, an eminent lawyer, and remained one year. He began the study of medicine with Dr. R. Rethan, and a year later entered Victoria Medical College. at Toronto, where he took one course of lectures, and in 1874 came to the United States. He attended lect- ures at the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, and graduated in 1875. In 1877 he entered one of the departments of Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, and completed a full course in 15 months, graduating in 1878. He took private instruction from different professors, and in August, 1878, came to Grand Rapids, where he has a successful and increasing practice. He is a member of the Western Michigan Medical Society, and belongs to the Sanitary Association of this city. He was married in 1874 to Mary Minogue, born in Pennsylvania. They have one son-Frederick J., four years old. Dr. Williams has a fine office at 100 Monroe street. His brother, W. S. Williams, resides at Napanee, Ontario, and is now Mayor of that city.

Mrs. Ellen E . Wilson, the able and efficient Secretary of the Union Benevolent Association, of Grand Rapids, was born in this city in 1844, and is a daughter of A. B. Turner, proprietor and editor of Grand Rapids Eagle. Mrs. Wilson was reared amid all the comforts and luxuries that adorn and embellish a cultivated and refined family and society, and when developing in the more mature joys of pure womanhood, was led to the altar by Tileston A., only son of C. C. Comstock, of Grand Rapids, and a young man pos- sessing more than ordinary accomplishments. Five short years of wedded life passed over their heads, and the Reaper of Death laid low the form of the beloved husband. Tileston A. Comstock loved life, but he was not afraid to die. He lived a pure, noble and unselfish life, and died a Christian hero. Mrs. Comstock sub- sequently married Robert Wilson, and a few years after suffered

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

the loss of a second companion in the path through life. Twice widowed, but possessing a nobleness of character, will and energy second to none, Mrs. Wilson resolved to devote a portion of her life to the poor and needy. During the great Chicago fire she became interested in benevolent work, and lent the sufferers such aid as was within her power. The same year Mrs. Wilson became con- nected with the Union Benevolent Association, of Grand Rapids, and in 1874, became Secretary pro tempore. Two years later she was elected permanent Secretary, which position she has since filled. Mrs. Wilson is a lady of rare accomplishments ; is endowed with a strong, clear mind, a bright, intelligent expression, and above all, a kind and loving disposition, which characterizes the true Christian woman.

George B. Wilson, adopted son of Armenius and Eliza (Smith) Bibbins, was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., June 27, 1837. His father died when he was 18 months old and he and his mother went to Cleveland, O., returning to New York, where his mother died six months after his father's death. He was then adopted by Armenius Bibbins, at Covington Centre, who died when his ward was nine years old. Heengaged on the Genesee Val- ley canal and also on the Erie canal as driver, and at the end of two summers returned to Mrs. Bibbins with a $3 counterfeit bill and 75 cents in small change. He left the boat at 4 o'clock P. M. and walked 31 miles, reaching home at 3 A. M. He then worked at a saw-mill three months wheeling sawdust, after which he lived three years with Col. Williams on a farm in Portage, receiving $9 per month for nine months in the year, attending school winters. He then worked for Horace Hunt (now of Jackson) and for his brother, Washington Hunt, Governor of New York, as foreman, at $3 per day. He was married in Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1861, to Amelia, daughter of Conrad and Cynthia Swartout, born in that county. They have two children-George C., born in Liv- ingston county, July 14, 1863, and Amelia, in Grand Rapids. Mr. Wilson came to Grand Rapids and engaged grading the streets and as a foreman in lumbering one winter. He went back to New York intending to remain, but returned in three months to Tecum seh, Lenawee Co., and engaged as a commercial traveler, selling drugs and medicines. He then bought the Kelloggville hotel in Paris, and while there opened an oil well which he sold for $2,600. He then engaged as foreman of the grading force on Bridge and Fulton sts., Grand Rapids, finally buying a livery stable and liquor store, on Canal st., cor. of Huron, where he lost everything. He worked 13 years as foreman for Sydney Ball, in the livery business, after which he entered upon liis present business on Oak st., near Waterloo, where he runs a fine line of hacks and carriages and has recently started a five-cent omnibus line from the D. & M. depot to the Union depot. He ran the first hack in Grand Rapids.

James B. Willson, Circuit Court Commissioner, was born in 1823 at Willoughby, Ohio. His parents were Samuel and Sarah

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Willson. He graduated at the Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio, in 1846, and afterward fitted for his profession, at Yale Law School. He was married at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in 1849 to Charlotte O. Booth, and they have two sons. The elder-Theodore B., is in the ministry of the Congregational Church. Arthur H. is employed as salesman in Kimball's piano and organ rooms. Mr. Willson came to Grand Rapids in 1859 and has practiced law since that time. He was elected to his present position in 1870, serving eight years, and re-elected in 1880.

William L. Wilson, blacksmith, No. 22 North Fountain street, son of George and Cecelia Wilson, was born in Canada in 1837. In 1870 he came to Pontiac, Mich., and opened business, working successfully at his trade. In 1873 he came to Grand Rapids and opened a shop on the corner of Ottawa and Louis streets, with Wm. Oswald; this relation continued nine months, and in com- pany with Wm. Crawford he established a shop at the corner of Waterloo and Louis streets, which they operated until May, 1881, when he removed to his present stand. He makes a specialty of shoeing, and employs three men; does an annual business of $6,000. He was married in Oxford, Oakland Co., Sept. 3, 1862, to Mary L. Davison, born in 1841. They have two children -William B. and Mary B. Mr. Wilson owns a residence on Randolph street, near Hall. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and the United Workmen.

Solomon L. Withey, United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan, resides at Grand Rapids, and holds terms of the National Courts at that place and at Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. He was appointed to the bench by President Lincoln, in the spring of 1863, upon the passage of the Act of Con- gress creating the Western judicial district of the State, and or- ganized the Federal Circuit and District Courts at Grand Rapids the same year. In addition to discharging his duties as Judge of the District Court, Judge Withey has; as one of the Judges of the Circuit, presided at the trial of nearly every cause tried in the last named tribunal.

Judge Withey was born at St. Albans Point, Franklin Co., Vt., April 21, 1820. About 1828 his father moved to St. Albans Bay, and here most of the boyhood of Judge Withey was spent. Here he attended the discrict school, and then the academy at St. Albans village. In September, 1835, his father emigrated to the West, spending the fall and winter at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where William H., the oldest of the family, resided, and removed in May, the following spring, to Grand Rapids. At Detroit the subject of this sketch engaged to go as clerk in a general store, at a place called Auberrys, sixteen miles up the river from Chatham, then Lower Canada. He remained there until the following November, and then went to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he served as clerk in a grocery house during the winter of 1836-'37. In March, 1837, he came to Grand Rapids for the first time. After

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a short visit with his father and family Judge Withey concluded to return to Cuyahoga Falls, O., and there attend school. In May he arrived at the latter place and entered what was then the Cuyahoga Falls Institute, and remained until August, 1838, when his father required his services for a time, and Judge Withey in that month returned to Grand Rapids, where he has continued to reside. His school days were now over. During the winter of 1838-'39 he taught a select school at Grand Rapids, in an unpre- tentious building, then on the east side of Kent street, near the corner of Kent and Bridge streets. In the fall of 1839 Judge Withey entered the office of Rathbun & Martin, as a student of law; was admitted to the bar May 17, 1843, and entered into partnership with Hon. John Ball in the spring of 1844, in the practice of law, under the name of Ball & Withey. In 1846 George Martin, with whom Judge Withey pursued his studies, and who was afterward Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, became associated with Ball & Withey, and the firm was then Ball, Maitin & Withey.

Judge Withey's business connection with Mr. Ball terminated at the close of 1851; Mr. Martin had then gone upon the bench. Afterward Judge Withey was senior member of the firms of Withey & Sargeant, Withey & Eggleston and Withey & Gray. From the outset of his professional career he did not lack for busi- ness or clients, both continuing to increase while he remained in practice.

From 1840 to 1844 the Grand Rapids postoffice was connected with the law office in which Judge Withey was a student, and he was employed and took the principal charge of that office, under Mr. James M. Nelson, P. M., at a salary of $8.00 per montlı, be- ing the only employe, and at the same time pursuing his studies.

He was Judge of Probate of Kent county from January, 1848, for four years, an office which, at that period, required but little of his time. He was State Senator from January, 1861, to Janu- ary, 1863. In 1867 he was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of his State, and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The proposed Constitution failed to be ratified by the people, and in 1873 Judge Withey was one of the 18 gentlemen selected by the Governor, under an Act of the Legislature, to form the Constitutional Commission for revising the State Constitution, and was, by such Commission, made Chairman of the Judiciary Com- mittee. Judge Withey was President of the First National Bank of Grand Rapids for about 10 years from 1869, and is now one of its Board of Directors.

Judge Withey has been called to Detroit, Cleveland and Mem- phis, Tenn., to hold the National Courts, owing mainly to the temporary inability of the local judge, or the accumulation of the business of the courts of those places. When, in 1869, Congress created the office of United States Circuit Judge, Judge Withey was appointed by President Grant to that office, for the Sixth

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Judicial Circuit, composed of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. An acceptance of this office would involve, not only increased labor, but absence from home most of the time, and pos- sible sacrifice of health. Although he had been confirmed by the Senate and had received his commission from the President, such considerations, together with the growing importance of his own district, induced him to decline the proffered honor and large sphere of judicial labor, and remain District Judge. .

The family name of the subject of this sketch is McWithey, it having been changed by his grandfather, who dropped the Mc from the patronymic. His grandfather was a Scotchman, Silas Withey, who served during the Revolution as a soldier in the American army, and drew a pension until his death, which oc- curred at St. Albans Point, Vt., in 1836. The wife of Silas Withey was Abigail Ferry, of Dutch descent. She died about 1828. His father, Solomon Withey, was born near Sandy Hill, Washington Co., N. Y., and died Oct. 6, 1851, aged 64 years. Judge Withey's mother was Julia Granger, a native of Sheffield, Mass. She died at St. Albans Point, March 24, 1825, aged 34 years. Her mother was Matilda Moore, a. Scotch woman. Judge Withey requests the statement to be made that as to the places of the na- tivity of his father and mother, there was an error of fact in the sketch of himself, published in the late "History of Eminent and Self-Made Men of the State of Michigan," as he has since ascer- tained from authentic sources.

On Dec. 24, 1846, Judge Withey married Marion L. Hinsdill, a native of Hinesburg, Vt., a daughter of Myron and Emily (Kel- logg) Hinsdill. Her father was a native of Hinesburg and her mother a native of the State of New York; both died at Grand Rapids. Judge Withey has five children living-Lewis H., Ed- ward W., Chester H., Eleanor M. and Charles S. One daughter, Adelaide M., died when four years old.

Judge Withey and his wife united with the First Congregational Church of Grand Rapids in 1848, of which they continue mem- bers. A portrait of Judge Withey appears in this volume.

Edward W. Withey, attorney at law, was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 25, 1852, son of preceding. He completed a full course of study in the public schools of his native city, and entered the freshmen class of the literary department of the University of Michigan, in the fall of 1870, taking the regular classical course. Upon his graduation, in 1874, he at once entered upon the study of the law in the office of Hughes, O'Brien & Smiley, and has continued uninterruptedly in the study and prac- tice of his profession to the present time. During the winter of 1875-'6, having previously been admitted to the bar in this county upon examination, he attended lectures at the law school of the State University, and received a diploma from that department as a member of the class of 1876. In June, of the same year, his University conferred on him the degree M. A. Mr. Withey

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entered upon the active practice of his profession in May, 1878, having formed a partnership with Mr. R. W. Butterfield. This partnership terminated in January, of the present year, since which time he has been associated with no one. Although one of the younger members of the bar he has always succeeded in win- ning for himself a position that promises continued success in his chosen profession.

Lewis H. Withey, of L. H. Withey & Co., was born in Grand Rapids, in 1847, a brother of the preceding. He was reared in his native place and educated in the Williston Seminary, at East Hampton, Mass. In 1867 he established his present business, in connection with Robert B. Woodcock, and the firm have succeeded in building up a large and steadily increasing business. Mr. Withey was married, in 1872, to Margaret B. McQuewan, a native of Pittsburg, Pa. They have one child-Maud. Mrs. Withey is a member of the First Congregational Church.

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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 117

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