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 128
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148
Oliver Perry Jewell was born in Hector, Tompkins (now Schuyler) Co., N. Y., March 22, 1825. His education was mainly obtained in the common schools of his native town, and he learned the trade of printer in the city of New York, where he spent bis spare time at Cornelius Institute, under the charge of Rev. J. J. Owen. He taught five terms of district school, and came to Cedar Springs in the fall of 1857, and in connection with his father bought the farm he now occupies. It was then primeval forest. The following fall he brought his fam- ily, made some improvements, and partly built a house ; but owing to the ill health of himself and wife he returned to New York State in August, 1859. In 1860 he was engaged on the Seneca County Sentinel, published at Ovid, N. Y., a most radical and outspoken Republican journal. On the breaking out of the war he became the publisher of the paper, and labored ardently in behalf of the Union cause. A year after he disposed of the office, and engaged as journey- man printer at Syracuse and Penn Yan, N. Y. He returned to Michigan in 1863, on the death of his father. `In 1864 he was engaged a few months on the Grand Rapids Eagle, and in 1867 went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade about five years. His farm includes 170 acres on sec. 34, Solon tp , two miles west of Cedar Springs. He was married Oct. 11, 1849, to Mary C. Strong, of Bridgehampton, L. I .; she died July 24, 1851, leaving a son, Charles Edgar, now living at Auburn, N. Y. Mr. Jewel was married again April 17, 1856, to Hannah Dimmick, of Hector, N. Y .; they have had three children-Ma'shall Henry, assistant editor of the Bismarck, D. T., Daily Tribune; Harry Dimmick, attending the Union School at Cedar Springs, and Adoretha, who died in infancy. Mr. Jewell's father, Ebenezer Jewell, was born at Salisbury, Conn., in 1789, removed to Greene Co., N. Y., and in 1824 to Hector. His sons settled in Michigan, and he sold his farm and followed them. He died in 1863. His widow, Anna (Jones) Jewell, surv ved him about a year and a half.
Timothy Konkle, farmer, was born in New York in 1834; is son of Abraham and Catherine (Driesbach) Konkle, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. He is a millwright and mechanic, and was employed at his trade until 41 years of age. In 1840 his parents settled on sec. 28, Solon tp., where he still resides. In 1856 he was married to Mary Jane Lamoreaux, born in New York, of French and English parentage. They have three children. In 1870 he first gave his attention to farming. . His place is well improved, and has a substantial home and commodious buildings. Politically he is a Democrat.
H. R. Knight, proprietor of Knight's Hotel, of Cedar Springs, was born near Syracuse, N. Y., March 27, 1834. His parents, Westcott and Elizabeth Knight, were natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts. In 1838 they came to Oakland Co., Mich., and in 1839, to Wayne county. Mr. Knight passed his early life on a farm. In 1853 he came to Grand Rapids, where he followed milling for 15 years.
1264
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
The years 1869-'70 he was engaged in lumbering in Muskegon. He then re- turned to Cedar Springs and pursued his former occupation till 1877. when he opened the Knight's Hotel. He was married Aug. 7, 1855, to Lucy A. Burch, who was born in Oakland county Oct. 20, 1848. Of their five children three are living, viz .- Embra A., Fred F. and Will W. Jennie M. and Daisy are de- ceased. Mrs. K. is a member of the M. E Church, and Mr. K. is a Republican.
S. J. Latimer, liveryman, Sand Lake, was born in Warren Co., O., April 28, 1851. In 1856 his parents removed to Allegan Co., Mich., and in 1868 to Barry county. Mr. Latimer followed lumbering in Montcalm and Kent counties till March, 1873, when he came to Sand Lake. He was married April 24, 1872, to Sarah M. Fowler, by whom he has had four children; Frank and George are liv- ing. Politically Mr. L. is Democratic.
Alonzo Link, of the firm of Johnson & Link, lumber dealers, was born in Phila- delphia, Pa, Oct. 24, 1836. At the age of 10 years his parents removed to Buffalo, N. Y., where they remained two years, then migrated to Chippewa, since, Little York, Ont., where Mr. Link attended school one term. In 1852 he accom- panied his parents to Brantford, Ont. Mr. Link obtained most of his education in the High Schools of Branttord and Caradock. In 1854 his parents returned to Philadelphia, and he entered the stage of life alone. He chose the occupation of sawyer, and has since, in connection with building, followed that vocation. In 1858 he came to Marine City and was employed in a ship-yard and in the mill of E. B. Ward six years. Aug. 19, 1865, he was married in the city of St Clair, to Miss Abbie Hutchins. After his marriage he went to Iowa and returned in May, 1866. He then entered the employ of Buck Bros. & Hastings as sawyer, and in 1867 went to Pine Lake and followed his former vocation till January 1870, when he returned to Cedar Springs and had charge of Newton anu Gaze's mill till April, 1872, when it burned, he losing $500. The mill was rebuilt the same year, and subsequently Mr. Link became a partner. This mill burned in June, 1873, and Mr. L. continued a part of the time as a partner and as an em- ployer in the mill till January, 1879, when the present firm was organized.
Mr. and Mrs. Link have had two children, viz .- Chas. F., born Nov. 9 1868, died July 25, 1872, and George Anson, born Nov. 8, 1870, now living. Mrs Link was born in London, England, April 18, 1843, and came to America with her parents, John and Ella Hutchins, in 1854.
Daniel C. Lyle, attorney at law, Cedar Springs, was born on Prince Edward's Island Feb. 23, 1843. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth Lyle, the former a native of England, and the latter of Prince Edward's Island. Mr. Lyle, the sub- ject of this sketch, came to the United States with his father when a boy. In the year 1866 he came to Van Buren Co., Mich., where he worked on a farm by the month, acquiring means wherewith to attend school. He attended the Deca- tur High School and in 1868 took a course in the Ann Arbor schools. He taught school the winter of, 1868-'69, and subsequently read law with Judge Lawton, of Paw Paw. October, 1870, he entered the law department of the Michigan University, and graduated March 27, 1872. April 2, following, he was admitted to the Supreme Court, and in May, 1873, he was admitted to practice in the Court. of the United States. Immediately after his graduation he came to Cedar Springs, where he has since resided, successfully practicing his profession. Mr. Lyle has, by close adherence to his motto, " Be true in fear," and his eminent courtesy, won the profound respect and admiration of all. Mr. Lyle is wholly a self-
acquired man. He has established a large practice and a worthy name, and he well deserves the success which he has so honorably achieved. Our subject has held almost every office of his village. He served as Clerk of Solon five years; Village Attorney five years; member of the Village Council two years, and in 1881 was elected President of the village. He has represented his village as del- egate to county conventions for several years. In 1880 he was a delegate to the State Convention at Jackson. Higher honors yet await him. Mr. Lyle was united in 'marriage Nov. 5, 1874, to Miss Emeretta I. Cory, daughter of Isaac Cory, born in Galesburg. Mich., Aug. 4, 1855. Two children were the fruits of this union-Rov C. and Ernest C. (deceased). Mr. Lyle is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and in politics is Republican.
Nelson . Mabie was born in New York in 1832; is son of Amos C. and Anor (Fisher) Mabie, both natives of New York. He obtained a common-school edu- cation and has been a farmer all his life. In 1854 he went to Ionia county and two years later settled in Solon, on sec. 21, where he owns 80 acres of land,
.
1265
NELSON AND SOLON TOWNSHIPS.
claimed to be the best improved farm in the tp., the result of his own hard labor and good management. Mr. Mabie was married in 1868 to Catherine Young, born in 1835, in Canada West. She is daughter of Edward Young, a native of New York, born in 1800, of German descent, and still living in the family of Mr. Mabie.
H. W. McBryer, a resident of Cedar Springs, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y, Dec. 1, 1831. He is the second son and fifth child of Henry and Keziah (Slowen) McBryer, who were natives of County Down, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1826 settling in Jefferson Co., N. Y. Mr. McBryer passed his early life on a farm and received a common-school education. He pursued the vocation of farming till 1854, when he learned the miller's trade in Edwards, N. Y. He fol- folowed this up to 1864. In 1865 he was engaged in the mercantile business in Edwards, and also held the office of Postmaster from 1862 to 1866. In the fall of 1866 he removed to Burlington, Vt., and resumed his trade. He was there three years, two of which he was city police under Chief Police Lemuel Drew. In 1869 he came to Coopersville, Ottawa Co .. Mich., and subsequently became a partner of the firm of W. G. Watson & Co., merchants. In August, 1872, he re- moved to Cedar Springs and engaged with W. H. Wheeler, under the firm name of McBryer & Wheeler, in the mercantile business, in which he continued five years. Since that time Mr. McBryer has lived retired. He owns 145 acres of land in Ottawa county, and also real estate in Coopersville. He owns a farm of 77 acres on secs. 26, 34 and 35 of Solon, and owns one-fourth interest in 200 acres in Nelson tp: Mr. McBryer was married Sept. 15, 1857, to Jane Rushton, daugh- ter of John and Ann Rushton, born in Edwards, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Dec. 10, 1829. Mr. McBryer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically is a Republican. He had served the people of his village in the council three years and is one of its most respected citizens.
Walter H. McConnell, saloonist, Cedar Springs, was born in Scipio, Hillsdale Co., Mich., April 12, 1846. His parents, Peter and Jemima McConnell, were na- tives of Steuben Co., N. Y. They removed to the birthplace of our subject in the spring of 1831. In 1854 they removed and settled in Columbia, Jackson Co. He was Overseer of the Infirmary of that county during the year of 1856. He died Nov. 20, the same year. He was Sheriff of Hillsdale county one term.
Our subject was reared on a farm, and followed that occupation till the spring of 1868, when he came to Cedar Springs. In 1872 he engaged in his business. He was married Jan 1, 1869, to Rosena Kieber, a daughter of George Kieber. This marriage was blessed with three children; two are living, viz .- Cora and Edward, Politically Mr. M. is Democratic.
A. H. Moore, mechanic and lumberman, was born in Canada, in 1845; is son of James and Mary (Youngs) .Moore. He is the eldest of seven children, and his parents live in Solon tp., where his father owns a farm on sec. 22. He built a blacksmith shop and learned the trade working with hired m n. He owns and runs a steam saw-mill on sec. 15, which he built in 1880. His engine is one of 30-horse power, and the mill has a capacity of turning out 6,000 feet of lumber daily.
Chas. B. Moore, general merchant, and farmer, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Aug. 23 1828; is a son of Stewart C. and Mary A. Moore, who removed to Wayne Co., Mich., in 1834. In 1849 Mr. Moore returned to New York and served an apprenticeship at carriage-making in Geneva. He followed that trade until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the military service in Co. G., 126th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. He served in the army of the Potomac and fought at Maryland Heights and Harper's Ferry ; at the latter place he received injuries that led to his dis- charge Nov. 5, 1863. In December, 1864, he went at the head of a company as Assistant Superintendent and served in Tennessee till the close of the war, when he came to Nelson tp., Kent Co. He built a steam saw-mill and followed lumbering for 12 years. In 1878 he opened a general store at Pine Lake.
Mr. Moore was married Jan. 17, 1855, to Sarah A. Cole, daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth Cole, born in New Jersey, April 4, 1835. This union was blest with two children, viz. - Flora E., boin Jan. 7, 1859, wife of Jesse C. Van Liew, and Genevieve, born Dec. 2, 1864.
Mr. Moore and family are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. M. is a Repub- lican. He served as Justice of the Peace one term, and as Notary Public 16 years.
He owns 640 acres of land on s"cs. 34, 35, and 36 and 40 acres in Courtland.
Fred H. Olin, of the firm of Ware & Olin, Sand Lake, was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 19, 1853; is a son of Alonzo and Caroline Olin. He was reared
1266
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
on a farm and received his training in the common schools. In 1873 he came to Sand Lake, and was lumber inspector and foreman for E. Ware, up to 1881, when he became a partner with him in the planing mill. He served as a member of the Village Council one term, and is a Republican.
Mr. Olin was married on Feb. 1, 1879, to Mary Hannibal, of Grand Rapids. Millie, their only child, was born March 9, 1880.
John Olin was born in Vermont, Dec. 27, 1821 ; is son of Caleb and Belinda (Daniels) Olin, the former born in the Green Mountain State, the latter in Connecticut. Mr. Olin's father was a soldier of 1812-member of au artillery com- pany composed of six-footers picked for height. Mr. Olin obtained his education in his native State and came to Michigan in 1830. He settled in Solon on sec. 31, in 1857, and from nothing but labor aud thrift backed up by honesty and integrity has made a fine independence for future comfort. He was married in 1847 to Ro- sanna Whitehead, born in New York. Two of three children are living-Ida and John. Franklin is deceased. Mr. Olin belongs to the National party .
Elder J. Puyne was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1827; is son of Hiram and Calestria (Smith) Payne, the fornier a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York, both of English descent. He was educated in his native State and reared on a farm. He is a sample of the genuine pioneer preacher ; was ordained at the age of 29 and commenced his ministerial work, of which a slight summary is given. He has organized 100 societies of the United Brethren Church, and has dedicated 30 churches. His first year of ministerial work was spent in Wisconsin, where he itinerated, traveling afoot and preaching wherever opportunity served, sometimes under shelter, sometimes in the open air. While preaching in Richmond, Wis., at a protracted meeting, 204 persons were converted. He has done most of his work in Ohio and Wisconsin, chiefly in the latter State; has been Presiding El er since 1864. In 1871 he settted in Solon, where he owns a well-improved farm, with neat substantial residence, and surroundings that give evidence of taste and refinement; his farm is nearly all cleared. He is a man of fine phy-ical powers, hale and hearty, a good type of the traditional pioneer preacher. He claims to bave retired, but is filling three appointments; is Superintendent of a Sabbath school. He is a staunch Republican, and has always been zealous in temperance work. He was married in 1849 to Mrs. P. J. Salisbury, born in New York; they have two chil- dren-Sylvia C., now Mrs. Charles Pant, and Frank E., also married, and Princi- pal of the Eighth ward school at Grand Rapids.
Chauncey Pelton, an enterprising citizen of Grand Rapids, was born in Portland, Middlesex Co., Conn., March 31, 1821. His parents. Sandford and Phebe Pel- ton were also natives of Middlesex Co., Conn. In 1844 Mr. Pelton came to Plain- field, Kent Co., and purchased a farm, and followed its pursuit till 1857, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Plainfield. He cont nued in this busi- ness till 1870, since which time he has been manufacturing lumber and shingles in Cedar Springs. Mr. Pelton was married November, 1847, to Miss Maria Clark, daughter of James Clark, of Plainfield. Two children were the fruits of this union; of these, one Nellie V., is living. She is now the wife of John H. Palmer, an attorney of Big Rapids.
Mr. Pe ton is the owner of a tract of 240 acres of pine land in Courtland and a fine brick residence on the corner of Bostwick and Fountain streets, Grand Rapids, where he resides.
Mr. Pelton is in politics Democratic. He is a man of strict integrity and sterling enterprise.
Theodore I. Phelps was born in Brooklyn, Jackson Co., Mich., Aug. 14, 1839. His parents, Horace and Sarah E. (Anti-del) Phelps, were natives of Oneida Co., N. Y., and early settlers in Jackson county. Mr. Phelps was reared on a farm till he was 16, when he went to Detroit and was employed as "porter" in the Andrews Railroad Hotel two years. He then returned home and farmed the old homestead seven years; came to Grand Rapids and was proprietor of the Grand Rapids and Greenville stage route two years. In 1867 he removed to Rockford and one year after to Cedar Springs. The year 1869 he was engaged in the lumber business in Newaygo county, and in 1870 returned to Cedar Springs, and the same year he located in Sand Lake and built the Sand Lake House of which he has since been proprietor, except one year while he operated the Cedar Springs House at Cedar Springs.
Mr. Phelps was married Oct .- - : 861 to Miss Jennie Gosvenor, of Brooklyn, Jackson county.
John Synes
*
1269
NELSON AND SOLON TOWNSHIPS.
Mr. Phelps is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically is a Republi- can. He served as Treasurer of his tp. in 1864, and has been village Treasurer since its incorporation. He owns a farm of 215 acres in Nelson tp. and 40 acres in Solon.
Wellington Rasco, Justice of the Peace, Sand Lake, was born in Al'egany Co, N. Y., Feb. 28, 1840; is son of Stephen S. and Mary Rasco. In 1865 Mr. Rasco went to Oakla .d Co., Mich., and in 1868 to Van Buren county. In 1869 he went to Utah, and in 1872 came to Sand Lake. He was elected to his present office in 1881. He is a member of the Village Council and also of the Board of Education. Mr. Rasco enlisted as a soldier in the late war Aug. - , 1861, in Co. B, 86th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf. He served in the army of the Potomac, and was honorably dis- charged Nov. 17, 1862. He was married July 2, 1872, to Eunice Philpott. Of their four children three are living, viz .- Vie, Earl and Mary. Mr. R. is con- nected with the Masonic order, and in politics he is a Republican.
Munson Robinson was born in New York, March 24, 1820; is son of David and Agnes (Lewis) Robinson, natives of New York, the former of English and the latter of German descent. In early life Mr. Robinson lived in Indiana, where he obtained a common-school education; he came to Michigan in 1854, and settled on sec. 20, where he still lives. All was in a state of nature, and Mr. Robinson cut four miles of wood to make his way to his place. He owns 400 acres of land with a good house and first-class buildings attached. He was married in 1858 to Esther Clark, born in Canada, of English descent. They have five children- Sarah A., James, Ella, Essa and Sherman. Mr. Robinson is a Republican; he was one of the first Town Board of Justices, and has held other offices.
Eli C. Rounds was born in New York, Sept. 26, 1824; is son of Russell and Amity (Rowe) Rounds, also natives of New York. He came to Hillsdale county in 1853, and in 1854 settled on 146 acres on sec. 27. He was married Aug. 16, 1848, to Maria E. Russell; they have three children-Edwin M., Ursula E. (Mrs. Charles W. Sherwin) and Byron G. Mr. and Mrs. Rounds are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Rounds has a record as a hard-working, provident man ; has been Class Leader in the church, County Overseer of the Poor, School Treasurer and School Moderator, and has helped each of his children to a farm.
J. E. Roys was born Aug. 3, 1824. He is the son of Levi and Thankful (Curtiss) Roys. His parents were both natives of Berkshire Co., Mass, and of English descent. Mr. Roys' father's sister (Amanda Roys) was one of the signers of the resolution not to drink tea when England raised the tax on tea. "The Boston Tea Party " soon after this occurred. He received his education in the high schools in Massachusetts. His early life was spent on a farm. At the age of 22 he enlisted in the Mexican war, in the United States marines, on the ship "Inde- pendence," most of the time on land. He served four years in this war. In 1850 landed at San Francisco, Cal., where he went into the gold mines. He made and spent considerable money. Then, in 1853, he started for the States via Mexico, but on landing in Mexico he was taken with the yellow fever, where he lay nigh unto death for some time. On his recovery he started on, and in 1854 . landed in New York, and the same vear came to Michigan and settled in Kala- mazoo for one year. In 1855 he came to Solon and settled on sec. 35, on Govern- ment land, and still lives there. He was the clerk of the meeting when the tp. was organized. Mr. Roys has been twice married. The first time was in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Martin, at Kalamazoo. She lived only one year thereafter. Then, in 1856, he was married to Ann Eliza Rohr. She is of Swiss descent. They have had 10 children, all of whom are now numbered with the dead except four. Three of them are girls and one boy. Mr. Roys has twice volunteered in defense of his country's flag, first, as before stated, in 1846. Then, when treason showed its hydra head, he again volunteered in 1862, enlisting in the 21st Infantry of Michigan Volunteers, in Company H. He was with his regi- ment, which was in five very severe battles; among the number is the battle of Missionary Ridge. He was Third Sergeant of his company. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Bentonville, and sent to Libby prison, where he stayed till the rebel Gen. Lee surren lered to Gen. Grant. Then the Johnny Rebs were glad to turn the boys loose and skip out. He was regularly discharged in 1865 from his country's service. Mr. Roys then returned home to his family, and is enjoying the blessings that he fought for. But this veteran soldier's health is failing, and he will, ere many years, be numbered with the dead, where most cf his comrades of the Mexican war are now. But in his declining years he can look back on a well-spent life.
1270
HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.
Hon. H. C. Russell, banker, Cedar Springs, was born in Plainfield, Kent Co., Sept. 22, 1842. His parents, Aaron and Thankful Russell, were natives of New York, and early pioneers of this county. Mr. Russell was reired on a farm and received a common-school education. At the age of 20 he taught a winter school, and the same year he entered a drug store in Plainfield, as clerk. In the fall of 1865 he came to Cedar Springs and became a partner in the firm of E. Hinman & Co., shingle dealers. In 1867 the firm dissolved and Mr. Russell opened a grocery store, at the same time dealing in shingles. In 1868 he bought a drug stock and store of N. F. Slawson, and continued in the drug business up to 1880. In 1873 he, with J. W. Phelps, under the firm name of H. C. Russell .& Co., founded the Cedar Springs Exchange Bank, and has since been in the banking business. Mr. Russell has filled various offices in his village. At the age of 20 he was nomi- nated Justice of the Peace. In 1870 and '78 he was a member of the Board of Supervisors from Nelson. He was the second Village President of Cedar Springs, and served four terms. In 1870 he took a very active part in the third House of Representatives in the formation of a new county from Kent, Montcalm, Mecosta and Newaygo counties. In the fall of 1830 he was elected State Senator by a majority of 5,200 votes. He received of the 500 votes from Nelson 339 in his favor, showing the high esteem in which he is held by his community Mr. Russell, although comparatively a young man, yet he performs the duties of his office with ability, and with honor to himself and to the highest satisfaction of his many constituents. Mr. Russell takes a deep interest in every valuable enterprise. He was one of the prime organizers of the Cedar Springs Union Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and is now one of its Directors. He is a member of the Masonic order, and also a leader in the Society of Good Templars. In politics, he is an earnest Republican. Mr. Russell was united in marriage Jan. 25, 1870, to Miss Jennie E. Phelps, daughter of Col. Wm. Phelps, of Detroit. This union was blessed with one child, a daughter, Edith C., born July 24, 1877.
We present Mr. Russell's portrait elsewhere in this work.
T. J. Sheridan, of Lockwood, was born in the city of New York, on Feb. 16, 1846. His parents emigrated from Dublin, Ire and, in 1845. His father, previous to emigratien, was superintendent of the improvements of the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and afterward of the improvements of Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, under the commissioners of Her Majesty's woods and forests. In 1849 he was assistant engineer in the construction of the Chemung Valley railroad, Chemung Co., State of New York. After the construction of said road he occupied the position of station agent at Millport until 1852, when he went to Canada, where he was employed as inspector of bridges and culverts, on the Great Western rail- road. In the fall of 1852 he commenced farming in Canada, in the tp. of Morris, Huron Co., C. W. In 1866 he moved to Michigan, where he bought a farm, in the tp. of Allendale, county of Ottawa, where at present he resides.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.