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 143

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 143

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).

John Fish, sec. 21, Aug. 13, 1839. D. C. Stocking, sec. 21, Aug. 13, 1839. C. J. Walker, sec. 21, Aug. 15, 1839. Abraham Welles, sec. 21, Oct. 17, 1839. Jesse Smith, sec. 22, July 12, 1839. Lemuel Smith, sec. 22, July 12, 1839. Jacob Schneider, sec. 22, Aug. 2, 1839. Wm. Anderson, sec. 22, Aug. 13, 1839. Lucius Lyon, sec. 24, Sept. 25, 1832. Richard Godfroy, sec. 25, Aug. 3, 1839. Asa Pratt, sec. 27, July 30, 1839. Geo. M. Miles, sec. 27, Aug. 19, 1839. A. Powers, sec. 27, Oct. 7, 1839. A. B. Russell, sec. 28, Aug. 13, 1839. T. H. Cassell, sec. 31, Aug. 13, 1839. Tho. Mc Mahan, sec. 32, July 31, 1839. D. T. Norton, sec. 34, Aug. 13, 1839. John Dodge, sec. 35, Jan. 22, 1835. Josiah Burton, sec. 36, Aug. 1, 1833. N. E. King, sec. 36, June 20, 1834. Lewis Freeman, sec. 36, July 14, 183

ORGANIC.

The first town meeting resulted in the selection of the following as first officers of Walker township, April, 1838: Supervisor, Lovell Moore; Clerk, Isaac Turner; Treasurer, Harry Eaton; Justices, Rober Hilton, Isaac Turner, Ira Jones and Josiah Burton. Walke“, as first organized, included Alpine, which, however, con- tained but few families for several years, but became an independ- ent township in 1847.

The meeting was held at the Baptist Mission school-house, and each annual meeting was held there until the erection of the first district log school-house, on the north side of section 22, in 1842. In 1845 the place of meeting was changed to Simond's school- house, and subsequently to Walker Center, where the annual meet- ing was held until the erection of the present Town Hall, on the north side of section 22, in 1867.

In the following list the names of the principal township offi- cers, from the date of organization down to the present time, are given:

SUPERVISORS.

Lovell Moore.

1838-39

Charles E. Leonard. 1861-62

Ebenezer Davis.

1840-42

Jeffrey C Champlin 1863

Isaac Turner.

1843-44

Henry C. Hogadone. 1864-65

James Davis. 1845-46

Horace McNitt. 1866

John Potter 1847

Jeffrey Champlin 1867

Silas Hall. 1848

Ezra A. Hebard. 1868-74

John Potter

1849-50

Abiel A. Wilson. 1875

Wm. A. Tryon : : 1851-52

P. W. Johnson. 1876

Curtis Porter

1853

Abiel A. Wilson. 1877

Milo White. .

1854-58

Ezra A. Hebard. 1878-79

Wm. C. Davidson.

1859

Abiel A. Wilson. 1880-81

Milo White.

1860

1389

WALKER TOWNSHIP.

CLERKS.

Isaac Turner. 1838-42

Aaron B. Turner. . 1843-44

Isaac Turner. 1845

Olesse Ripp 1866

Ebenezer Davis. 1846-47

Ira Currier. .

1867

Isaac M Watson

1848

Henry O. Schermerhorn. 1868-70

Solomon .Corey

1849

Jeremiah Lynch

1871

Josiah Burton. 1850

Sullivan Armstrong.

1851

George P. Hogadone.

.1852

Edward B. Escott.

1853-55

Edwin M. Bullard :1876-79

Joseph B. Escott.

1856-58

John Girdler. .

.1880

Edward B. Escott.

1859-60

Charles H. Bradford

1881

TREASURERS.

Harry Eaton. 1838

Lovell Moore.

1839-40

Ebenezer Davis.

1841-42

Billius Stocking.

1843-46

Andrew Loomis. 1863

Sullivan Armstrong 1847

Nathaniel Fisk 1865

Avery Brace. 1849

Haines Edison 1850

Edward Halpine. 1868

Henry Walker.

1851-52

Daniel Bush.

1853

T. R. Maynard .

1871-72

Alvah (. Brace ..

1855

James R. Edison. 1856

Samuel Westlake

1857

Alex. Q. Liscomb

1858

George F. Porter.

1859

Denis Coon ..

1881

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Robert Hilton, Isaac Turner. Ira

Jones, Josiah Burton.

1838

1839

Billius Stocking, Lovell Moore

.1840

Josiah Burton.

1841

Zelotes Bemis, Billius Stocking.

1842

Isaac Turner ..

1843

Charles McCarty

1844

Daniel

Schermerhorn,

Bernard

Courtney

Bernard Courtney.

1870

Thomas Healy,

Henry

C. Ho-

gadone.

1871

B. F. Martindale, David Cham-

pion. . .

1872

William Dunnett, G. M. Ed son. .. 1873 Wm. C. Davidson, Jonathan Best. 1874 James E. Adams ... .1875

Jonathan Best, John Harrington. . 1876

C. Phillips, William Rowe .....

.1877

James M. Searles, A. J. Gill, Wm.

Dunnett .. .

.1878

Alexander C. Bailey. 1858

Gaius Stebbins.

1859

Albert Graves.

1860

Jonathan Blair.

1861

I. Quigley, Benj. F. Martindale, . . 1862

Daniel Schermerhorn.

.1863

John Dowling.

1864

Martin Metcalf, Henry A. Gill.

1865

Isaac Quigley, H. S. Smith, Henry A. Gill. . .1866

Thomas Healy, Allen Durfee.

. . ..

1867

1868

Nathan Earle.

1869

Josiah Burton.

1845

Milo White.

1846

E. N. Faxon, Geo. M. Barker.

1847

Thomas Healy.

1848

Gideon D. Graves, Jonathan Blair.1849 Milo White, L. Patterson .. . .1850 Nathaniel Fiske, Milo White, Geo. Chappell. . 1851

J. W. Tenney, Thomas Healy, H.

Palmerlee, Conrad Phillips .1852

J. W. Tenney.

1853

Edward Halpine

1854

John Harrington.

.1855

Andrew Loomis.

1856

Allen Durfre.

1857

Wm. C. Davidson, Wm. Dunnett,

Samuel White.

.1879

Henry A. Hydora

1880

Joseph H. Sheldon

1881

Henry C. Hogadone.

1860

Albert Graves 1861

Allen Durfee 1862

Milo White. .

1864

George P. Hogadone

1848

Daniel Bush. 1866-67

Thomas R. Maynard.

1869

George Weaver

1870

A very Brace. 1854 .

George Weaver. 1873

John Dugan. 1874-75

Marcius Tabor. 1876-78

Spencer S. Camp 1879-80

Oscar E. Leonard. 1861-63

George Schermerhorn

1863

Henry O. Schermerhorn. 1864-65

J. R. Edison.

1872

John R. Moon 1873

Edmund Manly. 1874-75

Josiah Burton.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Together with the officers named in the foregoing list, as elected in 1881, N. C. Wright is Highway Commissioner; M. G. Wheeler, Drain Commissioner; William E. Gill, School Superintendent; Geo. P. Hogadone, School Inspector; Geo. W. Blain, I. D Flanagan, Ambrose Mitchell, O. S. Littlefield, Constables. There were 36 Overseers of Roads elected, 35 of whom were chosen to preside over so many road districts in the township, and one over private roads.

SCHOOLS.

District No. 4, commonly known as the Walker Center district, was organized in 1841, and then included a territory of about 15 square miles. Their first house was a log building, and stood on the north side of section 22; the next was a small wooden build- ing, standing at the original geographical center of the township, on the northeastern corner of section 21. This building was used until 1867, when a frame building was erected, which cost $1,000.

District No. 7-Bridge street-lias a good wooden building, erected in 1860; cost, $400.

District No. 8 was organized in 1845. A log house was built, which was used until 1858, when the present frame structure, which is generally known as the O'Brien school-house, was erected at a cost of $400. It is located at the south side of section 29.

District No. 2 is the oldest in the township. A log building was at first used for a school-house. The present frame building was put up in 1860, at an expense of about $300. Location, near the south line of section 33. The new district in the vicinity of the plaster-mills was set off from No. 2.

District No. 3 has a frame building on the northeast corner of section 19, near the residence of Henry C. Hogadone.

District No. 12 has a frame house on the north side of section 17, near the residence of A. T. Liscomb.

District No. 6 was organized about the year 1840, and a small frame building erected, which was used until 1858, when a large frame house was erected, at a cost of $700. This house is located on the south side of section 3, and is commonly known as the Simonds' school-house.

District No. 11 was organized in the year 1850, and a small frame house built on the west side of section 12, known as the Wait school-house.

In District No. 5, the first school-house was built on the farm of Andrew Loomis, on the southwest corner of section 6. The present building, a small frame structure, stands on the north- east corner of section 7.

PERSONAL HISTORY.

The biographical sketches which follow form a portion of this history, well worthy the attention of readers. In every page a

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WALKER TOWNSHIP.

record appears, which, while creditable to the township, is yet of greater importance on account of the lesson it teaches.

J. W. Allen, whose portrait is given on page 528 of this volume, is a highly re- spected citizen of Kent county, and one of the solid and substantial farmers of Walker tp. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, and he is evidently a man who thoroughly understands the art of farming. As a business man he ranks among the foremost of this enterprising county. The verity of this statement is very forcibly demonstrated by the financial success he has made of life. Mr. Allen owns a fine farm on sec. 3, of this tp. His P. O. address is Indian Creek.

Alphonzo W. Almy, son of Peleg and Maria (Brookfield) Almy, was born in the city of New York in 1810 His father was a sea captain and was born in West- port, Mass., July 4, 1781 ; his mother was born Oct. 22, 1789, in Springfield, N. J. They were married in New York city, Dec. 29, 1806, and had two sons. At the age of 24 Mr. Almy, of this sketch, engaged in the livery business in New York with Mr. U. Reynolds, and after six years sold his interest to his partner, and went to Mobile, Ala., where he followed the same calling two years, returning to his native city, and afterward going to St. Catharines, Can., where he was asso- ciated with Josiah Holmes in carriage-making, and coming, after a few months, to Detroit, where he built a wagon and carriage shop, and a few months later, to Grand Rapids (in the spring of 1848). He built a wagon and carriage shop on Canal st., where Canfield's wholesale grocery now stands. He built the Arnold House on Bridge st., and exchanged it for 70 acres of land in Walker; sold, and bought 56 acres on sec. 5. He now owns 75 acres, with 70 under cultivation. He was married in Lewiston, N. Y., July 25, 1842, to Susan, daughter of Lebus and Susan Sweet, born in New York in 1820. Of five children born to them two are living-Thomas, born July 5, 1853, and Harriet, July 20, 1850. Mr. Almy served his country in the civil war two years as a mechanic ..

Franklin Beede was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., Feb. 21, 1º27; is son of Hezekiah and Betsey Beede. When he was 12 years old his parents moved to Wyoming Co., N. Y., and his mother died there in 1849; his father died in Saline two years later. In 1853 Mr. Beede came to Kent county, and bought for himself and brother-in-law 100 acres of land on sec. 6, on the portion set off from Wyoming. In 1866 he sold out and bought 90 acres on secs. 31 and 6, where he has built his residence and barn, at the cost of $2,500; has 60 acres improved. He enlisted at Grand Rapids in the war for the Union in August, 1862, in Co. H, 21st Reg., Mich. Vol. Inf. (Capt. Chase and Lieut. Bishop), served three years, and was discharged at Indianapolis in July, 1865. He was married in Walker, Feb., 22, 1857, to Charlotte, daughter of Henry and Thyrza (Pratt) Ewing, born in Oakland Co., Mich., in 1835. They have three children born in Walker, as fol- lows: Charles H., March 29, 1858; Frank, Dec. 1, 1860, and Nellie M., Aug. 2, 1870.

Henry R. Berger (deceased) was born in Germany, Oct. 10, 1817, and was son of John and Catherine Berger. He came to the United States at 22, and settled two miles from Albany, N. Y., remaining until 1859, and was married March 23, 1847, to Elizabeth, daughter of George R. and Catherine A. Snyder, born in Germany, Feb. 3, 1830. They have five children-William H., Cornelia S., Aurelia L., John F. and Charles. They came to Grand Rapids in 1859, and the next year bought 67 acres on secs. 5 and 6 in Walker, on the Wyoming division, where they have 120 acres, with 100 under improvement. Both Mr. a d Mrs. Berger were members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Berger died March 26, 1881.

Jonathan Best, son of William and Lydia (Southard) Best, was born in Huron Co., O., Oct. 18, 1827. His father was born in Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, and his mother was of English extraction. He was educated in the common schools of Huron county, and at 21 bought 40 acres of land. A few years after he sold and bought 111 acres on the prairie in Lime, Huron Co. He was married July 11, 1858, to Harriet, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy More- head. Two children were born in Huron county-Lucinda, April 20, 1859, and William J., Nov. 11, 1860. His wife died Aug. 30, 1862, and he was again mar- ried, Feb. 24, 1864, in Huron county, to Angelina, daughter of Pardon and Eliza- beth (Wood) Worden, born in Norwich, Huron Co., April 3, 1839. In the winter of 1869 he bought 72 acres of land on sec. 16, this tp., and settled on it the same year. About 70 acres are improved. He is a Granger, and a member of the Masonic order, and has been Justice of the Peace about six years.

1392

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

Jonathan Blair, jr., was born in 1821. He is son of Jonathan and Eliza Blair. In the fall of 1842 they came to Lansing, Ingham Co., and in 1844 rented a farm of 120 acres, on sec. 4, owned by Robert Hilton and Nathaniel Fisk. Two years after they bought 138 acres on sec. 6, situated partly in Wyoming division, where his father and step-mother died in 1852. He was married in Walker in 1855 to Betsey, daughter of Hezekiah and Betsey Beede, born in New York in 1830. They have four children-Mary E., Charlotte J., Lewie J. and Ethelyn. Mr. B air has officiated one term as Justice of the Peace and about 12 years as Highway Commissioner; is a member of the Grange.

Avery Brace was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1812; a son of Chester and Asenath (Strong) Brace, of English descent. When he was two years old his parents moved with him to Genèsee county, that State, and in 1844 he came to Grand Rapids with only $300, and in a few weeks he bought 80 acres of wild land on sec 3, this tp .; he built a frame house, 18 by 22 feet, in which he lived until 1870, when he erected a finer frame dwelling, at a cost of $1,500. A brother who accompanied him to this county purchased a tract of land adjoining, and he boarded with him two years, when, Oct. 14, 1846, he was married, to Martha L., daughter of Totan and Mary Simonds, who was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y. They have two children, born in this tp .- Emmet L. (next mentioned), and Mary A., born Aug. 22, 1849, now the wife of Eleazar P. Wilder, of Oceana county, this State.

Mr. Brace's father died here at the residence of his son in 1868, aged 76, and his stepmother the ensuing year, aged 77; his own mother died when he was only nine years of age. Mrs. Brace's father died in this county in 1840, aged 46, and her mother in 1869, aged 81.

Mr. B. has 70 acres of land under improvement. He is a member of the Grange. We present his portrait elsewhere in this volume.

Emmet Brace, son of the preceding, was born Feb. 26, 1848, in this tp., brought up on the farm, and in 1877 married Maria L., daughter of Wm. R. and Jane McEwing, who was born in Huntington, Ohio, Dec. 25, 1857. Their two children are Avery G., born March 29, 1878, and Jennie M., Feb. 11, 1881. Mr. B. resides at home with his father, and works the old place.

Edwin M. Bullard, third son of Fisher and Rhoda (Clark) Bullard, was born in Swansea, N. H., in 1823. His parents were of English descent and born respectively in Franklin and Sharon, Mass. At 19 Mr. Bullard united with the Baptist Church; at 20, and through the influence of friends, entered Hancock Literary and Scientific School, to prepare for the ministry, though he was dis- posed to fit for the legal profession. He spent several years at school and in teaching. Being wholly dependent upon himself, he was obliged to exercise the. most rigid economy, and frequently his weekly expenses reached the notably small figure of 60 cents. Such exertion had its effects on body and mind, and he was obliged to relinquish his plans; for more than a year he was unable to read. He was married in 1849 to Sarah E., daughter of Thomas and Mabel Marble, born in Hinsdale, N. H., in 1829. Two children were born and died. Mrs. Bul- lard died Aug. 20, 1876, and Mr. B. married Mrs. Martha B., widow of Albert Graves and daughter of Sheldon and Sarah Calhoun, born in Oneida county, March 7, 1826. In 1851 he went to Wauwatosa, Wis., and assisted in the erection of a flouring mi 1. He afterward went to Michigan to build a saw-mill on White River, a luckless enterprise, as Charles Hart, his employer, took French leave for California with $600 of his earnings. Mr. Bullard placed his small possessions on a small boat-the "Supply" -- plying between Grand Haven and the Clay Banks, and came to Grand Haven, and then to Grand Rapids. He leased a house of Amos Rathbun, and an hour later the domestic machinery was in order. (The house stands near the Sangerfest building on Lyons st., used as a paint shop.) In 1860 he bought 320 acres of land in Phelps Co., Mo., but the war of the Rebellion obliged him to leave it, and he bought a farm on sec. 8, in Walker. In 1875 Mrs. Bullard died of paralysis, and, four years after, Jesse E., only son, aged 19, died of diphtheria.

Rev. Daniel Bush (deceased) was born May 10, 1810, in Bastard, Leeds Co., Can- ada West, and at the age of 21 settled in Lockport, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. In 1836, he entered the Genesee Wesleyan University at. Lima, N. Y., with a view to the ministry, and, two years later, graduated from that institution. He received a license as exhorter in 1837, and as preacher in 1838. In 1840 he joined the Michigan Conference of the M. E. Church, was ordained Deacon in 1842

1393

WALKER TOWNSHIP.

and Elder in 1844. He was sent as a missionary to Grand Rapids in 1840, a field of labor at that date on the extreme verge of civilization, where he experienced all the hardships of the conscientious, laborious, ministerial pioneer. Indian trails were almost the only thoroughfares, and these not always within the proper or direct route, so the preacher was often obliged to " blaze " his path to make certain of finding his way among the settlements. Nine years of the rugged, exposed life of a pioneer missionary compelled him to rest awhile from his labors, and in 1849 he " located " on a farm of 160 acres which he purchased from Government; 107 acres of this remain in the family. In 1853 he resumed the active duties of his profession, which he discharged in full for six years, when he returned to the farm, continuing to preach at intervals under the Presiding Elder until 1872. His fields of labor in addition to those named, were Lowell, Allegan, Ganges, Cedar Springs, Nunica, Ada, Hastings, Three Rivers, Otsego, Yorkville, Dearborn, Wayne, Clin- ton and Tecumseh. Mr. Bush always took a hearty personal interest in all matters pertaining to the public welfare, held numerous offices of trust, was Town Treas- urer and School Inspector a number of years, and was always interested in school matters .. He was married July 23, 1841, to Sophronia, daughter of Samuel and Lydia White (among the oldest pioneers of the tp.). She was born in Palmyra, N. Y., Sep. 3, 1821. They had ten children, eight of whom are now living-Marion M., Azubah M., Samuel W., Abbie M., Rupert C., Mina E., William W., and Daniel W. Mrs. Bush died Nov. 22, 1870; Mr. Bush died July 31, 1881. He was well known throughout the whole extent of the Grand River Valley, the field of his life's interests and ambitions. On the death of the Rev. James Ballard, Mr. Bush succeeded to the Chaplaincy of the Old Settlers' Association, and the society passed resolutions of sympathy at his demise. His son Rupert C. is sole executor of his estate.

Mr. Bush helped to get out the timber for the first M. E. church in Grand Rap- ids, built on Division street. His salary for his first year's services as minister in this county was a pair of boots and $9 in money. He was a man of clear mind and strong convictions, and an able advocate of his religious opinions, and invari- ably endeavored to practice what he preached. In his death the family lost a kind and affectionate father, the Church an honest and earnest servant, and the State a good citizen. His portrait may be found elsewhere in this work.

Phineas S. Camp, son of Curtis F. and Sarah A. (Lawrence) Camp, was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1840. His father died when he was four years old, and 11 years after, his mother, with five children, came to Grand Rapids, and two years after to Walker. He was married in 1869 to Sarah A., daughter of Benj. F. and Rhoda B. Woodman, born in Ionia Co., Mich., in 1849. Two children were born to them in Walker tp .- Nina L., Aug. 1., 1877, and Clay W., Feb. 26, 1881. In 1876 Mr. Camp bought 40 acres of land on sec. 20, with no buildings and but 18 acres improved. At this writing 30 acres are cultivated and the place has fine buildings. He is a Granger and has been Tp. Treasurer two years. His grand- fathers were both soldiers of 1812 and one held the rank of Captain.

Dan. N. Chappell, son of James and Margaret (Hogadone) Chappell, was born Oct 27, 1815, in Bennington, Vt. When quite small his parents went to Madison Co., N. Y., where his father engaged in the manufacture of cloth and clothing. Mr. Chappell, of this sketch, went at 21 years of age to Shelby, Orleans Co., N. Y., and engaged in a saw and flouring mill with a man named Homer Adams and his brother, Peter Chappell. The mills were operated eight years, when, in 1844, he came to Michigan and settled. He had been here in 1838 and spent six months. . He bought 80 acres on sec .. 7, to which he has added 80 more, with 100 under tillage. He was married in Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1843, to Sophia, daughter of Samuel Gill, born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1821. Two children born to them are both living-Henrietta, born in Orleans Co., Mar. 4, 1844, and George H., born in Walker, Aug. 25, 1850. His wife died in 1860, and he was married again Jan. 1, 1868, to Aurelia, widow of Cyrus Whittaker and daughter of Joseph and Mary Ballard, born in N. Y., Aug. 15, 1832. They have one daughter-Mary F., born in Walker, Feb. 11, 1869. She is a promising girl and a great delight and comfort to her parents. She is a creditable performer on the organ and sings well and with much taste. Mr. Chappell has experienced all the vicissitudes of a Michi- gan pioneer ; his land was all primeval forest and his first house, a log cabin, was built in the rear of the site of his present substantial residence.

Mr. Chappell's portrait is given in this volume.

George S. Chappell, son of James and Margaret (Hogadone) Chappell, was born in Madison Co., N. Y., April 14, 1818. His father was a manufacturer of cloth and

1394

HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

also a blacksmith. In the fall of 1837 he came to Michigan and chopped for Jerry Bennett and Judge Morrison. He returned to New York in the fall of 1838 and a year later came to Grand Rapids and was in the employ of Judge Morrison one winter. The next 18 months he was in Oakland county, and in the winter attended school. He returned to Grand Rapids and located 80 acres on sec. 7, all forest land, which he proceeded to clear. He had an ox team and was regarded as the best logger in this section; consequently himself and team were in demand. His neighbors paid their indebtedness to hiim by aiding in clearing his land. In one season his team logged 80 acres, and he assisted in the aggregate in clearing hundreds of acres, besides 60 of his own. He was married in Walker, Oct. 24, 1850, to Ann E. Wheeler, born in Genesee Co., N. Y., April 4, 1820. They had three children born in Walker-Alice E., Aug. 16, 1852; Sarah J., Jan. 13, 1860; and Warren L., July 20, 1851, and died Jan. 26, 1853. Mrs. Chappell died June 31, 1860, and Mr. C. was again married, Mar. 18, 1861, to Louisa C., daughter of David and Mitty (Macaney) Chilson, born Nov. 26, 1827, in Mass. Their two children were born in Walker as follows :- Philo S., Aug. 9, 1854, and Nellie C., June 14, 1867.

George F. Coon, son of Holly and Elizabeth Coon, was born June 30, 1835, in Genesee Co., N. Y., where he lived and attended school until 13 years, when his parents moved to Cascade. His father was a shoemaker and he learned painting with Mr. Dixon, on Monroe st. At 19 he commenced business for himself on Canal st., and two years after on Monroe st., near the site of the Morton House, in part- nership with Edwin Baxter, which relation lasted nearly two years. (He painted the Eagle Hotel when it was finished.) In 1858 he bought 80 acres in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., and, after clearing 10 acres, sold and bought 49 acres on sec. 5, which he sold in 1880 and bought 100 acres on secs. 6 and 7, with 75 under culture ; also owns 80 acres in Cascade with 70 acres improved; also four acres in Grand Rapids city limits. He married in Grand Rapids, in 1856, Sarah J., daughter of Charles and Betsey Moore, born in Detroit in 1836. They have seven children-Ida J., Betsey E., Ella J., Jessie U., Alice J., Charles A., and Bernice.

Philip T. Covell was born in Cabot, Caledonia Co., Vt., Dec. 12, 1811. He is son of Philip and Lois (Nye) Covell, natives of Weathersfield, Conn. He was reared a farmer and remained on his father's estate until 21 years of age, when he left him and began the world for himself. Two years after he went to Ogden, N. Y., where he remained three years. In the fall of 1837 he came to Grand Rapids and engaged as a carpenter one year and returned to New York, where he was similarly employed. He was married in 1839 to Maria, daughter of Calvin and Charlotte (Clements) Abbott, born in Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1820 and died Nov. 3, 1857, in Grand Rapids, leaving five children who yet survive. They were born in the subsequent order :- Addie M., in Ogden, N.Y., in 1843 ; Emma H., Aug. 26, 1845; Mary E., Oct. 12, 1847; Lottie A., Nov. 19, 1849 and Frank E. May 12, 1854. The four last named were born in Alpine tp. Mr. Covell was married a second time, April 27, 1858, in Walker, to Mrs. Sarah Hogadone, born in Walsingham, Can., June 26, 1818. They have one child,-Chester F., born Dec. 31, 1860. In 1844 he came to Michigan and bought 80 acres of land on sec. 33, in Alpine. The township organization took place soon after and Mr. Covell was on the Board. He was also Collector and Treasurer six years, has been one of the Directors of the Kent Co. Insurance Company, is con- nected with the order of Odd Fellows, the Wyoming Grange and the Early Resi- dents' Society. In August, 1856, he engaged in the sale of groceries and provisions in Grand Rapids, on Front st., West Side, where he did business about one year and came to Walker, where he owns 160 acres of land; one-half respectively on secs. 22 and 15, with 125 acres in an advanced state of improvement. Mrs. Covell has a son, George P. Hogadone, born in Walker, Dec. 6, 1850. Mr. Covell is Treasurer of the Detective Society.

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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 143

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