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 61

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 61

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).

William J. Eldredge, son of Wm. and Sarah ( Rodgers) Eldredge, was born at Schenectady, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1825. He was married Dec. 24, 1845, in Montgomery Co., N. Y., to Rebecca A., daughter of John and Catharine (Lane) Van Patten, born Dec. 25, 1827. Five children have been born to them, four of whom are living. Their record is as follows: Daniel, born June 11, 1846; Henry D., April 17, 1849, Eliza A., Feb. 11, 1851, died Mar. 30, 1875; Fre- mont, Nov. 4, 1856, and Merada, Feb. 12, 1863. In 1846 Mr. E. purchased 55 acres of land in Noble Co., Ind., and about five years after settled in Gaines, going thence to Layton, Allegan Co., and two years afterward to this tp. He purchased 80 acres of land on sec. 16. Daniel Eldredge enlisted at Grand Rapids in the 7th Mich. Cav., and after a year of service in the Army of the Potomac, re-enlisted for the remainder of the war. He was discharged at Salt Lake City and returned home by water via California.

Norton Gilbert, eldest son of Joel and Lucy (Hall) Gilbert, was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., July 19, 1814. He is of English de- scent. When he was three years of age his parents located about 20 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio where he grew up and became a landholder. In 1851 he settled in this tp., where he purchased 160 acres of land in secs. 23 and 24, 80 acres in each. 120 of this is under cultivation and the buildings are worth about $1, 900. Mr. Gilbert was married at Chester, near Cleveland, Dec. 31, 1839, to Mahetable, daughter of Freedom and Sally (Ford) Whitman. She was born in Massachusetts, Nov. 17, 1717, and died Apr. 19, 1858, aged 58. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert two are living, Charles H., born in Chester tp., Apr. 28, 1845, and Joel, born in Byron, June 13, 1857. Freeman Gilbert enlisted in Grand Rapids in January, 1864, in 3d Mich. Inf., and served in the army of the Potomac. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Wil- derness and sent to the stockade prison at Andersonville, where he perished a victim of its unparalleled horrors.

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BYRON TOWNSHIP.

Franklin A. Gillons, seventh son of Henry and Sarah Gillons, was born in Yorkshire, Eng., May 24, 1841. In 1853 his father emigrated to Canada, where he is still living. In 1860 his son went to New York. At 13 he commenced learning blacksmithing, at which vocation he has worked all his life. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted at Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., in the 3d N. Y. Cav., Co. B (Capt. Smith), and went with the regiment as assistant veterinary surgeon. After a service of 18 months the chief sur- geon died and he was promoted. He was discharged at Chatta- nooga, Tenn., and returned to New York. In 1864 he spent six months in Cleveland, O., and three years following in Chester. In 1867 he purchased seven acres of land in Corinth, Byron tp., and erected a residence, afterward going to Dorr Center, where he en- gaged in milling with Joseph Woodham. They built a custom flouring mill, and a year after sold it to Wm. Ewing. Mr. G. re- bought his old stand at Corinth and resumed his vocation of black- smith. He has in Corinth one and three-fourths acres of land and his shop, and owns 55 acres of land in Dayton, Allegan Co. He was married at - Falls, O., Jan. 3, 1866, to Mina Gilbert, daughter of Joel and Naomi (Whitman) Gilbert. Mrs. G. was born Sept. 20, 1843, at Chester, Geauga Co., O. They have four children-Albert H., Ernest, Mary and Frank.

Thomas Hurst, son of George and Mary (Marshall) Hurst, was born Dec. 8, 1823, in Thorn Gumbald, Yorkshire, England. July 16, 1849, he was married to Emma, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Bainbridge, a native of Yorkshire, born Sept. 15, 1827. One son, George, was born in Yorkshire April 18, 1850. Lucy, only daughter, was born in Grafton, Lorain Co., O., July 3, 1853. In the fall of 1851 he came to the United States and spent two years in Grafton, returning to England. In the spring of 1856 he brought his family to Grafton, and ten years later purchased 40 acres (sec. 21) in Byron. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church. His son married Mary D. Longhorn and lives ad- joining his father. The daughter is the wife of Henry Colwell, and lives at Byron Center.

Abraham Jones, eldest son of John and Sarah (Stowe) Jones, was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Sept. 27, 1835. His father was born in 1812, of German and Welsh parentage, and was a farmer until the subject of this sketch was seven years old, when he removed his family to the city of Philadelphia, and transacted business in lime until in 1847; he then went to Camden, N. J. At 14 years of age Mr. Jones went to Burlington, N. J., and learned the carpenter's trade, engaging there until 1852, after which he worked at his trade in Grand Rapids three years, when he became a millwright. At the commencement of the war he en- listed at Grand Rapids in Co. I, 27th Mich. Cav., under Capt. Goodale, and served during the war in the Army of the Cumber- land. During the first three years he participated in 17 engage- ments, some of them of prominence-Shiloh, New Madrid, Evacu-

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

ation of Corinth, etc. After his re-enlistment as a veteran he saw much active service. At the termination of the war he came to this tp., where he had previously purchased 72 acres of land. Dec. 24, 1865, he was married to Mary E., daughter of John and Cathia- rine (Emmons) Retan. She was born in New York June 9, 1843, of German descent. They have two children-Izora C., born Aug. 9, 1867, and John C., born Nov. 13, 1880.

Harmond Kellogg was born in Watertown, Litchfield Co., Conn., Feb. 7, 1808. He is the son of Martin and Elizabeth (Waugh). Kellogg. In 1812 his parents went to Florence, N. Y., where he remained until 1828. In 1832 he came to Detroit, and entered land in this tp., where he settled in 1842, on 160 acres, in sec. 3, 55 of which are cleared and cultivated. He was married Jan. 5, 1842, to Rhoda, daughter of Jonathan and Alma (Sarles) Water- bury. She was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., March 25, 1815. Five children have been born to them in this tp .- William H., Lewis, Marcus L., Salmon D. and Andrew H.

James M. Lane, eldest son of Orison and Elizabeth (Bean) Lane, was born in Readfield, Kennebec Co., Me., April 29, 1830. His father was a famous stock-raiser and imported the first Hereford cattle in the State of Maine. At the age of 16 he lost his father who died in February, 1847, and he inherited half the farm. When 19 he went to Wisconsin as a land locator for Shaw Bros., of Indus- try, Franklin Co., Me. In 1857 he commenced traffic in lumber at Grand Rapids. In March, 1862, he located in Byron, near Cor-

inth. The country was quite new and Mr. Lane purchased 200 acres of land, erected a board shanty, brought on a force of four or five men and set vigorously at work clearing his land. He has 320 acres sec. 25 and 200 acres sec. 30, and 120 acres in Gaines. Clare Co., Mich., he has between 3,000 and 4,000 acres and 10,000 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine and Minnesota. At home 250

In acres are under cultivation, and he has extensive lumbering inter- ests at Muskegon, and handles annually 12,000,000 feet of lumber from his own land. Another specialty of Mr. Lane is his fine

horses. He was married in Waterville, Kennebec Co., Me., Oct. 25, : 861, to Elizabetlı T., daughter of Joseph and Elmyra (Hilton) Fifield. She was born in Readfield, Kennebec Co., April 10, 1837. They have seven children living -- Frederick, William H., Jessie, Charles, James, Lavina and Frank.

James Ledger, fourth son of Wm. and Sarah (Taylor) Ledger, was born in Kent Co., England, March 3, 1825. He was married in Kent, Jan. 1, 1846, to Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Sanders) Hooker, who was born in Barton, Kent Co., England, Sept. 13, 1819. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living. The dates of their several births occurred in the following order: William, May 24, 1846; Elizabeth, Oct. 11, 1847, died Aug. 13, 1876; Henry S., Feb. 25, 1849; Rachel M., April 30, 1851; Geo. H., Feb. 16, 1853; Isabelle J., Nov. 2, 1855, died Dec. 20, 1856; Angelina J., Jan. 29, 1858; Amos H., Jan. 15, 1860;

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BYRON TOWNSHIP.

Renna M., Aug. 24, 1863. In 1850 Mr. Ledger came to the United States with wife and three children and settled near Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., and five years after removed to Grand Rapids, where he traded in lime. In the fall of 1858 he purchased 40 acres of land on sec. 15 in Byron tp., 33 of which are under cultivation. In the spring of 1881 he bought 40 acres of timber land on sec. 14.

John Leyendecker, jr., eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Gorg) Leyendecker, was born in Germany, Oct. 22, 1826. He was mar- ried in Prussia, July 12, 1852, Maria Reuch, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Spyer) Reuch, born in Germany, Dec. 14, 1823. In the spring of 1853 they settled in Buffalo, N. Y., and in the fol- lowing autumn proceeded to Cuyahoga Co., O., and one year after bought 80 acres of land in sec. 31, this tp. After a residence of four years they purchased 80 acres in Salem, Allegan Co., where they lived 18 years, when they returned to Byron and bought 160 acres in sec. 33, 100 of which are under culture. One of their children was born in Byron and two in Salem; births as follows: Mary A., June 24, 1857; John, Oct. 23, 1861, and Peter, Dec. 18, 1864. Mrs. L. is a member of the R. C. Church. The senior Leyendecker was a soldier under Bonaparte six years and fought at Waterloo.

John R. Long, son of Thomas and Margaret (Ryan) Long, is a native of Tipperary, Ire., born Sept. 14, 1829. Emigrated to America in the fall of 1848, and after a residence of four years in Tompkins Co., N. Y., came to Grand Rapids, and in 1859 pur- chased 120 acres on secs. 2 and 11, to which he has added 160 acres. He was married at Rochester, N. Y., in September, 1855, to Win- nifred, daughter of Peter and Bridella (Merney) Kinselley, a na- tive of Wexford Co., Ireland, born March 15, 1834. Two children were born in Walker and two in this tp., as follows: Thomas G., Nov. 27, 1856; Michael J., Sept. 28, 1858; Margaret L., Oct. 19, 1862, and Peter D., Aug. 17, 1864. Mr. Long enlisted at Grand Rapids in March, 1865, in Co. A, 16th Reg. Mich. Inf., Col. Par- tridge. He served five months and was present at the evacua- tion of Petersburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. The tp. was quite new when he came to it, and he cleared a space for a log house. He has a splendid barn, erected at a cost of $1,600. Himself and wife are members of St. Andrews Church, Grand Rapids.

Jonathan C. Loomis, second son of Eber and Rebecca (Collins) Loomis, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and died in Lorain Co., O., Dec. 29, 1854. He was married in 1837 to Elizabeth L., daugh- ter of Noah and Betsey (Foote) Crocker. She was born in Cuya- hoga Co., O., July 13, 1818. They had six children-Leonard G., Alvin C., Jonathan C., Charles W., Julia R., and William C. In 1863 the family settled in Byron, where they purchased 80 acres of land, sec. 14, now increased to 120. Leonard enlisted in the 42d O. Vol. Inf., and was wounded in the wrist at Vicksburg, taken prisoner and taken to Memphis, Tenn., and was afterward ex-

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

changed. Another son enlisted in Grand Rapids, who nearly lost

his eyesight. Both were in a number of engagements. Mrs. Loomis is a member of the M. E. Church, as was her husband.

Asa T. Lovejoy is a native of Otsego Co., N. Y., where he was born Dec. 26, 1829. His father, William Lovejoy, died Feb. 13, 1870. His mother lives near her son and will be 77 at her next birthday. His parents were of English extraction, and in 1848 re- moved to Rochester, Lorain Co., O., where Asa remained a year, and in November, 1850, came to this tp. and worked in the lumber woods. Eighteen months later he bought 40 acres in sec. 4, adding to this purchase 20 more adjoining in sec. 9. He was mar- ried in Byron, June 23, 1854, to Lura A., daughter of Jesse and Susan (Swet) Wilson. Mrs. Lovejoy was born at Bennington, Genesee Co., N. Y., in June, 1827, of English parentage.

William D. Ludington was born in Hague, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1822. His parents, Jeremiah and Laura (Corbett) Ludington, were of English descent. In 1828 they went to Vermont, and three years later to Cleveland, O. He resided with his parents until his marriage to Mrs. Betsey, widow of Levi Pangborn, which took place Oct. 28, 1841. She was born at Independence, O., July 10, 1817. Several children were born to them-Winslow J., Pauline, Philora and William. In the fall of 1848 he went to Wisconsin, remaining until 1853, when he located in Huron county, where he resided 16 years, owned a saw-mill and 360 acres of land; served as Supervisor 13 years, and as Assistant U. S. Assessor four years. He was married a second time, to Melinda Daggett, of Huron county, June 21, 1867. They have one daughter, Florence E., born in Byron, Jan. 17, 1869. June 21, 1868, he transferred his residence to Byron, where he purchased 80 acres in sec. 1, and has 60 acres under a good degree of cultivation. He and his wife are members of the Grange, and he is a member of the Sons of Industry, and has always actively interested himself in political matters.

Patrick Malinn, jr., eldest son of Patrick and Maria (Plunkett) Malinn, was born in Westmeath, Ireland, March 8, 1808. He emi- grated to the United States and lived in Brooklyn, N. Y., seven years. He there married, Nov. 1, 1846, Elizabeth, daughter of James and Margaret (Joice) Malinn, born in Ireland Nov. 6, 1819. They have 5 children ; William, born Jan. 6, 1847; Margaret, June 15, 1849; Patrick, Feb. 22, 1855; Catharine, Nov. 2, 1859; and Edward, May 4, 1861. In 1855 he settled in Walker tp. and la- bored four years in the plaster-mills, when he purchased 40 acres on sec. 8, 30 of which are under culture. Mr. M. and wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

George W. McEachron, second son of Daniel and Clarissa (Ken- yon) McEachron, was born in Onondaga tp., Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1840, of Scotch ancestry. His father was a cooper and died when his sou was six years old. He was employed on a farm until 16 years old, when he learned the trade of a carpenter, working at it until 1869, when he came to Jamestown, Ottawa Co., Mich., where

623

BYRON TOWNSHIP.

he purchased a farm of 90 acres, which he sold in April, 1881, and bought 120 acres in Byron tp .; 100 acres are under tillage, and the premises are adorned by a house and barn which cost, respectively, , $2,000, and $1,000. He was married at Onondaga, N. Y., July 4, 1859, to Adelaide, daughter of Henry and Rhoda (Amidon) Amidon. Of four children born at Onondaga three are living, whose births occurred in the following order: Marcus, April 17, 1860; Cheney, July 31, 1862; and Daniel, March 10, 1865. Mrs. Mc- Eachron died April 8, 1870, and Mr. M. was married Nov. 20 to Ida E. Gould, daughter of Franklin and Mary J. Palmer, of James- town. She was born Sept. 1, 1851. They have two children, born in Jamestown-Addie E., July 1, 1875; and George M., Oct. 17, 1875. Mr. M. is a Republican and has served two years as High- way Commissioner. His wife is a member of the M. E. Church.

Elijah McKenney, son of James and Jemima (Kemp) McKenney, was born at Newfane, Niagara Co., N. Y., Sept. 4, 1812. In 1822 his father bought a farm in the town of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., but sold it and returned to Newfane. Elijah was married to Harriet Gaylord, Nov. 6, 1845, born Jan. 6, 1818. Of nine chil- dren six are living-Sarah L., born May 4, 1847; Charles G., April 26, 1849; Solon E., Feb. 21, 1851; Ruby M., April 8, 1858; Orlo M., Dec. 26, 1860; and Wm. C., May 18, 1862. In the spring of 1846 he purchased 80 acres on sec. 20; now owns 280 acres, with 125 under cultivation. He arrived in Byron with his household furni- ture and $65.00 in money; $70.00 being the price of the land, he disposed of an extra pair of boots for $5.00 and paid the amount demanded. He cut a small clearing for a log house, in which he commenced pioneer life. He traded his overcoat for a cow and a hog that weighed 200 pounds when fatted. The next spring he purchased a pair of calves, and raised his first team. He cleared 15 acres unaided. His wife died Aug. 1, 1865, and he was married again July 12, 1866. to Abigail J., daughter of Chandler and Ruth (Reed) Hickox; born in Lorain Co., Ohio, Feb. 19, 1828. Mr. McK. has been Supervisor two years; Justice of the Peace one year. In politics is a Democrat.

In an early day wolves and other wild animals were very numer- ous, and on one occasion attacked sheep belonging to Mr. McK., one night even being so bold as to attack them in a pen adjoining the house. Mr. McK. hearing the noise and going out, they left one side of the pen as he entered the other.

James K. McKenney, eldest son of James and Jemima (Kemp) McKenney was born Aug. 6, 1806, four miles from the mouth of the Niagara river, in Canada. His ancestry was Scotch. In 1811 his family went to Niagara, N. Y., and 10 years after went to Monroe county. At 21 he purchased 75 acres of land in town of Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., and after paying for it, he engaged in the mercantile business, which proved a fatal disaster to his finances. He again turned his attention to agriculture. In the fall of 1844 he came to Byron tp. Arriving at Grand Rapids with his wife and

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

four children and $115, he purchased through Mr. John Ball 80 acres for $60, and 40 more for $22. It lies in sec. 20 of this tp. Mr. McK. has experienced all the exigencies of pioneer life. He carried his grists of corn and wheat two miles on his back, and single-handed cleared 87 acres of land. His first work was to build a small log house in front of the site of his present residence. It was near completion, with the spaces cut for doors and windows when a fall of two feet of snow occurred. At the time he was crippled by an enormous carbuncle on his knee, and in the unfinished abode he lived with his wife and five children, scarcely able to procure the necessary fuel; meantime the cooking was done out-doors. In six or seven years he bought a team, and drew the first load of timothy hay ever drawn to Grand Rapids, also the first green peas. He is the third original settler in the tp., nearly all others having died or changed their residence. He was married Nov. 5, 1837, at Parma, N. Y., to Ruby A., daughter of Seth and Annie (Bradley) Seeley, born at Hartford, Conn., Feb. 7, 1813. Of seven children one is living, Julia A., born in Greece, Monroe Co., N. Y., Jan. 29, 1839, married in Byron Oct. 11, 1871, to Judson A. Norris. The second son enlisted at Grand Rapids Aug. 23, 1862, in Co. H, 21st Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Chase, and served nine months in the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the fights at Perryville and Murfreesboro, where he was wounded by the explosion of a shell, taken prisoner and re- captured. He was seized with hemorrhage of the lungs and came home to die.

Mr. and Mrs. McKenney are members of the Methodist Church. The M. E. church building at Byron Center was built in 1872, and dedicated in February, 1873. It cost about $2,500-James K. McK. paying $600 toward it, or nearly one quarter of the ex- pense. Mr. McK. has been a member of the M. E. Church for over 50 years, and his wife about 40 years.

In politics Mr. McK. is a life-long Democrat and has served his tp. some five years as Highway Commissioner, though he accepted the office only after being earnestly solicited to do so by his friends.

Byron McNeal was born in Ridgeville, Lorain Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1838. He is the only son of Ozro and Sally (Blakesley) McNeal, respectively of Scotch and English ancestry. He con- tinued in the vocation of his father (farmer) until Aug. 3, 1862, when he enlisted in Elyria, Lorain Co., O., in Reg. 103, Ohio Vol. Inft., Co. H, under Capt. Geo. F. Brady, and served in the 23d Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, until July 4, 1865. He was engaged in the siege of Knoxville, battle of Resaca, etc., Ga., where he was wounded in the left foot, May 14, 1864, sent back to the field hospital, thence to Chattanooga, Nashville, Louisville, and finally to Camp Dennison, where he was detailed to transfer prisoners. On being ·discharged he returned to Ridgeville and engaged in farming two years, when he went to Elyria, O., and prosecuted mercantile business five years. In 1876 he purchased

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BYRON TOWNSHIP.

the store of Wm. B. Crabtree at Byron Center, and kept a general stock of merchandise, including groceries, drugs, dry goods, agricultural implements, etc., valued at $2,500. He lost the stock and building by fire, Jan. 2, 1868, and recovered $2,800 insurance; total loss, $4,000. In 1869 he erected a building 36x60 feet, in which he carries on his former business, and also a meat market. In January, 1881, he was appointed Postmaster. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., of Elyria, O., and is also connected with the fraternity of Odd Fellows. Politi- cally he is a Republican. Sept. 14, 1869, he was married to Mrs. Hattie Peck, widow of Jas. Peck and daughter of Arteman and Ettie J. (Brannan) Peck. She was born in Oberlin, O., and died at Byron Center, Aug. 24, 1880, and was buried in Winchester Cemetery.

Lewis L. Miller (deceased) was a native of Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and was the third son of James and Tamar (Purdy) Miller, of English descent. He was born June 10, 1822, and died Oct. 11, 1880. Nov. 10, 1846, he married Rachel M., daughter of Jeremiah and Eliza Hunter. Of three children, one survives- Charles L., born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 7, 1848. Mrs. Miller died Oct. 12, 1863, and Mr. Miller was married April 10, 1864, in Calhoun Co., Mich., to Margaret L. Hunter, sister of his former wife. One of three children is living-Albertina, born in Calhoun county, Jan. 31, 1865. Maggie L. was born at South Bend, Ind., Feb. 14, 1869, and Harry at the same place Jan. 14, 1871. He died July 12, 1871. Mr. Miller bought a farm in Parma, Jack- son Co., in the spring of 1859, sold it two years after, and went to Albion, where he remained 18 months. The next three years he worked the farm of E. H. Johnson. During this period his first wife died, and he moved to the farm near by, owned by Mrs. Fin- ley, which he worked two years, then entering into business rela- tions with Willard Clark, of South Bend, Ind., operating in tin and glass. This connection continued three years, after which he officiated as city auctioneer two years, when he engaged in freight- ing in Grand Rapids, and also as foreman in Taylor's quarry. Five years later, in October, 1874, he purchased 80 acres of land in sec. 11; 40 have been sold since his death. He was a member of the Masonic order in Albion, and both himself and wife belonged to the M. E. Church.

Charles H. Moore, third son of Edward and Mary (Blanchard) Moore, was born in Wiltshire, England, March 22, 1829. At the age of nine he was taught to make shoe nails, and afterward learned the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, which calling he has pursued since. Nov. 24, 1853, he was married in Glouces. tershire, England, to Harriet, daughter of Wm. and Esther Brown. She was born in Gloucestershire April 11, 1829. They had four children-Wm. E., Clara, George F. and Elizabeth J. Mr. Moore came to America in the fall of 1855, and after a stay of three months in the city of New York, and in a gold mine in Georgia, · he went to Ontonagon, Mich. Fourteen months after he purchased

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

40 acres of land (sec. 6) in Gaines, to which he has since added 80 more by purchase on sec. 1 in Byron; 100 acres are in a good state of cultivation. Mrs. Moore died in Gaines July 3. 1867, and July 31, 1867, he was married a second time, to Stella Meekens. To them six children have been born-Nettie L., Stella M., Lilly, Jennie, Albert and Jessie. Mr. Moore is a member of the I. O. of O. F., and of the United Sons of Industry. He has served as Constable two years, and eight years as School Assessor. He is a Second Ad- ventist in religious faith, and in politics a Greenbacker.

Owen Narregang, fourth son of Abraham and Nancy (Fogle) Narregang, was born Aug. 23, 1827, in Northampton Co., then Monroe Co., Pa. His parents were natives of Berks Co., Pa., where his father was born Jan. 13, 1798, and his mother, Jan. 27, 1798. Both were of German ancestry. At 19 years of age Mr. N. opened a blacksmith shop in Livingston Co., N. Y., where he operated 10 years. In the fall of 1854 he came to Oakfield, Kent Co., and engaged in farming two years, after which he worked a year in building the D. & M. R. R., going then to Grand Rapids, where he found employ three years grading the streets. He acted as foreman in the Eagle Plaster Mills a year, and subsequently was in the plaster-mills at Wyoming. After this he served as an engineer in the plaster mills for a period, and was then employed three years in fencing on the L. S. & M. S. R.R. He went to Grandville, Wyoming tp., and purchased a blacksmith shop, where he remained one year, and came to Byron Center in the fall of 1872, where he purchased two blacksmith shops and two lots on Main street. He has built a house, store and agricultural ware- house. In 1873 he commenced business as a dealer in agricultural implements, and in 1877 opened a store comprising a general stock of dry goods, groceries, drugs and medicines, boots, shoes, hard- ware, crockery, etc., etc., valued at $2,500. In the season his agricultural stock averages $1,500, and his transactions in both de- partments reach an aggregate of $10,000 yearly. He was mar- ried in Livingston county Sept. 5, 1849, to Polly, daughter of John and Maria (Schermerhorn) Kennedy, of Scotch and German lin- eage. . Mrs. Narregang was born Sept. 22, 1829. 'They have two children, born in W. Sparta, Livingston Co., N. Y., as follows: Rozelia M., Sept. 22, 1831, and Benjamin F., April 25, 1854. Mr. N. is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, holding the office of P. G. Republican in politics, and has been elected to several lo- cal offices in the tp.

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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 61

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