History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 38

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373

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136

HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.

ABRAHAM EVANS was born in Ohio, in 1836. At the age of sev- enteen he moved to Berrien County, Mich., and bought a farm in Section 30, -Pipestone Township, which he cleared. In 1859 he married Miss Mary Tennant, of Berrien County, who was born in Scotland, in 1844, and came to America in 1848. In 1875 Mr. Evans sold his farm in Berrien County, and bought some wild land in Section 27, Elbridge Township, Oceana County, Mich., which he has since cleared and made one of the best farms in the county. Mr. Evans bought the first threshing machine owned in Elbridge, in 1878, using first a horse power, and later a steam power. He also owned the first portable sawmill and built the first wind-mill in the town. Mr. Evans is interested in fruit-growing, having a very fine apple orchard of several hundred trees. He is also engaged in | stock-raising, and his sheep and cattle are of the finest breeds-one of his Holstein calves, in the Spring of 1882, weighing 110 pounds when one day old. Mr. Evans has often been solicited to stand for political honors, but not aspiring in that direction, has invariably declined.

THEODORE G. HouK, farmer. Section 28, moved on his, present farm of eighty acres, of which thirty-five are now improved, Febru. ary 20, 1878, the town being then almost a wilderness, full of Indians, and almost without roads. Mr. Houk was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1833. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Third Michigan Infantry, at Grand Rapids, and served bravely through the whole war, being honorably discharged August 13, 1865, having the rank of corporal. He married, June 14, 1868, Lucelia Allen, of Medina County, Ohio, and has two children-Juliette, and Allen Cob-moo-sa. Mr. Houk has been honored with supervisorship for seven years past, and is of a kindly, hospitable disposition, taking an interest in all the public questions of the day.

JOHN KING was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1846. He lived at home until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Van Buren County, Mich. He worked for the county twenty-one months, and then worked a farm for two years. In 1868 he mar- ried Miss Imogene Cole, of Van Buren County. He next removed to Missouri, but not liking that state, returned to Van Buren County, Mich., where he remained until 1874. In that year he moved to Oceana County, Mich., and bought land in Section 28, of Elbridge Township, where he now resides. When he purchased the land, it was uncleared, and there were no white neighbors nearer than a mile distant. He had to endure the privations of new settlers, and met with many discouragements, but by hard work and economy he has succeeded in overcoming all obstacles, and made for his family a comfortable home.

DAVID E. LATTIN was born in Chemung County, N. Y., in 1829, and continued to reside there until he was about twenty-eight years old. In 1852 he married Miss Charlotte Lathrop, of Elmira, Che- mung Co., who died December 1, 1854, leaving one child. In 1857 Mr. Lattin moved to Illinois. The same year he married Miss Mary Roberts, of DeKalb County, Illinois, by whom he has five children. Miss Roberts was born in Ohio in 1840. In 1864 Mr. Lattin returned to his native place, and remained there six years. In 1870 he removed to Oceana County, Mich., and took a homestead in Sections 25 and 36, of Elbridge, where he now resides. Mr. Lattin owns 160 acres of land well adapted to fruit or grain grow- ing. He presented the northeast quarter of southeast quarter of Sec- tion 25 to his son, Edward P. Lattin.

GUSTAVUS MAY was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1844. He lived in his native town until 1861, when he entered the army and served four years, being discharged in 1865. During the war he was taken prisoner, and was at Libby Prison and Belle Isle. After the war, he went to Illinois, and 1867 went to Kent County, Mich. In April, 1871, he married Miss Harriet A. Hilton, of Kent

County, who was born in 1851. In the Fall of 1875 Mr. May moved to Oceana County and bought land in Section 27, Elbridge Township, where he now resides.

ELIJAH MICHAEL. was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1831. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Berrien County, Mich. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Regiment, and served four years and four months. He was wounded at the battle of Shi- loh, but served until the close of the war. In 1866 he married Miss Rachel Tennant, of Berrien County, who was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1841, coming to America with her parents, and settling in Berrien County, Mich., in 1848. In 1877 they moved to Oceana County, Mich., and bought a farm in Section 16, Elbridge Township. After surmounting many difficulties and secur- ing a comfortable home, Mr. Michael died in November, 1881, leav- ing his wife and four children to mourn his loss.

WALES N. MILLER, farmer, Section 17, was born in Erie County, N. Y., September 27, 1839, and came to Portage County, Mich., in the Spring of 1861, when he enlisted for three months, on June 4, in the Cleveland Grays, but was discharged for hemor- rhage of the lungs. In 1862 he settled on Section 27, Hart, where he remained until May, 1881, purchasing his present place from Rollinger & Hardy. He married, in the Fall of 1862, Angeline Dunham, of Berkshire, Ohio., and they have five children, Hanson J., Charles N., Libbie C., Mina A. and Clayton .J.

SILAS PARKS was born in Hastings County, Ont., August 22. 1848, and settled in Shiawassee County, Mich .. in 1869, and in Oce- ana County in 1872, on Section 31, Elbridge Township, where he now lives. Married, May 2, 1866, to Orillie J. Hiller, who was born in Ontario, October 18, 1850. They have two children, Grace A. and Edith M., and have lost two by death, Ida May and Archi- bald H.

O. L. RUMMER was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1843. When he was two years old his parents moved to Broome County, N. Y., where he lived until 1862. In that year he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh New York Infantry, Company E. On his way from Washington to Frederick City, he fell from the cars, and was so severely injured that he was discharged as unfit for service. In 1863 he married Miss Mary J. Shepardson, of Broome County, N. Y. After leaving the army, he moved to St. Joseph County, Mich., and engaged in farming. In 1878 he moved to Elbridge, Oceana Co., Mich., and bought a farm in Section 18, a small portion of which was cleared, where he now resides. Mr. Rummer has four children.

JOHN RUSSELL was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1826. In 1830 his parents moved to Knox County, Ohio. In the Fall of 1858 Mr. Russell removed to Indiana, and in April, 1855, married Miss Maria Sands, of Fulton County, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1837, and by whom he has five children. In the Fall of 1866 he removed to Oceana County, Mich., buying wild land in Sections 25 and 26. There were no roads nor bridges at this time in the town, and but few white neighbors. Mr. Russell worked about thirty miles from home, and at the end of the week carried provisions on his back to his family a, distance of seven miles. The first year he cleared three acres, rolling the logs together by hand, as teams could not be procured. With the aid of five neighbors, he raised a log house, which he has since removed and replaced by a good frame building. He has a fine orchard, and his farm testifies to his skill as a good manager.

HERVEY S. SAYLES, farmer on Section 10, Elbridge, was born in Stillwater, Saratoga Co. N Y., June 24, 1827, and has resided in this state since 1848, first for twelve years at Round Prairie, Kala- mazoo Co., where, on April 8, 1852, he married Phebe H. Kinney, whe was born in Huron County, Ohio. While a resident of Kala-

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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.

mazoo County, his two eldest children were born, Catherine E. (Mrs. B. Moore, of Hart,) and William Niles, now manager of the mill and store at Beanville, Crystal. His youngest son, Nathan G., was born in Elbridge. Mr. Sayles was brought up to farming, but having met with a serious accident while hunting, by which he shattered the whole upper bone of his right arm, he turned his attention to mercantile business. When he came to Crystal Township he found that the firm for whom he was about to operate had failed, so that he felt somewhat discouraged. But Mr. Sayles, with true American pluck, applied, through the Indian interpreter, for the position of teacher to the Indian school at Crystal Valley, and secured the posi- tion, thus returning to the profession in which he was engaged before marriage. After a time, Mr. Sayles went to trading, in part- nership with John Bean, whom he afterward bought out. He also looked up large quantities of pine lands, and located land for set- tlers. In 1861 he moved to his present farm, where he has 300 acres, of which 100 are improved, with an orchard extending over twelve acres. He also owns about 400 acres of wild land. Mr. Sayles is deservedly a popular man, and has been sheriff for four years, justice of the peace, supervisor and town treasurer.

WILLIAM JAMES TENNANT, the subject of this sketch, was born in Scotland, in the city of Glasgow, on the 5th day of February, 1899, his early days being spent in and around that city. In the month of February, 1848, he came with his parents to America in a sailing ship, being forty-five days on the ocean. The last of March following, landed in New York Harbor, on the shore of their adopted country. They first settled in the town of Florida, Mont- gomery Co., N. Y., where they remained one and a half years, then moved to Berrien County, Mich., where, in the Fall of 1850, they commenced to clear up a farm out of the then unbroken wilderness. At the age of sixteen, he became an apprentice to a carpenter, and learned the carpenter and joiner trade. At the age of twenty years, he was married to Jane Coveney, oldest daughter of Joseph and Louisa Coveney, of Buchanan, Berrien Co., Mich., on the 12th day of September, 1858. They resided in Berrien County, until the month of May, 1869, when they started north to the county of Oceana, which they reached the 10th day of May. They at once settled in the township of Elbridge, where they now reside, and enjoy the fruits of labor, spent in honest toil. Being a lover of education, one of his first moves was to get a school district organized, and a school- house built, where his family, which consists of seven, three boys and four girls, have received the greater part of their education, four of whom, William, Jesse, Louisa and Julia, have become very successful teachers. As a public servant, he has held a number of offices in the township, being one year clerk, three years supervisor, six years justice of the peace, all of which he has filled with honor to the township, justice to himself, and a clear record. During all the years of toil and hardship, incident to the clearing up of a farm, and making a home in the woods, his wife has stood by him, and shoulder to shoulder they have borne the heat and burden of the day.

JOHN WESTBROOK is a farmer in Elbridge Township. He was born in Castile, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1844. In 1847 his parents removed to Perry Township, where they remained until the break- ing out of the war. In 1861, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteers, was in seven battles, and lost a leg at the battle of Antietam, in 1862. After leaving the army, he returned home, and attended school for a couple of years. In the Spring of 1867, he removed to Oceana County. In September, 1868, he was married to Miss Phebe O. Ballou. Two children, one son and a daughter, have been born to them, and are still living. Mr. Westbrook lives upon a farm of eighty acres, which is under good cultivation. He was three years in the grocery business at Hart, and has held the office of township treasurer for three years.

Mrs. Westbrook is the daughter of Emer S., and Lydia Ballou, of Girard Township, Mich. She was born in 1842, and remained at home until 1862. At that time, she went to Burr Oak, Mich., where she engaged in the millinery business. In September, 1868, she was married, as above stated.

TOWNSHIP OF GOLDEN.

The town derives its name from Maria Golden, mother of W. J. Haughey, one of the first settlers in the town.

The soil, while sandy in many parts, has been proved excellent for farming and fruit, and the best stock farm in the county is located within the borders of Golden, -that of S. A. Browne, a view of which will be found in this work. Under the heading of stock, a list of the chief trotting horses and other stock is given. The fame of Browne's Golden stock farm has penetrated beyond the limits of this state.

Golden was settled slowly. As late as 1867, the following com- prised nearly all the actual settlers on land: A. M. Pringle, J. S. Post, James Piper (deceased), J. Fletcher, William Pringle, Seth Wood, A. C. Hewitt, Liberty Hunter, W. J. Haughey, J. H. Spade, Henry Howarth, William McMillan, Alexander Weldon, H. J. Wilson, and Caleb Davis, (who came in 1867). William Krablin and a Mr. Hartman had a sawmill at that time on the lake shore, on Section 7. Cook & McDonald were getting out spars, and the chief interest was lumbering, two-thirds of the town being covered with an excellent quality of pine. Later on, Ford & Hiles com- menced lumbering at Round Lake, and C. Mears went largely into lumbering at Silver Lake and at Mears, when the railway com- menced operations.

School district No. 1 was organized in 1864, No. 2, in 1866, and of the latter Adelia Lawton was the first teacher.

About the year 1860, Charles Mears, who still owns much land, and has an extensive farm at Silver Lake, attempted to open a chanel to the lake, so as to float down his logs, and dammed the lake, so that the water covered the country for miles. This was offensive to the settlers, and one night the dam broke away, and drained the lake dry, since which no attempt has been made to open a channel.

The first sawmill in Mears was erected in the Spring of 1872, by Benjamin Moore, of Hart, just before the advent of the railway. The next was by Charles Mears, since burned; next by A. Marshall, who failed, and the mill was torn down and removed. George Wagar, next, who built a shingle and clapboard mill on the site of the Mears mill; and the Farnsworth mill, in the Spring of 1880, is the last mill erected. Mr. Moore is about to remove the mill to El- bridge.

The first schoolhouse was erected in 1874, and the second is close by the first, erected in 1881. The teachers for year ending July, 1882, were D. B. Hutchins, and Viola Kennedy.

This town was organized April 3, 1865, the first town meeting being at the house of Jeremiah Barnhart, and twenty-five voters being present. The first officers were: Jeremiah Barnhart, super- visor; A. C. Wilson, clerk; W. J. Haughey, treasurer; W. Krablin, and A. C. Wilson, justices; H. Howarth, C. J. Frost and W. H. Beebe, highway commissioners; W. J. Haughey, and C. J. Frost, school inspectors; W. H. Beebe, J. H. Spaker, and Amasa Sher- man, constables.

The following is the list of supervisors: Jeremiah Barnhart, 1865-'66; W. M. Pringle, 1868; Caleb Davis, 1869-'70-1-2; Jesse De Kay, of Allegany County, N. Y., in which county they resided until 1870. In that year they moved to Golden Township, Oceana

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K. Howe, 1878-'74; George Wyckoff, 1875-'76-7-8; Clark B. Genung, 1879; George A. Wagar, 1880-'81-2.

CLERKS: Alfred C. Wilson, 1865; Hiram J. Wilson, 1866; H. S. Bronson, 1867; Ed. Goodman, 1868; G. C. Hannum, 1839- 1870-'71; William Hiles, 1872-78-4-5-6-7; Samuel J. Sparks, 1878; (resigned in October, 1878); E. H. Hotchkiss, from October, 1878-'79-'80-1-2.

TREASURERS: W. J. Haughey, 1865; Asa M. Pringle, 1866-'68; William Hiles, 1869; Henry Howarth, 1870-'71-2-3-4-5-6; Reese T. Morris, 1877-'78-9; A. M. Pringle, 1880-'81; Clark B. Genung, 1882. The latter was appointed, first, in October, 1881, owing to resignation of Mr. Pringle.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HARMON V. FERGUSON was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., Septem- ber 28, 1833, when Michigan was yet a territory. He came to Oceana County in May, 1875, and has spent his time in farming and other industrial employments. He was married to Emogene Higgins, of Benona, December 31, 1870, with whom he still shares the toils and pleasures of domestic life. Mr. Ferguson's aged mother, Mrs. Hannah Longstreet, who was born in Johnstown, N. Y., August 18, 1799, but has lived in Michigan nearly fifty years, resides with him at Mears, and is remarkably comfortable and cheerful for one so aged. Mr. Ferguson enlisted in Company I, of the Eighteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, July 7, 1862, and was mustered into the service just one month later. He served his country in the army of the frontier during the last three years of the late rebellion, and received his discharge August 7, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are lovers of industry and enterprise, and delight in social and fraternal progress in their community.

PERRY HOVEY, one of the old settlers of Golden Township, was born in the town of Bruce, Macomb Co., Mich., December 18, 1829. At the age of twenty-five, he went to Lapeer County and bought a farm, and in 1855 married Miss Eleanor Nash, of Oak- land County, who was born in 1886. In 1861 Mr. Hovey went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and remained a year and a half, and then settled in the town of Golden, Oceana Co., Mich., taking a homestead of eighty acres in Section 11, where he now resides. His worldly wealth, on arriving with his family at the farm, con- sisted of one trunk, their clothing, and seventy-five cents in money, nearly all their possessions having been burned in the D. & M. depot at Detroit. They went to work with energy, and now have one of the best farms in town. There is a fine orchard on their farm, consisting of 125 apple, seventy-five peach, sixty pear, fifty plum, and fifty cherry trees.

JOSEPH KOB was born in Soultz, Alsace, France, in 1820. From the age of fourteen to twenty-one he was engaged in learning the trade of miller. He then entered the French army and was seven years and four months in the service. He was in the war in Africa, and was in several engagements with the Arabs, and was once slightly wounded. After leaving the army, he returned to his native place, and July 25, 1849, married Miss Augustine Meuret, of Rou- fach, France, who was born in 1828, her parents being well-to-do farmers. In 1850 Mr. Kob came to America, and arrived in Tomp- kins County, N. Y., January 15, 1851. In June following he bought a farm and lived on it ten years. In 1861 he sold out and moved to the town of Caroline, same county, where he lived till 1865. He then sold out, and after living a short time in Lake County, Ind., he came to Oceana County, Mich., in the Fall of 1866, and bought land in Section 14, Golden Township, his present home. He endured the hardships and difficulties met with by those who settle in new countries, but overcame all obstacles, and now has a home which many might envy.

ROBERT M. MATHEWS, one of the early settlers of Golden Township, was born in Sussex County, N. J., in 1824. In 1839 he went, with his parents, to Pike County, Pa., and remained there about fifteen years. In 1848 he married Miss Esther Wainwright, of Pike County, who was born June 12, 1826. They have seven children. In 1855 Mr. Mathews settled in Wisconsin, buying land in the town of Saxeville, Waushara County, and remained until 1860. In that year he removed to Iowa, where he remained until the Spring of 1865, when he came to Oceana County, Mich., and bought land in Section 14, Golden Township, where he has since resided. He has now a fine farm, and enjoys all the comforts and luxuries of old and prosperous settlers.

HENRY CROSSMON was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1842. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and at the age of twenty-one engaged in the manufacture of spokes. In 1864 he married Miss Mary Van Norman, of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., who was born in 1847. After being engaged in the manufacture of spokes about four years, Mr. Crossmon was burned out, when he engaged in the sawmill business until the Summer of 1871, when he sold out. In the Winter of 1872 he moved to Ottawa County, and again engaged in the manufacture of spokes. After some years he sold out and came to Golden Township, Oceana Co., and bought a mill in Section 36, in the Fall of 1881. His mill has a capacity of 15,000 per day, and can turn out a greater quantity, if necessary.

JAMES S. Post was born in the state of New York, February 18, 1822, and settled in Ingham County, Mich., about 1842. In 1847 he married Miss Rebecca Mathewson, of Ingham County. After his marriage, Mr. Post moved to Livingston County, and after living there one year, moved to Ionia County, where he lived ten years. In 1859 he settled in Pentwater, Oceana Co., and lived there two years. He then bought a farm in Section 13, Golden Township, where he resided until 1878. He then bought and sold a farm in Section 1, and then bought property in the village of Mears. Mr. Post died February 26, 1878. Rebecca Mathewson Post, his wife, was born November 2, 1826, in Attica, Genesee Co., N. Y., and moved with her parents to Ingham County, Mich., in 1836, where she was married to Mr. Post. She is the mother of six children. Mr. and Mrs. Post were among the first settlers in the county. There were but few inhabitants in Pentwater, mostly lumbermen or fishermen, when they settled there.

SIDNEY S. BRANCH Was born in York, Medina Co., Ohio, Feb- ruary 20, 1842. His father, Levi H. Branch, was an old pioneer of the state, having moved there at an early age, with his parents, from Genesee County, N. Y. His mother was from Massachusetts. On May 26, 1861, Mr. Branch enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Volunteers, and served over three years. He was in the battles of Winchester, Antietam (where he was wounded in the head), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run and the Wilderness, where he was wounded in the heel. He was discharged July 18, 1864. He remained in Ohio about a year, and in 1865 settled on Section 21, Golden Town- ship, Oceana Co., Mich., where he has since lived. He married, November 22, 1873, Miss Anna M. Hudson, of La Porte County, Ind., by whom he has two children-Edna E., born October 27, 1876, and Eda M., born April 28, 1879. Miss Hudson was born in La Porte County, Ind., January 10, 1844. Her father was a farmer and carpenter, and in easy circumstances. Mr. Branch has a very fine farm, his specialty being fruit growing. He has 1,000 peach, 150 apple and fifty plum trees.

MRS. MARGARET DeKAY. The subject of this sketch is the daugh- ter of Jacob A. Harms, of Sullivan County, N. Y., and was born in February, 1831. In 1858 she moved to Cattaraugus County, and remained there four years. In 1856 she married Thomas D.

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Co., Mich., and bought a claim in Section 28, fifteen acres of which was cleared. In the Spring of 1877 Mr. De Kay separated from his family, and the property was divided, Mrs. DeKay retaining the improved part. She has a fine farm well adapted to fruit or grain, and has raised a fine family. Their names: Fred. A., born Octo- ber 11, 1867; Frank A., April 15, 1859, died February 13, 1862; Clara Belle, born May 13, 1862; and George A., born September 1,1865.

HIRAM J. WILLSON was born on Long Sault Island, in the River St. Lawrence, on March 1, 1837. His father died in 1838, leaving the mother with two older children-Dana S. Willson and Esther E. Willson-to the charity of indigent friends and the world. For two years the widow, though sick and partially deranged, with the aid of her father, managed to maintain herself and youngest boy, the subject of this brief biography, having secured homes for the two eldest, among friends. About this time her health and mind failed, as also had what little means she had, and her friends not being able to help her, she was taken to the St. Lawrence County poor house-a half-sister of Hiram's, out of sympathy, giving him a

comfortable for another long Winter. A new house was now con- structed, timber cut down and land cleared. A passable road was cut through the timber to connect with other roads, so that they could reach trading points; shingle bolts being the farmer's money in those days. The second Winter was spent in getting out bolts, which he sold and purchased provisions with, at exorbitant prices. They were blessed with two children; the oldest being born on August 9, the third year of their marriage. They named her Helen Gertrude. The second -a son, born July 5, 1870,-was named Alfred D. Willson. They continued to improve their land a little each year; lumbering increased, mills and stores came within reach- coal kilns were built, and the forests have disappeared. Finding their rolling land better adapted to fruit-growing than raising wheat, they commenced improving in that direction, having some twelve or fourteen acres in fruit, some thirty or forty acres cleared. So that now they can look upon those first days of privation and want as among the things of the past, and in their declining years harvest the rewards of their labors.

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History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 38

Author: H. R. Page & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 373

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373