USA > Michigan > Montcalm County > History of Montcalm County, Michigan its people, industries and institutions...with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families Volume II > Part 11
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Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins are the parents of four children, Betrand F., who resides at Petoskey: Mand, the wife of Frank Carr, of Lansing; Cora, the wife of Otto Olson, of Sidney township, and Harry M., who lives on a farm near Petoskey.
Fraternally, Mr. Stebbins is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sheridan and politically he is a Republican, having served as a member of the school board and the town council.
CHIARLES E. DICKINSON.
Charles F. Dickinson, pioneer citizen and now an honored supervisor of Bloomer township, Montcalm county, was born in Bloomer township, on March 2, 1857, the son of Charles R. and Hannah (Turrell) Dickinson. Charles R. Dickinson was born at New Haven, Addison county, Vermont, on May 24, 1825, a member of an old New England family, representatives "i which came to Vermont, from Connecticut, prior to the Revolutionary War. Charles R. Dickinson came to Michigan with his parents, Julius C. Dickinson and wife, and settled in Jackson, where they lived for many wars and then moved to Bloomer township, where Julius Dickinson died. Viter reaching Jackson county, Michigan, Charles R. Dickinson helped in the clearing of the wooded land and in the making of a home, where he lived until twenty-one years of age and then, after saving some money varned at odd jobs, Charles R. Dickinson went to the state of California, working there as a miner for some time. He then returned to Michigan and bought in 1853 a farm in Bloomer township, which Mr. Dickinson improved and cultivated and where he lived for the remainder of his active life.
On June 27, 1855, Charles R. Dickinson was married to Hannah Tur- :ell, who was a native of Canada, and the daughter of Truman and Caro- line (Coville) Turrell, the former of whom was born in Wyoming county, New York, in 1809, the son of Ebenezer Turrell and wife. When a young man. Truman Turrell went to Canada where he secured a farm from the Canadian government, and there made his home for twenty-five years, after
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which he disposed of his land and came to Bloomer township, Montcalm county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 35, where a pioneer home was established and where Mr. Turrell engaged in general farming. Owing to failing health his activities were suspended for about five years. Later, with the return of good health, Truman Turrell became a well-to-do farmer.
Hannah. the wife of Charles R. Dickinson, died on March 10, 1866, and on September 1, 1868, Mr. Dickinson was married to Mary Turrell, who died shortly following her marriage. On March 18, 1869, Charles R. Dickinson was married to Kate Sullivan, who died on September 13. 1912. Charles R. Dickinson died on September 13. 1899. Charles R. and Hannah Dickinson were the parents of the following children, Charles F., of this sketch, Ettie V. ( deceased), and Harmon R.
Charles F. Dickinson, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of his native township, after which he became a farmer. he working on the home farm until after his marriage, when he rented his father's farm for some time and after his father's death he purchased the interests of the other heirs in this farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bloomer township, Montcalm county, to which Mr. Dickinson moved and where he lived as a general farmer, until April, 191t. when he secured a property which was a former home of his father. in Carson City, and there Mr. Dickinson now lives.
On November 28. 1882, Charles F. Dickinson was married to Isabelle Wilson, who was born near Godridge. Ontario, Canada, the daughter of George and Mary (Screaton) Wilson, both of whom were born in Eng- land, he at Scarborough and she at Patrington, and who came to America, soon after their marriage, and settled in Canada, which was their home for some years, when they moved to Michigan, and located near Port Sanilac. where they lived the remainder of their lives. George Wilson dying in December, 1887: his wife in January, 1904. Mrs. Dickinson came to Car- son City, in 1875. and lived with her sister, Mrs. Lizzie Gage, until the marriage of the former to Mr. Dickinson.
Charles F. Dickinson has taken an important place in the public life of Bloomer township, now being the township supervisor, an office which he has filled most satisfactorily for nine years; Mr. Dickinson also served his township as highway commissioner for about four years. In politics, Charles F. Dickinson is an ardent Republican. He is also prominently connected with the business circles of Carson City, for nine years having been a
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director of the lonia. Montcalm and Clinton Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company.
Fraternally. Mr. Dickinson is a well-known member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Carson City, and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
JOHN N. BRICE.
John N. Brice, leading merchant, prominent citizen and man of influence in the affairs of his town and county, born in North Shade township. Gratiot county, Michigan, on January 14, 1876, the son of William and Caroline E. (Sturgis) Brice, natives of England. William Brice was born about 1830, and after his marriage in his native country, he came to America, and located in North Shade township, Gratiot county, where he bought about the year 1858, one hundred and sixty acres of uncleared land, which the elder Brice cleared and drained of much swamp land, and on which he built a log cabin, making his home on there for the remainder of his life, with the exception of four years, when he served as treasurer of Gratiot county.
William Brice was twice married. first. to one of the Harlow family in England. To this marriage were born three children, Richard, Ellen and Maria: and subsequently. Mr. Brice was married to Caroline E. : Sturgis ) Burt. a native of Michigan, and the daughter of Norman Stur- gis and wife, early settlers in Gratiot county. They became the parents of two children. Celestia and John N. Mrs. Brice by former marriage was the wife of Nathaniel Burt. who died while serving in the Civil War. To this marriage was born one son. Myron E.
William Brice was a prominent man of his community, having served as county treasurer for four years, as supervisor for fourteen years, and township treasurer for nine years. He died on February 23. 1907, sur- vived by his widow, who now lives on the home place.
John N. Brice received his early education in the common schools of his native community, after which he attended and graduated from the Ithaca high school, and then he became a student at the Ferris Institute at Big Rapids, Michigan. Following his school days, Mr. Brice worked for one year on the home farm and then went to Grand Rapids, where he was employed in a department store for seven years, after which he
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worked on the street railway for one year. In the year 1906, John N. Brice came to Carson City, and was a salesman in the McKenna store for three years, after which he operated an auto livery for three years and then was an employe of the Brooks store for about one year. On March 10, 1914, John N. Brice opened his own store, having purchased the stock and business of Mrs. W. A. Gardner, and where Mr. Brice is now successfully engaged in the sale of general merchandise.
On February 24, 1914, Jolin N. Brice was married to Linda Babcock. who was born at Peck. Michigan, the daughter of Joseph and Rhoda (Allen) Babcock, the former a farmer, school teacher and shingle manufacturer at one time. Joseph Babcock was of English parentage and came to Peck, Michigan, from Canada, he also having engaged in carpenter work and at masonry work at Sandusky. Ohio, and at Wolverine, Michigan. Joseph Babcock died in 1900.
Jolin N. Brice is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife, are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Brice is a member of the Carson City Women's Club and is an active worker in the Congregational church. Mr. Brice and his wife are among the highly respected people of Carson City and Montcalm county, their pleasing ways and unselfish lives, devoted extensively to the interests of others, having won for them a host of friends and admirers.
ELI S. CLARK.
Eli S. Clark, who for many years has been a leading merchant and prominent citizen of Greenville, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Schuyler county, New York, on February 10, 1848, a son of George and Erva ( Jackson) Clark, natives of New York state. George Clark, who was a country merchant of the Empire state, in 1870, moved to Montcalm county. Michigan, and settled at Greenville, where, together with Judge Lovell, he built what is known as the Lovell and Clark block and where they opened a general merchandise store. They also became extensive dealers in lumber, having been the owners of one thousand five hundred acres of pine timber, which was standing where the town of Kendallville, Michigan, is now located.
Eli S. Clark, with his brother. Ethan J. Clark, opened a dry-goods store at Greenville, which was conducted under the firm name of Clark
.
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Brothers, until 1891, when Eli S. Clark purchased the stock of his brother and since that time has conducted the store as the sole proprietor under the name of E. S. Clark. Mr. Clark, who has been a merchant of Green- ville for forty-three years, now conducts the only exclusive dry-goods and furnishing store in Greenville, now being one of the leading forces and influences in the business life of this community.
On July 29, 1869. Eli S. Clark was married to Martha E. Drake, of Walkins, New York, and to this marriage have been born three children, two daughters, who are deceased, and one son. Leon, who after graduating from the Greenville high school, was married and now is a produce mer- chant of Eureka township. Mrs. Clark is an active member of the Congre- gational church, of which Mr. Clark is an attendant and toward the support of which he is a liberal contributor, Mr. Clark being much interested in the work of this church and giving liberally to its support.
In the political life of the community, Mr. Clark takes a leading place in the affairs of the Republican party. As a citizen and as a business man, he is highly respected and honored. his sterling character having won for him an enviable place in Greenville and Montcalm county.
ISAAC KROHN.
Isaac Krohn, leading merchant and prominent citizen of Carson City, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Posen, Germany, on September 14, 1859, the son of Lonis and Hannah Krohn, who lived their entire life in their native country.
Following his school days in his native country. Isaac Krohn worked in a notion store of Gnesen, Germany, and at twenty years of age, he came to America, and after a few days in New York city, during which time he suffered hardships as a result of lack of means, he was directed, by a friend to his unele who lived in Detroit, Michigan. During the early days of his life in Detroit, Isaac Krohn engaged in the peddling business, which he discontinued as a result of failure. due to the inability of Mr. Krohn to peak good English. He then secured a position in a dry-goods store, where he was employed at three dollars per week. Later, he moved to Greenville, about 1883, and was a salesnian in the store of Jacobson & Netzorg. for about five years, after which Mr. Krohn engaged in business with an acquaintance at Mancelona, Antrim county, a partnership which continued
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for one year, when Isaac Krohn disposed of his interest and then went to Cadillac, where he was employed in a dry-goods store. After two years at Cadillac. Mr. Krohn went to Detroit and on stopping at Ithaca, he became acquainted with a business man, who offered him employment, which he accepted and where he remained for two years, during that time marrying a sister of his employer. Following his marriage, Mr. Krohn remained in Ithaca for about one year, and then came to Carson City, which at that time was having its first railroad lines constructed. Being favorably impressed with Carson City, Mr. Krohn, in May. 1886, established a general mer- chandise store in an old building, receiving his first stock of goods on the first train to reach the town, and now Mr. Krohn is one of the leading merchants of the town, owning the largest store of Carson City and carry- ing the most complete stock of dry goods, clothing, shoes and women's and men's furnishings. He has prospered as a merchant. and now is a stock- holder of the State Bank of Carson City, and is a man whose judgment and counsel on matters of business, are sought by many.
In 1885. Isaac Krohn was married to Dessie Netzorg, who was born in Russian Poland and who came with her parents to America in 1883. and lived at Greenville for a time, then at Detroit and later moved to Ithaca. where she was married. To the marriage of Isaac and Dessie Krohn have been born two children. Florence, who attended the manual training school at Saginaw, Michigan, for two years, and Raymond, who is a graduate of the Carson City high school and who now is associated with his father in business.
Isaac Krohn is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Krohn and his family are members among the highly respected and honored people of Carson City.
ALFRED F. SKARRITT.
Alfred F. Skarritt, well known for many years as a successful and enterprising citizen of this county, was born on January 20, 1858. in White- lake township, Oakland county. Michigan, and is the son of Richard and Fanny ( Porter) Skarritt. Richard Skarritt was born on March 6, 1835, in Ireland, and is the son of Richard and Catherine Skarritt, also natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America when Richard was but two years of age. They located on a farm in Oakland county, Michigan, where they
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farmed until death. Richard Skarritt. Jr., was reared and educated in Oakland county, Michigan, and was also married there. His wife, Fanny ( Porter ) Skarritt. was born in 1844, in Oakland county, Michigan. Six children blessed the union of this couple: Alfred F., Richard Jr .. Jesse, Edward. Andrew and Charles, all born in Oakland county, Michigan. Richard Skarritt. the father of these children, served for nine months dur- ing the Civil War, in the Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, his term of service being toward the last of the conflict. He has always been an active Democrat. but has never aspired to office, attending strictly to his farming interests. He is retired from active farming, but still resides on the home place near his children. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his wife, whose death occurred in 1887.
Alfred F. Skarritt was reared on the home place and received his edu- cation in the schools of Oakland county, Michigan, in White Lake town- ship. On March 14. 1882. he was married to Ada Brasington, daughter of Rufus and Minerva ( Dewel) Brasington, and to them was born one child, Alvin R., who died when eight months of age. His birth occurred on September 28. 1885. Ada (Brasington ) Skarritt was born on .August 7, 1802. in Oakland county, Michigan. Her father. Rufus Brasington, is a native of New York state. having been born in May, 1834. in Leroy county, and is the son of This and Julia ( Glass) Brasington. He came to Michi- gan with his parents when only two years of age, locating on a farm in Waterford township, Oakland county, Michigan. His parents resided on this place until death and the farm has since been in his possession. He is now more than eighty years of age and has lived here all his life. To the union of Rufus and Minerva (Dewey) Brasington were born two children, William, who lives at home. and Ada. Tunis Brasington was a native of New York state where he was reared and educated, and became one of the pioneers of Oakland county. Michigan. Julia (Glass) Brasington also was a native of New York, where she was married. Ada ( Brasington) Skar- ritt was born in Pontiac. Oakland county, Michigan, where she was reared and educated and married.
Alfred Skarritt located in Edmore, Michigan, in 1887. where he engaged in the meat business which he successfully conducted alone for nine years, at that time forming a partnership with John Sack. the firm being known as Skarritt & Sack. This partnership continued for eleven years after which Alfred Skarritt sold his interest to John Sack, and engaged in the buying and selling of cattle, sheep and hogs. He is an excellent judge of
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live stock and has been very successful in all his enterprises, as is evidenced by the beautiful and spacious home which he has erected on Main street west, in Edmore, Montcalm county, Michigan. This is by far the finest home in the village and one of the finest in the county. Alfred Skarritt is practically retired, although he still deals in live stock to some extent, and is slated for postmaster under President Wilson's administration. tak- ing office on January 1, 1916. In his fraternal relations, he is affiliated with the blue lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons, of Edmore, Michigan. Politically, he is a strong Democrat and is the first Democratic postmaster the town has had for many years.
CHARLES E. HENRY.
Charles E. Henry, successful farmer and prominent citizen of Green- ville, Montcalm county, where he is now living a retired life, was born at Henrietta, Monroe county, New York, on January 22, 1838, the son of Thomas and Haley ( Brown ) Henry, the former born in Ulster, Ireland, the latter in New York state.
Thomas Henry and his family moved to the state of Michigan, in 1846, and settled at Grattan. Kent county, where they established a pioneer home, cleared the land of timber and brush, and here the elder Henry engaged in farming until the year 1861, when he died.
Charles E. Henry engaged in farming until 1861, when he enlisted in Company K. Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as a part of the Army of the Potomac, being engaged in the first battle of Bull Run and having a part in the construction of the fortifications for the protection of Washington, D. C., until the second battle of Bull Run, when he was wounded, as a result of which he was discharged in November, 1862.
After his discharge from military service. Mr. Henry returned to Kent county, Michigan, and taught school for one winter, after which he was a student for about two years, attending the normal school at Ypsilanti one year. one term at Ann Arbor and graduated from Bryant and Stratton's Commercial College at Detroit in 1865. He then took charge of his brother's farm, while the latter was serving as a soldier of the Civil War. Later, Charles E. Henry secured a farm, which he cultivated profitably, paying for the land which he had secured. and on this place he lived until 1876, when
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he moved to a farm near Smyrna, Ionia county, and lived there until 1880. At this time, Mr. Henry went to Dakota and located on a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which he homesteaded and where he lived until he had accumulated one thonsand one hundred and twenty acres of land, on which Mr. Henry resided for five years, at the end of which time he returned to Montcalm county, and purchased one thousand and forty acres in Day township. On this farm he placed extensive improvements, pre- pared his land for cultivation, living at McBride until 1904, and then after disposing of the greater part of his land, came to Greenville, where he now lives a retired life.
In September, 1870. Charles F. Henry was married to Florence R. Norton, who was born in Ontario county, New York, the daughter of Myron II. and Sarah (Skinner) Norton, who came to a farm of two hun- dred and seventy acres located near Smyrna, Ionia county, which was their home for some time. after which Mr. Norton later moved to Greenville, where he was engaged in several lines of business. To the marriage of Charles H. and Florence Henry have been born the following children : Norton M .. a druggist, who married Bessie McCarty and to whom have been born three children. Alice. Gerald and Myron: Florence R., who was the wife of Dr. Bell, of McBride, and who died about the year 1903: Ethel, who is the wife of Rudolph Newton, of Fairplain township. Montcalm county, and to whom have been born four children. Ethelbert. Charles Henry. Rudolph and Florence : Burton. a lumber dealer of Vancouver, British Columbia, who married Jessie Walsh, and to whom have been born two children. Neva and Marguerite: Alice, who is a stenographer of Los Angeles. California: Mabel, who is the wife of Joseph Gibson. of Green- ville, and to whom have been born two children, Joseph and Charles Henry; Charles, who is a farmer living near Stanton, and who married Alice Glock- zin, who are the parents of three children. Charles Jr., Helen and Marian, and Gladys, who after graduating from Northwestern University at Evans- ton, Illinois, in 1915, became a teacher at a private school at St. Paul. Minne- sota.
Charles F. Henry is a prominent member of the Free and Accepted Masons, at Greenville, and at Gratton. Kent county, he was for forty-six wears prominent in Masonry. Mr. Henry is respected and esteemed in Montcalm county, his pleasing ways and interest in the development of the community and its resources having given him a place of note among the men of the county and vicinity.
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Charles E. Henry, Jr., one of the well-known farmers of Montcalm county, was born on October 31, 1888. in the state of South Dakota, and after the completion of his early education in the schools of McBride, and at Greenville, became a student at Staunton Military Academy, of Staunton, Virginia, he Jater attending the Michigan Agricultural College, at Lansing. as a special student of agriculture and he also having. in 1909. graduated from Valparaiso University, of Valparaiso. Indiana.
Charles E. Henry, Jr .. is now engaged in general agricultural pur- suits on eighty acres of land wear Stanton. Day township, he also having charge of a large tract of his father's land. He is one of the promising young farmers of Montcalm township, his efforts being attended with excel- lent results.
HENRY HARRISON HINDS.
Henry Harrison Hinds, of Stanton, Michigan, a prominent farmer and extensive landowner, was born in Forest Lake township, near Montrose. Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, October 9. 1840. He is a son of Preserved and Ann Ensworth ( Walling) blinds, the father being a native of a New England state, and the mother, of New York. Preserved ITinds was a carpenter by trade, and lived in the vicinity of Montrose, Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, until his death, when alnost ninety years of age. Ilis wife survived him, and died in Spokane. Washington, at the age of one hundred years, six months and seventeen days. They were members of the "Deep-water" Baptist church. He was once a commissioner of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather of Henry II. Hinds was Conrad Hinds, whose wife's name is not of record.
Henry IL. Hinds was twelve years old when he first came to Michigan. Hle spent a year at Hillsdale, with his aunt, Lydia Brunson, then went back to Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood, and also attended the common schools there. At Montrose he enlisted in 1861 for service in the Civil War, and served in Company A. Fifty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, until the close of that great struggle in 1865. lle was first sergeant of the company from the start, but was afterward promoted, successively, to second lieutenant. first lieutenant and captain, and at muster- out. was the captain of his company. He participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac in which his regiment was engaged. up to Gettys- burg. At Fredericksburg, his brother. William W., a duty sergeant. was
MR. AND MRS. HENRY IL. HINDS.
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 129
mortally wounded and died in his arms thirteen days later. Captain Hinds was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, at the Shirley House, from which no man escaped, it being the salient point of General Sickles' line. He was confined in the "Yankee" officers' quarters of practically all the prisons of the South where officers were held; in all, six hundred and nine days. He was one of the famous one hundred and nine in the "Libby Prison Tunnel" gang, who succeeded in escaping. Fifty-two reached the Union lines, two were drowned, and the others were eventually recaptured, amongst whom were Col. Thomas Edward Rose, who had charge and engineered the construc- tion of the tunnel. and Captain Hinds.
After the war, Captain Hinds left Montrose, Pennsylvania, and canie to Stanton. Michigan, arriving in October. 1866, after dark, on foot. wear- ing one rubber and carrying the other in his hand. Next day after his arrival, he purchased one forty acres of virgin pine land, the first land he ever owned. it being embraced within the present corporate limits of Stanton, and which he yet owns. He has added to it until the farm now embraces one thousand acres or more, and he is also the owner of other lands in this state and in the West. He cleared a field in this locality, and produced the first crop on "pine-stump" land in this part of Michigan. He also owns city property in Stanton. His stump pulling was the first done in this part of the state. He also built the first rod of sidewalk in the town of Stanton. Here he engaged in merchandising and the lumber business for many years, but at present is giving his attention to live stock farming, his specialty being Shorthorn cattle. He was one of the organizers and president of the First National Bank of Stanton.
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