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 13
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tem of the church on 1893 and succeeded his brother, Philip T. H. Pierson, as clerk of said church in 1909. Outside of affairs in his home city, Mr. Pier- son is deeply interested in the welfare of Alma College at Alma, Michigan, of which he has been trustee since 1808.
Mrs. Pierson is the author of a large number of children's books, all of which have been published by E. P. Dutton & Company, New York. "Mrs. Pierson," said The Outlook, "has done for children what Mlrs. Gatty did for grown people in 'Parables from Nature.'" She is the author of "Among the Meadow People." "Among the Forest People," "Among the Farmyard People," "Among the Pond People." "Among the Night Peo- ple." "Dooryard Stories" and "Tales of a Poultry Farm." Besides these seven volumes, Mrs. Pierson has also written a series of children's stories which together constitute the Pencroft Books. In this series of four dif- ferent but closely related stories are, "The Millers and Their New Home," "Three Little Millers." "The Millers at Pencroft" and "The Millers and Their Playmates."
About this latter series, the merit of the stories was well summed up by The Churchman, when it said: "A new book about the 'Little Millers' will surely be welcomed with pleasure by all little readers."
"The secret of Mrs. Pierson's popularity." say her publishers, "lies in the fact that what she teaches is conveyed so nnobtrustively and naturally that the child does not feel that against his will he is being supplied with facts and morals in story form."
CHARLES M. MILLER.
Charles M. Miller, banker and active business man in Greenville, was born in Eureka township, on April 8, 1869, a son of Oscar C. and Catherine ( Berridge ) Miller. He attended the Greenville schools, graduating from the high school in 1888. One year later, Mr. Miller completed a course of study in the Detroit Business University, after which he became associated with his father in the shoe business under the firm name of O. C. Miller & Son. In this business Charles M. Miller became manager on entering the firm, purchasing the interests of his father in 1898. In 1904. Mr. Miller became vice-president and general manager of Commercial State Savings Bank, and extended the ownership of his store, accepting as part- ners. William Wells and Jessie Wyckoff. The firm continued in business
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as Wells, Wyckoff & Miller, for one year, at the end of which time Mr. Miller disposed of his mercantile interests to B. O. Beach.
Since this time Mr. Miller has been associated with the Commercial State Savings Bank, an institution which, under the able direction of Mr. Miller and his associates, has become one of the strong and reliable banking houses of the county.
On August 9, 1899, Charles M. Miller was married to Nora Macom- ber, a daughter of Allen E. and Esther Macomber, of Lakeview, Michigan. Mrs. Miller was educated at the Lakeview high school and at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. To the marriage of Charles M. and Nora Miller has been born one daughter, Esther C., who was born on October 22, 1900, and who is now a student in the Greenville high school.
Charles M. Miller and his family are active members of the First Con- gregational church at Greenville, and are well-known workers in this con- gregation.
As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Miller has been especially active. having served as a member of the board of education for six years, and while a member of this body, served on the building committee having charge of the erection of the Union high school in Greenville. He is a member of Greenville Lodge, No. 96. Free and Accepted Masons: of LeRoy Lodge No. o. Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, at Greenville.
JOHN H. SERVISS.
John H. Serviss, the well-known county agent for Montcalmi county, former city clerk of Greenville, this county, and for years prominently connected with the commercial interests of that town, is a native son of the state of Michigan, having been born on a farm in West Bloomfield township, Oakland county, on March 21. 1859. son of Charles and Nancy J. ( Riley) Serviss, the former a native of New York state and the latter a native of Michigan, who later became prominent residents of Greenville. where their last days were spent.
Charles Serviss was about seventeen years old when he came to Michi- gan with his parents, the family settling in West Bloomfield township. Oak- land county, and on a farm there Charles Serviss grew to manhood. He was about nineteen years old when the gold rush to California set in, fol-
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
lowing the discovery of gold in 1849, and he joined a party of other adven- turous spirits in a trip to California, but at the end of two years of rather trying experiences in the gold camps of the West, he returned to his home in Oakland county and there married Nancy J. Riley, who was born in that county, daughter of John Riley, a pioneer farmer of that section, and a native of Ireland, whose interesting history is set out in a sketch relating to his grandson. C. W. Riley, of Greenville, presented elsewhere in this volume.
In 1861. Charles Serviss and his family moved from Oakland county to this county and for a couple of years or thereabout. Mr. Serviss operated a saw-mill at Langston. He then moved to Greenville, where he clerked in the Shearer hardware store for several years, after which he engaged in the retail meat business and the general live-stock trade. in association with a firm, doing business under the name of Serviss Brothers & Riley, and was thus actively engaged the rest of his life, becoming in that time one of the best-known stockmen in this section. Charles Serviss died in 1881 and his widow survived him for more than twenty years, her death occurring in 1903. They were the parents of four children. namely: Jennie M .. who married Ransom T. King, of Greenville. both now deceased: John H., the subject of this sketch; Warren B .. superintendent and general manager of the Valley City Telephone Company at Saginaw, this state, and Fred, who died at the age of seventeen years.
John Il. Serviss was only two or three years old when his parents set- tled at Greenville and he grew up in that pleasant little city, receiving his education in the Greenville schools and becoming familiar with the details of his father's business, thus becoming an expert judge of live stock and the retail meat trade. He married when he was twenty-one years old and for a number of years engaged in the meat business for himself. later form- ing a partnership in the same line with C. W. Riley, and was thus engaged for three or four years, at the end of which time the firm was dissolved and Mr. Serviss then served a six-years' term as deputy postmaster at Greenville. At the end of that official connection he became connected with the Hollow Blast Grate Company and was thus employed for two years. He then organized the Greenville Floral Company and did business along that line for a year. after which he entered the P. D. Edsall book store and was there engaged for eight years. at the end of which time he received his appointment as county agent under the new law, his appoint- ment from Governor Ferris being dated July 1. 1915. since which time he
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has been devoting his most thoughtful and intelligent attention to the exact- ing duties of that important office, performing a most valuable and accept- able service in behalf of the common welfare.
On January 12. 1881. John II. Serviss was united in marriage to Amelia E. Blanck, daughter of Dr. Andrew Blanck, a well-known pioneer physician of Livingston county, this state, and to this union four children have been born, as follow: Charles .A., who is engaged in the automobile business at Aberdeen, South Dakota: Rufus J .. who died at the age of eleven years: Helen E., who married Henry E. Kieft. of Greenville, and George R., who is operating a garage at Lakeview. Mr. and Mrs. Serviss ever have taken their proper part in the general social activities of the city in which they live and are held in high regard by their many friends.
Mr. Serviss is a Democrat and from the days of his youth has given close attention to local political affairs. In 1884 he was elected city clerk of Greenville, and served very acceptably in that office for one term. Ile later was elected to a seat in the city council and gave equally attentive service in the public behalf in that capacity. Mr. Serviss is a member of the Greenville lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
ELLIS W. RANNEY.
Among the prominent citizens and leading business men of Greenville, Montcalm county. Michigan, few have taken a more important place or have served their community more usefully than has Ellis W. Ranney, who was born in Belding, lonia county. Michigan, on February 23, 1878. a son of Fred E. and Mary ( Ellis ) Ranney.
Ellis W. Ranney received his early education in the public schools of Belding, continuing his preparatory schooling until he graduated from the Belding high school, in 1806. After that time. Mr. Ranney became a student at the Michigan Agricultural College, an institution from which he graduated, with the degree of Master of Science, in 1900. Following the completion of his education, Mr. Ranney engaged in farming, for one year and then he entered the Ranney Refrigerator Company, a concern which he served as general utility man, until 1908, when Mr. Ranney became secretary and treasurer of the corporation, an office which he now occupies. In addition to his connection with the Ranney Refrigerator Company. Mr.
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Ranney is a director of the Moore Plow & Implement Company, and he is interested in a dairy farm. at Belding. Michigan.
In 1900. Ellis W. Ranney was married to Tressie A. Bristol, who is a graduate of the Amont high school and of the Michigan Agricultural Col- lege. For one year she was an instructor in the latter institution.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ranney have been born four chil- dren : Mary E .. Frederick B .. June E. and Ruth L., all of whom are now attending the Greenville public schools.
Mr. Ranney has not been very active in the political life of Greenville and Montcalm county, but has served as president of the Greenville Repub- lican Club. and he is a man who is found in the front ranks of all move- ments having for their object the advancement of the community interests. Mr. Ranney is now serving as president of the Greenville school board. during his term of office having done much for the betterment of school conditions in this community.
Fraternally, Mr. Raney is one of the most prominent men of Green- ville, or the locality. he being a member of Belding Lodge No. 155, Free and Accepted Masons: of Greenville Chapter No. 96. Royal Arch Masons; Tonia Council No. 12. Royal and Select Masons: a member of onia Commandery No. It, and of the consistory and Shrine. at Grand Rapids. Michigan. Mr. Ranney is also a member of the Belding Lodge. Knights of Pythias.
JAMES K. TRAIN.
James K. Train, postmaster of Edmore and former sheriff of Mont- calm county, one of the best-known and most popular citizens of this county, is a native-born Hoosier, having been born in Steuben county, Indiana, April 29. 1847, son of Stephen C. and Caroline ( Reynolds) Train, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Michigan, who left Indiana in 1847. when their son, James K., was about one month old, and came to Michigan, settling in Cass county, where they established a substantial home on a farm and it was there that James K. Train grew to manhood. Stephen C. Train and wife were the parents of eight children, of whom two are now living, Frank, of Cheboygan county, this state. and James K., the subject of this biographical sketch, the others having been Marquis D., who died in 1862, while serving as a soldier in the Union army during the
MR. AND MRS. JAMES K. TRAIN.
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Civil War; Mrs. Jennie C. Osgood, who died in Colorado, and Eugene F., Laura, Mabel and Marie.
On September 11, 1863. he then being but sixteen years of age, James K. Train enlisted as a recruit in Company D, Sixth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and was mustered out at Greenville, Louisiana, on August 20, 1865. ITis regiment was attached to the Department of the Gulf and he joined it at Port Hudson, Louisiana, in January, 1864, being a participant in several skirmishes between that time and the close of the war. After being mustered out of the service at the close of the war, the regiment returned to Jackson, Michigan, where it was discharged. Mr. Train then returned to Cass county, but his parents meanwhile having moved to Barry county, he presently joined them there and on Thanksgiving Day, 1868, was married, after which he settled on a farm of forty acres in Orangeville township. that county, where he lived for three years. In 1871 he moved to Tonia, which had been his wife's home, and there engaged in the drayage business, at the same time keeping a boarding house for the benefit of workmen employed on the erection of the new prison at that place, and there he made his home until September, 1878, at which time he came to Edmore. Montcalm county, which has been his home practically since then. He engaged in the drayage business at Edmore and was thus engaged until the time of his election to the office of sheriff in 1806. a period of nearly eighteen years. During his term of service as sheriff Mr. Train made his home at Stanton, the county seat, but at the end of that four-year period returned to Edmore and has since then made his home on his fine farm of eighty acres at the edge of the village.
Mr. Train is an active Republican and ever since settling at Edmore has been a prominent figure in local politics. In addition to his term of service as county sheriff. he has served in most all of the township offices in Home township, having been supervisor for nearly five years, and in other ways has done his full part toward advancing the general interests of that vicinage. On June 14. 1901. Mr. Train received his commission as postmaster of Edmore and has ever since held that office, his administration of the duties thereof having given general satisfaction to all concerned.
On November 28, 1868. at Tonia, this state. James K. Train was united in marriage to Eliza Jane Martin, who was born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. January 22. 1849. daughter of Robert and Milo Frances (Gray) Martin, the former of whom was born in Scotland in 1795 and the latter. in Connecticut, in 1806. Robert Martin migrated from Scotland (10b)
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to New Brunswick when a young man and there he married, all his chil- dren being born there. His wife had gone to that province from Connecti- cut with her parents during the War of 1812, she then having been but six years of age, and had grown to womanhood there. In the spring of 1849, their last-born child, Eliza Jane, then being but two months of age, Robert Martin and his wife and children came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Kalamazoo county, where they made their home for years, and it was there that Mrs. Train received her early education, in a log school house. Later her parents moved to Barry county, where Mr. Martin died in May, 1871, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow continued to live on the old home farm for a while and then made her home with her daughter. Mrs. Train, at Edmore, where her last days were spent, her death occurring in November, 1891. at the age of eighty-five. Robert Martin and wife were the parents of twelve children, of whom but two are now living. Mrs. Frances M. Cory, ninth in order of birth, who lives at Battle Creek, widow of Barney F. Cory, and Mrs. Train, the last born. the others having been Isaiah. William, George ( who died while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War). Robert, Mrs. Margaret Russell, Har- riet. Mrs. Mary Bostwick, Reuben, Nathaniel J. and Nason. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were earnest members of the Congregational church and their chil- dren were reared in that faith. Robert Martin was a stanch Republican, ever taking an active part in local political affairs after moving to Michigan, but never was an aspirant for office.
To James K. and Eliza Jane ( Martin ) Train six children have been born, namely : Mark D .. born in 1870, now living in Fargo, North Dakota, married Laura D. Colburn and has five children, all sons, Russell Alger. Mark Peter. Kenneth, Paul and David: Lee, who manages the home farm for his father, married Mabel Liscomb and has six children, four sons and two daughters. James K .. Keith D., Carlton, Theresa M .. Mina B. and Mark D .: Calvin K., now living at Flint, this state, married Blanche Minard and has four children, Nina E .. Berkley M .. Helen and Ruth Arlene : Mabel, who married Harry O. Shrodes, of Lansing, this state, and has two chil- dren. Glen Train and Harry Blaine: John C., who died at the age of twenty years, and Ora E., who died at the age of nineteen. Mr. and Mrs. Train ever have taken a proper part in the social life of their community and they and their family are held in high esteem. Mr. Train is an active member of J. T. Barrett Post No. 180, Grand Army of the Republic: a charter member of the Edmore lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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instituted in 1875; a member of the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose at Edmore and of Ionia Lodge No. 548, Benevolent and Protective 1
Order of Elks, at Ionia, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.
R. D. McNUTT.
R. D. McNutt, county surveyor and a prominent citizen of Stanton, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Greenville, this county, on April 27, 1890, a son of Lee E. and Ilattie J. ( Ball) MeNutt, natives of Michi- gan, the former born at Conway, Livingston county, on May 22, 1861, a son of Harvey L. and Mary A. McNutt; the latter in Luce county, on November 3, 1860.
Lee E. McNutt received his early education in the schools of his native county, after which he, when nine years of age, came with his parents to Greenville, where he completed his education at the Greenville high school. Later, the elder McNutt moved to Stanton, where he now lives and engages in the duties of a mail carrier.
On December 25, 1885, Lee E. McNutt was married at Fowlerville. Michigan, to Hattie J. Ball, and they are the parents of one son, R. D., who was born on April 27. 1890. Mr. McNutt and his wife are affiliated with Congregational church. at Stanton, and are well-known and appreciated workers of this congregation. Fraternally, Lee .F. McNutt is a member of Lodge No. 202, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Stanton, and also is a member of Lodge No. 1520. Ancient Order of Gleaners, at Stanton.
R. D. McNutt was brought from Greenville to Stanton, Montcalni county, when he was but one year of age and lived on the home farm, receiving his early education in the common schools of his neighborhood. He later became a student at the Stanton high school, graduating in 1907, after which he entered the Michigan Agricultural College, at Lansing, receiving his degree as a civil engineer. in 1912. In 1910. Mr. McNutt began his career as an assistant surveyor with D. C. Crawford, then serv- ing as county civil engineer of lonia county, Mr. McNntt being engaged in this capacity until 1912. when he became deputy surveyor for Ionia county. an office which he occupied until 1914, when he was elected as county sur- veyor for Montcalm county.
As an engineer and surveyor, Mr. McNntt has made an enviable record. During the year 1912, he had complete charge of all the drainage work done
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in Clinton county, Michigan; during the summer of 1913, he had charge of the preliminary survey for the interurban lines being contructed from Grand Lodge to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and since that time Mr. McNutt has more than fifty miles of state ward road surveys to his credit.
R. D. MeNutt is a member of the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners and is a member of the Michigan Engineering Soci- ety. Fraternally. Mr. MeNutt is a member of Stanton Lodge No. 250. Free and Accepted Masons; of Stanton Chapter No. 110. Royal Arch Masons; lonia Council No. 12, Royal and Select Masons, and lonia Com- mandery No. 11. Knights Templar. As a student Mr. McNutt also served as second lieutenant of the Michigan Agricultural College military band. While Mr. McNutt is not a member of any church, he is a regular attend- ant of the Congregational church. In politics, Mr. MeNutt is a Republican.
REV. CHARLES PARKER.
No history of Montcalm county would be complete without fitting mention of the life and services of the late Rev. Charles Parker, a pioneer of the Coral neighborhood and for years active in all affairs pertaining to the advancement of that community. Though Canadian born. Charles Parker ever claimed to be a loyal citizen of the United States. his father, Charles Parker, a Vermonter, who was a soldier of the War of 1812. never having renounced his allegiance to this country after making his home in Canada at the close of that war.
Charles Parker was born at Norwood, Ontario, in 1823. the eldest of twelve children born to his parents. His early childhood was spent in Peterboro county. Ontario, and he carly became a master hand in the nse of tools, becoming a very proficient cabinetmaker and pattern maker. In 1845 he married Isabella D. Bowes, who was born in Haldeman township, Ontario, March 14. 1824, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Ford) Bowes, the former of whom, a native of England, was a British soldier during the War of 1812. and the latter a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. After his marriage Charles Parker worked as a pattern maker for several years at Newcastle, Ontario, after which he returned to Norwood, where he set up a shop and was engaged as a cabinetmaker until early in 1861. at which time, attracted by glowing reports that then were being sent out from this section of Michigan regarding the fine land that could be secured here for
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the asking, he came to Michigan and picked out an "eighty" in what is now the Coral neighborhood, but which then was an unbroken wilderness, there having been but two or three settlers in that part of the county before his time. He built a twelve-by-sixteen log cabin on his location and the next spring returned to Canada and brought back to this county his wife and six small children, establishing them in the humble home in the wilder- ness. While developing his home tract, which he bought from the railroad company for twelve dollars and fifty cents an acre, Mr. Parker also engaged in the lumber industry and it was not long until he was one of the best- known lumbermen in this section of the state, his operations being confined to the logging department of the business, his logging camp being the begin- ning of the village of Coral, a name which Mr. Parker selected for the place because it was easily written. In 1870, when the railroad finally was con- structed through that section, it was through Mr. Parker's representations that the survey was changed to take in Coral. in consideration of which concession on the part of the company. Mr. Parker agreed to secure a free right-of-way through Maple Valley township and he succeeded in securing the same at the merely nominal cost of one hundred and fifty dollars, only two of the settlers having held out for a cash consideration. About 1868 Mr. Parker donated the site for the cemetery at Coral. Mr. Parker was an ordained minister of the Gospel and preached most of the funerals in the entire neighborhood. As a skilled cabinetmaker it also fell upon him to make most of the coffins in which the pioneers were buried. During the carly sixties he preached nearly every Sunday, having a circuit which com- prised the West neighborhood in the morning. the Parker school house in the afternoon and Cowden Lake in the evening. Mr. Parker also officiated at most of the carly weddings and there was no man in that section in pioneer days who took a more prominent or useful part in bringing about proper social conditions during the formative period of that now prosper- ons and well-established community. than did he. In 1873 Charles Parker left his farm and moved to the town of Coral. where for a time he engaged in the real-estate business, but this not proving satisfactory, he returned to the farm in 1875. enlarged his land holdings there and that fall erected a fine new home. In 1878. Mr. Parker's eldest son. J. B. Parker. made a trip to Oregon and from the fine report he brought back with him in 1879. Mr. Parker decided to transfer his holdings and his activities to the then rapidly-developing Willamette Valley. He sold everything he had in this county and in May, 1880, went to Oregon. After looking over the Wil-
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