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 17
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For years Mr. Kennedy has given his thoughtful attention to the political affairs of this county and long has been regarded as one of the leaders of the Democratic party in the county. During the past two campaigns he has been chairman of the county delegations of that party and also has served in several campaigns as chairman of the county's delegations to state con- ventions. In November, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Lakeview and is now serving very acceptably in that important capacity. Mr. Ken- nedy is a writer of no mean ability and as a mathematician has attained wide note. He was for several years editor of the mathematical department of the Delhi ( Pennsylvania ) University School Journal and is the author of a work of two hundred pages on geometry and mensuration sold in Tennessee, and also what is known as Kennedy's "Date Ratios." He also was the anthor of two valuable treatises on differential and integral calculus. which were destroyed in mannscript during the disastrous fire at Lakeview in 1894. But it is as the author of "Kennedy's Standard Tax Tables," a monumental work designed as a time-saving, quick and accurate method of computing tax rolls, that Mr. Kennedy is best known as a mathematician, this work having been adopted almost universally by the supervisors of Michigan and by many of the auditors in other states, being perhaps the most complete work of the kind ever published. Mr. Kennedy also has been a wide traveler and is a man of extensive and comprehensive information on a host of sub- jects. Following a trip through the West Indies some years ago, he delivered several lectures on the habits and customs of the people of those islands which attracted much attention, and he also has lectured extensively through- out the lower peninsula in connection with his researches in the field of taxa- tion. Mr. Kennedy also has taken an active part in the general affairs of the community and is a man of varied activities. He is a vice-president of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Lakeview, a member of the board of directors of that sound financial institution and chairman of the discount committee of the same. He also is acting as receiver for the affairs of the Michigan Chair and Table Factory, a concern owned by a Lakeview corpora- tion, and in other ways has demonstrated his interest in the business life of the town and vicinity, long having been regarded as one of the most public- spirited and useful citizens of that place.
In 1874. at Grattan. this state. Salem F. Kennedy was mited in mar- riage to Blanche B. Wolfe, who was born at Grattan on December 25. 1850. daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Bellamy) Wolfe. the latter of Vermont and the former of Ohio, who came to Michigan after a sometime residence
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in Ohio, becoming well-known residents of Grattan, and to this union two children have been born, Laurin L., assistant postmaster at Lakeview, who married May Brown and has one child, Irene May, and Louie J., a traveling salesman for a coffee house at Kansas City, Missouri, in which city he makes his home, who married Ora Lindsley and has two children, Gordon A. and Salem F. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy for years have been among the leaders in the social and cultural life of their community and are held in the highest esteem throughout the county. Mrs. Kennedy is a woman of fine education and as a mathematician has been a valuable assistant to her husband in his extensive labors along those lines. The Kennedys have a fine home at Lake- view and possess besides other valuable real estate in that town and in Cato township, together with considerable land holdings in Medina county, Ohio, and real estate holdings in Grand Rapids, and are accounted quite well cir- cumstanced. Mr. Kennedy became a Mason in 1868, a member of Grattan Lodge No. 194, and ever since, a period of nearly fifty years, has been deeply interested in Masonic affairs, his active membership long ago having been transferred to the lodge at Lakeview, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest.
LEWIS WARD.
One of the most prominent citizens of Lakeview, Michigan, and one who has taken a conspicuous part in the official life of his town and county, is Lewis Ward, who was born in Irwin township, Steuben county, New York, August 23, 1847. He is the son of Robert and Charity (Borst) Ward, both natives of New York, the former of English and the latter of Dutch descent. They were farmers in Steuben county, New York, and lived there all of their lives. They reared a family of eleven children, of whom Lewis was the eighth.
Lewis Ward was educated in the district schools of Irwin township and. when a boy of thirteen years, started out to make his own way. On Decent- ber 3. 1863. when sixteen years of age, he enlisted in the Civil War, in Com- pany A, Fiftieth Regiment. New York Engineers, and was connected with the Army of the Potomac. Ile saw the greater part of his service around Petersburg and in the battle of the Wilderness, but was not in any of the larger engagements, being employed most of the time in building bridges and roads. Ile was in several minor skirmishes and often barely escaped being
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taken prisoner. He was discharged at Washington on June 8, 1865, and his regiment disbanded at Elmira, New York, three weeks later.
While Mr. Ward was serving in the war his father had died and, upon his return from service, he farmed the home farm for his mother for one year. In the fall of 1867 he came west to Cato township, Monteahn county, Michigan, where he worked as a lumberman for about six or eight years. In 1875 he bought ten acres of land in section 21, of this township, and pro- ceeded to clear it and put it under cultivation, a short time afterward adding ten acres and still later another ten acres, making in all a farm of thirty acres. He farmed this small farm for some time and then purchased eighty acres in section 33. of Cato township, which he farmed until he sold out and moved to Lakeview in 1904, at which time he owned one hundred and sixty acres in section 33 and thirty acres in section 21. Since coming to Lake- view he has bought his own home and also has another piece of property which he rents.
On December 3. 1860. Lewis Ward was married to Mary Shutt, who was born in Germany and came to America with her parents when ten years of age. They first settled in Canada, but later came to Michigan, where Mr. and Mrs. Ward were married. To this union have been born three children, James M .. Adeline and Myra, and besides these children. Mr. and Mrs. Ward adopted one son, Lewis S. Farrer. James M. was born in May, 1871, and was first married to Stella Bliss and to them were born five chil- dren, Fanny, Alger, Robert. Warren and Mary. After the death of his first wife, he was married to Martha Scott and to them have been born three chil- .dren, Clifford, Keats and Pernell. Adeline, deceased, was born on February 13. 1873, and married John Fries, and to them was born one child, who is also deceased. Myra, born on October 27. 1875, married James Maine and to this union was born one child. who is now deceased. Lewis S. Farrer was born on October 14, 1890, the son of Solon and Jane ( Jamerson) Farrer, who were of Scotch descent. His mother died when he was two weeks old, at which time he was taken by Mr. and Mrs. Ward and has lived with them since. He married Catherine Bates and they have one son. Jarvis.
Mrs. Ward is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active part in the work of the church and Sunday school. Mr. Ward is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes a deep interest in the affairs of this lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat, although he is more or less independent in local politics, voting for the man he thinks best suited for the office, regardless of his politics. At present he is filling the
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office of constable and marshal of Lakeview, which position he has occupied for eight years. He has also served as street commissioner, health officer and fire chief of Lakeview.
Upon coming to Montcahn county, Mr. Ward had practically nothing. but by perseverance, economy and hard work, he has accumulated his present possessions and may worthily be called a self-made man. He endured all of the hardships experienced by the early settlers and has seen Montcalm county grow from a wilderness into its present state of prosperity. Mr. Ward is one of the public-spirited and enterprising citizens of Montcalm county and is well liked and highly respected by all who know him.
CHARLES L. MEACH.
A hardware dealer and one of the most highly respected and best-known men of Lakeview, Montcalm county, Michigan, is Charles L. Meach, who was born on February 16. 1877. in fonia county, Michigan, the son of Will- iam and Augusta ( Morse) Meach, both natives of New York, who came to Michigan when small children with their respective parents. The Meach family is of English and Scotch descent and a very old family in the United States. William Meach was a farmer by occupation and followed that line of work all of his life. or until his retirement. In 1879 he came to Mont- calm county and located near McBride.
Charles L. Meach grew up in the vicinity of McBride and here received his education in the district schools, later attending the Central Michigan Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1897, being a member of the second class to graduate from that institution. He had previously received a teacher's certificate and had taught from 1894 to 1896, and, after attending the normal school, taught for two years in the Lakeview high school. In 1899 he went to Sheridan, where he was superintendent of the school for three years, or until 1902. when in November of that year, he was elected to the office of county clerk. In the fall of 1902 he began teach- ing in the Greenville school, but resigned this position on January 1, 1903, when he took up his duties as clerk, holding this office for three terms or six years. In the spring of 1908 he bought an interest in the John W. S. Per- son Company and remained with them until 1911, at which time he disposed of his stock and bought out the hardware and implement business of M. W. Gee, in Lakeview. This firm was incorporated in the spring of 1915, chang-
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ing it from a co-partnership with Claude E. White to a corporation with six stockhoklers. Since taking up this business, Mr. Meach has been very successful and has recently added a line of furniture.
Charles L. Meach was married in Montcalm county, August 23, 1900, to Jennie J. Northrop, who was born in Tonia county, March 30, 1878, the daughter of Charles M. and Charlotte ( Dygert) Northrop, who were natives of New York and of English descent. They came from New York to Mont- calm county early in the seventies. settling in Greenville, but in 1876 moved to Lakeview. To Mr. and Mrs. Meach have been born two children, Stuart, born on November 20, 1908, and Eunice M., February 25, 1913.
Fraternally, Mr. Meach is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the blue lodge at Lakeview and the chapter at Stanton; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Stanton, also belonging to the encamp- ment. Both Mr. and Mrs. Meach are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. The Meach family are members of the Congregational church and take an active interest in all of the work of this denomination. Politically, Mr. Meach is a Republican, but the only offices which he has held are those of county clerk and a member of the town council of Lakeview. Mr. Meach is very popular in Lakeview and has a large number of friends and acquaintances, by whom he is highly esteemed.
AUGUSTUS F. HILL.
Augustus Hill was born in Germany, Angust 21, 1870, a son of Chris and Emma ( Ponath) Hill. Chris Hill was a farm laborer in his native land and about the year 1871 emigrated to America, landing at the port of New York. He came directly to this state, locating in Grand Rapids, where he continued to be employed as a laborer, but in 1880 he moved to Montcalm county and bought forty acres of land in Maple Valley township. The tract he obtained was wild land and had to be reclaimed from the virgin forest. The first house erected on the land was a small frame building, which served the family for several years, when a larger residence was built. Chris Hill prospered, owing to his thrift and industry, and at the time of his death was possessed of one hundred and sixty acres. The accumulation of this property was brought about through much hardship, such as was the order of the day while he was engaged in making a home. He passed from this life on February 2, . 1914. his wife having preceded him on December 2.
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1900. Chris Hill had taken an active interest in local politics and was a very devout member of the Lutheran church. He was one of the organizers and builders of the Maple Hill church in Pierson township.
Augustus F. Hill is the eldest of a family of three children, the others being Edward, who married Louisa Schaub and lives in Maple Valley town- ship. Ile is the father of two children, Amanda and Arthur. Charles mar- ried Malinda Schaub, sister of Edward's wife. Charles also lives in Maple Valley township and has two children, Harold and Russell.
Augustus F. Hill has never married. He received his education in the common schools of Trufant and remained at home until eighteen years of age, assisting the father in clearing the home farm and getting it under culti- vation. After leaving home he was for two years with the Pere Marquette railroad, helping in the construction of their western division. After return- ing home. he bought forty acres of land in Maple Valley township, which he farmed for fourteen years. This farm he enlarged until he had one hun- dred and twenty acres in one tract. Mr. Hill also owns eighty acres of land in Cato township. In 19og he retired from the active work on his farms and took up his residence in Lakeview, where he had previously purchased a piece of property, and there he has since made his home. He keeps charge of the management of his land and in addition to that, devotes considerable time to political matters.
Mr. Hill gives support to the Republican party and has at different times been a member of the town board. the highway commission and the board of review, having served on the latter for eight years. Mr. Hill has been the county Republican representative to the state conventions, in which body he was a delegate three different times. He has been repeatedly urged to run for state representative, but has steadfastly refused. Mr. Hill cast his first vote for President Cleveland and since that time had not lost a vote until the election of President Wilson.
Augustus F. Hill holds fraternal affiliation with the Grangers and as a member of that lodge has held prominent offices. He has been a delegate to the state convention and was there appointed to serve on prominent com- mittees, such as the legislative commission, etc. Mr. Hill is not a member of any church, but is a strong advocate of religious principles and gives his support to the Congregational church. His principles are of the highest and finest. He is well known for his strict views on the temperance ques- tion and as a friend of little children he is warmly regarded by the rising generation.
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In addition to his farming interests, Augustus F. Hill is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lakeview. Ilis brothers also have prospered. cach owning fine farms and being leaders in their respective com- munities. Each has been active in local politics, holding minor offices and both are devout members of the Lutheran church, in which they have filled prominent offices. Both also are active in fraternal organizations, being members of the Knights of the Maccabees, the Gleaners and the Grangers.
FRANCIS G. WILLIAMSON.
Francis G. Williamson, a well-known grocer of Lakeview, Michigan, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, March 7. 1855, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth M. (Godfrey) Williamson, both natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Thomas Williamson was a tan- ner by trade and worked at this occupation for many years after coming to Ohio, although he later took up farming, which he followed until his death. To Thomas and Elizabeth M. Williamson were born ten children, of whom Francis G. was the eighth.
Francis G. Williamson received his elementary education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and, after completing the common school course, went to Fremont ( Sandusky county ) high school, from which he was graduated. After completing his education he went to work in a grocery store, where he remained for six months, when he went to work in a general store. as he thought this store offered more opportunity for advancement. Ile worked in this store for fourteen years, after which he secured a posi- tion with the Michigan & Ohio Railroad Company, being employed on their extension work in Michigan. While working in this state, Mr. Williamson had grown to like it very much and, when his work with the railroad came to an end, he decided to stay. He went to work in the timber, where he worked for some time or until 1881, when he located in Lakeview. securing employment in a grocery store, which was located on the site of his present store. After clerking in this store for ten years, he formed a partnership with David N. Richards and bought the store. He and Mr. Richards con- tinued in partnership for three years, when Mr. Williamson bought out Mr. Richards' stock and has since conducted the business alone. He has been in business in the same block for about twenty-five years and in the same room for twenty-two years.
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On August 22, 1889, Francis G. Williamson was married to Marguerite A. Cobey, who was born in Canada, near Welland, Ontario, the daughter of Jacob Richard and Sarah ( Freish ) Cobey, both natives of Canada, probably of French-Canadian descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Williamson has been born one child, who is now deceased.
Besides his grocery business, Mr. Williamson is also interested in farm- ing, and for the past few years has been particularly interested in fruit cul- ture, which he conducts on a scientific basis. He owns a farm of eighty acres about one and one-half miles northwest of Lakeview, on which he has about sixteen hundred trees of peaches, apples, cherries, plums and pears. Ile also raises potatoes, beans, corn and wheat and has been very successful in this line of work.
Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in the work of this congregation. Mr. Williamson is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, which he joined while a resident of Ohio, and he and his wife are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star, he having helped to organize the local order. Although Mr. Williamson has held several minor public offices, he has never been active in politics, preferring to devote his time and attention to his private interests.
CHARLES S. RICHARDS.
Charles S. Richards, a farmer of Cato township, Montcalm county, was born in Kingston Center, Delaware county, Ohio, June 30, 1857. Ile is the eldest of the three children of Cornelius and Sarah (Carney ) Rich- ards, both also natives of Delaware county. Cornelius Richards was a son of Cornelius, Sr., who was born of German parentage in the state of New Jer- sey and when a young married man, he and his wife left their native state and went to Ohio, which was then on the frontier, riding all the distance on horseback.
Cornelins, father of Charles S., was born on June 15. 1802, and died on December 3. 1882. His wife was born on January 25, 1834 and passed from this life on December 11, 1913. The two other children of the family are also deceased, so that Charles S. Richards is the sole surviving member of his immediate family. His brother, Commodore J., was born August 25. 1859, and died March 14, 1907, and his brother, Wilbur C., was born July 26, 1866, and passed away the same year. The parents were married
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in their native Delaware county (Ohio), February 2, 1854, and in 1865 they journeyed to this state, arriving in Cato township in October of that year. The elder Richards came to take possession of a tract of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land located in sections 21 and 28, which had been given to him by his father, who had purchased the wild land from the government some thirteen years previous. Cornelius Richards made his home for the remainder of his life on that farm. He at one time sold half of the original tract and purchased forty acres of railroad land instead, making his holdings one hundred and twenty acres and there he farmed until his active days were ended. His wife will be remembered as an excel- lent woman and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Charles S. Richards was a young boy when brought to this county by his parents and received his education at the Notmall school, Cato town- ship, making the best of such advantages as were offered at that time. From the first he assisted the father in the work of the farm and has continued in that vocation all his life. Mr. Richards conducts general farming as practiced throughout this section and gives especial attention to his fine herd of Holstein cattle, which he is gradnally working up to a high state of per- fection.
On April 19. 1885. Charles S. Richards was married in Cato town- ship to lEffie Lapp, a native of this same township, born on September 23, 1868. a daughter of Richard and Mary J. (Gleeson) Lapp, both of whom were born in Colbin, Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Lapp died when her daughter Effie was but seven years of age and two years later their home was destroyed by fire and the contents with it, so that all early records of her family were lost. To Mr. and Mrs. Richards have been born thirteen chil- dren. ten of whom are living. They are: Lester, born January 23, 1886, who has been twice married. His first wife was Eva Male, who bore him four children : Lena. Katie. Lillie and Leo. Mrs. Lester Richards died on June 2. 1012 and Lester later married Florie Greenfield, who has borne him one child, Anna May. Mary J. Richards was born on November 8. 1887, and died on December 14, 1909. She was the wife of Martin Bush. Zellia M. May 2, 1880, married Charles Butterick and has one child, Effic E. Sarah. September 5. 1890, is the wife of Oscar Russell and the mother of three children, Edna. Earl and Elsie May. Cornelius, January 7. 1894. and is still at home. Delia. April 25. 1895. and became the wife of John Chivers and the mother of one child. Lloyd. Hazel, April 28. 1896, and married Martin G. Bush. She has two children, Franklin G. and Raymond C.
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Evelina, July 9, 1898. and is the wife of Philip Wright. Peter, August 1. 1901, and died March 30, 1903. Victor, November 20, 1903. Myrtle, April 16, 1906. Edith, January 13, 1909, and one other child died in earliest infancy.
Is a rule, Mr. Richards votes the Republican ticket, but he is prac- tically independent in politics, voting for the man rather than the ticket. He has displayed a commendable interest in local affairs and held some minor offices, discharging his duties in a fitting manner to all concerned.
LAURISTON B. FARNSWORTH.
Lauriston B. Farnsworth, a creditable representative of the civic and agricultural interests of the community in which he resides, was born on October 26, 1859, in Masina, St. Lawrence county, New York, and is the son of David J. and Didama ( Bradford ) Farnsworth. David J. Farns- worth was a native of New Hampshire and of true Yankee stock. He fol- lowed farming as a vocation and was very successful in this line. His wife was a native of New York and came to Michigan with her husband, in 1886, locating first in Grand Rapids for one year and thence to Montcalm county, where they established a residence on two hundred and forty acres of cut-over timber land. in Pine township, section 10. A large home was erected in 1885, and here they remained until death. He died on October 18. 1899, and his widow on June 30, 1904. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the parents of seven children, of whom six lived to reach maturity. Their names follow: Alden J., Lauriston B., Mrs. Hattie Williams, George W., Edson and Stella. Edson died in Octo- ber, 1801, and Stella. in 1905.
Lauriston B. Farnsworth received his education in the schools of his native town. subsequently engaging in agricultural pursuits, which he has since continued. He remained under the parental roof until the death of his father and mother, at which time he came into possession of the home place. Politically, he is faithful to the Democratic party and under that regime has served in the office of township supervisor, of Pine township, being elected in 1895. and serving for six years. He was also, in 1914, re-elected to this office which he still holds. Previous to his election as township supervisor. he acted as township treasurer for two years and pre- vious to his last election he was township treasurer for two terms. Fra-
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