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 25
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In 1870 the Rileys came to Montcalm county and settled in Greenville. where H. W. Riley opened a meat market and later formed a partnership with the Serviss brothers, under the firm name of Serviss Brothers & Riley, doing a general business in the retail meat trade and the buying and selling of live stock, which partnership continued for two years, at the end of which time Mr. Riley engaged in business for himself and was thus engaged until he retired from active business pursuits in 1905. His death occurred on May II, 1910, and his widow survived him a little more than three years, her death occurring in October. 1913. They were the parents of five children,
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namely : Alice, who married Avery Marks, now assistant postmaster at Greenville ; Charles W., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Myrtle, wife of William Dreitzler, of Seattle, Washington; Ruth, who died in 1806, and Herndon, who lives in Seattle.
Charles W. Riley was about nine years of age when his parents moved to Greenville and he continued his studies in the schools of that city. Upon completing his schooling he became actively identified with his father in the live-stock business and was thus engaged until his marriage. at the age of twenty-eight. after which time he entered into a partnership with John Ser- viss in the meat and live-stock business and was thus engaged for two years, at the end of which time he entered into the same line of business for him- self and has since that time conducted his stock business alone. In 1906 he became interested in the automobile business, financing the "Reo" garage in Lafayette street, and since 1913 has been devoting the greater part of his time and attention to the extensive and growing interests of that concern, having become one of the best-known garage men in this part of the state.
On May 27. 1800. Charles W. Riley was united in marriage to Alma Stevens, daughter of Royal and Jennie Stevens, well-known residents of Greenville. Mr. and Mrs. Riley take an active interest in local affairs and have a wide circle of friends, who hold them in the warmest esteem. They are members of the Congregational church and are deeply interested in the various good works of that religious body. Mr. Riley is a Democrat and is a member of both the Masonic lodge and the lodge of the Knights of Pythias at Greenville, in the affairs of both of which orders he takes a warm interest.
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R. EARL LOWER.
R. Earl Lower, a leading merchant and influential citizen of Sheridan, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Oakwood, Paulding county, Ohio, November 7, 1882, the son of John A. and Jemima A. (Brand) Lower, of German and Ringlish descent, respectively.
John . Lower, who was a son of Jacob Lower and wife, moved with his parents to Indiana from Pennsylvania and located near Waterloo, where Jacob Lower lived and died, after which John A. Lower and his family moved to the state of Michigan, in 1893, where Mr. Lower purchased a farm in Evergreen township, this county, a place which he now makes his home. John A. and Jemima A. Lower are the parents of one son, R. Earl.
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R. Earl Lower received his early education in the schools of his native county, after which he came to Michigan with his parents and worked on his father's farm in Evergreen township until sixteen years of age. when he became a school teacher, the duties of which profession he followed for about five years. When about twenty years of age, Mr. Lower accepted a position in a store at Torch Lake, Michigan, remaining in this work for eight years and then he entered business for himself, purchasing a store at Sheri- dan, which he conducted successfully for about four years. Later, Mr. Lower disposed of his original store and, with H. W. Taylor, started another store at Sheridan, where he is now engaged, being one of the prominent merchants of this community. Mr. Lower is now the sole owner of the store, having purchased the interest of Mr. Taylor on October 28, 1915.
On November 26. 1902, R. Earl Lower was married to Rosetta Ben- nett, a daughter of Noah E. Bennett and wife, well-known people of Bush- nell township. Montcalm county. To the marriage of R. Earl and Rosetta Lower have been born two children, Burton E. and R. Lucile. Mr. Lower and his family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sheridan.
Mr. Lower is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge No. 324, Free and Accepted Masons, and he is a member of Even Lodge No. 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the encampment at Stanton. In politics, R. Earl Lower is an ardent Republican, having been elected as the candidate of this party to the offices of township clerk. treasurer and to a place on the village board of Sheridan.
MARTIN SCHRODER.
Martin Schroder is very active in community affairs and represents the agricultural interests of Sidney township, Montcalm county, Michigan. He was born on November 24. 1865, in Uteland, Denmark, and is the son of Hendrick and Anne (Jansen) Schroder. Hendrick Schroder lived and died in his native land, and his widow emigrated to America, where she resided with her two sons until the time of her death. She and her husband were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living: Fritz lives in Sidney township. Montcalm county, Michigan: Martin also lives in this township; Margaret, deceased, married Nels Petersen; Stina, deceased, and Matilda, who is the wife of J. J. Jensen.
Martin Schroder emigrated to America when he was twenty-one years
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of age, locating temporarily in Jackson, Michigan, where he was employed in the Michigan Central railroad shops for six months. He then came to Montcalm county, Michigan, being employed by a farmer near Greenville for two months, after which he engaged in the lumber woods and continued in this business for six years. He then purchased a farm of forty acres in Sidney township, remaining there until in the fall of 1914, at which time he retired to the town of Sidney. His farm now consists of seventy-nine acres, thirty-nine acres having been added to the original property.
On October 30, 1884. Martin Schroder was united in marriage to Annie N. Marie Rasmussen, daughter of Rassmus Andersen, and they are both members of the Danish Lutheran church. Martin Schroder is also a member of the Danish Brotherhood. Politically, he is a Democrat and has served as township treasurer for two years. He is now serving his second term of office as justice of the peace. In school matters he has acted in the capacity of district school director, of district No. 8. in Sidney township, Montcalm county, Michigan.
JOHN QUIGG.
John Quigg, a well-known cigar-maker of Trufant, this county, whose wife has been postmistress of that village since July, 1915, is a native of the neighboring county of Ionia, having been born in the city of Ionia, county seat of that county, on June 25, 1873, son of Harry and Mary (Bradley) Quigg.
Harry Quigg, who was born in the north of Ireland, came to the United States with his parents when a boy and grew up at Hudson, New York, where he learned the stone-mason's trade, which he later followed at Ionia, this state, where his last days were spent, his death occurring in 1879. His widow is still living at Ionia. Harry Quigg and wife were the parents of seven children. as follow: Anna, who married M. J. Callahan. a railroad man, who died in Chicago: Alexander, who died in the West; Mary, a clerk in a store at Ionia: John, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Henry, a boiler inspector in the shops of the Lake Shore Railroad Company at Hillsdale, this state: Margaret. who died at the age of twenty-four years, and Nellie, deceased, who was the wife of Harvey E. Kidder, now postmas- ter at Tonia.
John Quigg was reared at Ionia and remained at home until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he started to learn the cigar-maker's
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trade, and has been thus engaged ever since. After working for three years in that place he started out as a "journeyman" cigar-maker and was employed at his trade at a number of different places until his marriage, in 1900, shortly after which event he settled at Trufant, this county, and has ever since been engaged in the manufacture of cigars at that place, becoming one of the best-known and most popular citizens of that pleasant village.
On February 14, 1900, John Quigg was united in marriage to Mabel M. Everetts, daughter of Albert and Ellen ( Valentine) Everetts, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, and to this union one child has been born, a son, John Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Quigg take a proper part in the various social activities of their home town and are held in high regard thereabout. Mr. Quigg is a Democrat and ever since locating at Trufant has taken an interested part in local civic affairs. In July, 1915, Mrs. Quigg received her appointment as postmistress at Trufant and is mak- ing a very acceptable and competent official.
PETER PETERSEN.
Peter Petersen, the son of Hans and Johanna ( Lamb) Petersen, was born in Montcalm county on October 27, 1885. Hans Petersen was born in Sjalland, Denmark, in 1849, where his early life was spent on the farm. At the age of fourteen he took charge of a farm for a widow and conducted it in a most satisfactory manner. He was married in his native country and there one child was born. His wife died a few years after their marriage and the husband and father came to the United States, landing at New York. He later settled at Greenville, with the family of Nels Hansen, whom he knew in Denmark. For a time he lived in Fairplain township and then became a resident of Sidney, where he worked in the mills, during which time he bought forty acres of land, which he sold later and purchased another forty, one mile from Sidney, where he lived until 1905, when he traded eighty acres of his then one-hundred-and-forty-acre farm for the store of which Peter Petersen is now the proprietor. The father and son con- ducted the store at Sidney, and an implement store at Greenville, until the death of the father, in the spring of 1912. Of the three children of the family, Peter and Chris are in the store at Sidney, while Alma is a resident of Lansing.
Peter Petersen was married on June 25, 1907, to Julia Nielsen, the
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daughter of Olie and Mary Nielsen. To this union three children have been born: Myrtle. Violet and Margarie, all of whom are at home with the parents.
Fraternally, Mr. Petersen is a member of the Pearl Lake Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the Gleaners and the Danish Brotherhood, in all of which he takes an active and prominent part.
Mr. Petersen and his family are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in which they take great interest. Politically. Mr. Petersen is a member of the Republican party and has served for a number of years as a member of the school board and as its treasurer.
WILLIAM H. FULLER.
William 11. Fuller has been connected with the sheriff's office for more than fifteen years, having served as deputy sheriff for fourteen years and as constable for fifteen years, also as marshal of the village of Sheridan, Mont- calm county, Michigan. He was born on April 4, 1843. in Springwater, New York, and is the son of Joseph and Angeline (Sparks) Fuller, both natives of New York. Joseph Fuller was engaged in the timber business and in agriculture, his son, William, having charge of the farm until he removed to Michigan. William Fuller was reared and educated in Spring- water, New York, and came with his father's business partner, Jonathan Forbes, to Sheridan, Michigan. when twenty years of age. They arrived on May 20. 1864, and William H. Fuller began work in the timber. his occu- pation being to haul shingles and lumber from Sheridan to lonia, Michigan. The place to which they came was virgin timber, with nothing but an old log house in which to live. He filled the position of teamster for three years and then purchased a farm of forty acres, in Bushnell township. Montcalm county, Michigan, continuing to cultivate this place for five years. The farm was then sold and he removed to Evergreen township, locating on forty acres one mile north of Sidney and later he moved to Sheridan and engaged in the hotel business, running the Potter Honse, which burned, and he is now in the retail meat business.
In January, 1867, William IT. Fuller was wedded to Alwilda Jackson, daughter of Henry Jackson, and of this union these children were born : Lillie, wife of Charles White, of Bushnell township. Montcalm county; Henry, who lives in Muskegon, Michigan; Claude; Ralph, who lives in
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Sheridan, Michigan: Mina, and two others who died in infancy. Alwilda ( Jackson ) Fuller was born in Canandaigua, New York, and came to Michi- gan with her parents in 1863, locating in lonia county, three miles north of the town of that name and in Easton township. She and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which denomination William HI. Fuller is a trustee. Politically, he is a Republican, and served as path- master and street commissioner, also as an officer on the school board. In his fraternal relations, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Evergreen Lodge No. 87. He is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
1 FRANK G. HANSEN.
Frank G. Hansen, the proprietor of a general store at Sidney for the past thirteen years, was born at Gowen, Montcalm county, on July 21, 1873, and is the son of Peter and Anna Hansen, both of whom were natives of Sjalland, Denmark.
Peter Hansen and wife, soon after their marriage, came to the United States in 1868, landing at the port of New York, they came at once to "Big Hills," two miles east of Gowen. Here Mr. Hansen was engaged in the mills and the timber business for fifteen years, after which he bought a farm of forty acres in Sidney township. By hard work and strict attention to business, Mr. Hansen has been able to purchase another forty acres of land, and today he has a well improved and highly developed farm of eighty acres, where he and, his wife live and enjoy many of the comforts of life. To them have been born seven children, five of whom are still living : Frank, the subject of this sketch: William, living at Greenville; Tina, the wife of George Nelson: Alfred, whose home is in Detroit: Clara, the wife of Will- iam Peterson, of Grand Rapids, and Tina and Theodore, who died in infancy.
Frank G. Hansen's educational advantages were limited to the district schools, where he remained until he was thirteen years of age. At this early age he began to work for the farmers of the neighborhood. At the age of fifteen he began work for P. J. Despelder, with whom he remained for five years, after which he was at home for a year before he went to Stanton with the E. D. Hawley & Company for seven years. He then came to Sid- ney, where he was with C. W. DeHart for two years, after which he estab- lished his present mercantile business, in which he has been most successful.
On April 28. 1898. Frank G. Hansen was married to Anna Peterson,
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the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Peterson. She was a native of Denmark and came with her parents to America when but eleven years of age. They came direct to Montcalin county, where they settled in Sidney township. where the parents still reside.
Frank G. Hansen and wife are the parents of three children: Mildred Geneva, who is a graduate of the common schools; Chester Raymond, a stu- dent in the public schools, and Lestie Ronald, now four years of age.
Mr. Hansen is a member of the Danish Brotherhood and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Hansen and his family are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Politically, he is a Republican and at the present time the treasurer of his township.
LARS P. HANSEN.
Lars P. Hansen, a retired farmer of Sidney Center, Sidney township, Montcalm county, was born in Sjalland, Denmark, on November 28, 1845. He was the son of Hans and Bodel ( Larson) Jenson. Lars P. Hansen grew to manhood and received his education in his native country, where he remained until 1868, working by the year for the farmers of the neighbor- hood. At the age of twenty-two he came to America, landing at New York. and traveled to Muskegon, where he worked for six months in a saw-mill. He was then on a farm in fonia county for a year. after which he assisted in the grading of the Pere Marquette railroad, then the Lansing, Ionia & Greenville railroad. He was for five years employed by a firm at Dixon to work in a saw-mill, after which he worked for two years at Bass lake before he located in Sidney township, where he bought a farm of fifty-three acres, two miles west of the town of Sidney. Here he made his home for a good many years, but later sold this place and purchased his present farm of eighty acres in Sidney township, joining Sidney on the north. He owes his success in life to hard work and strict attention to business.
On September 13. 1873, Lars P. Hansen was married to Kathrina Sorensen, the daughter of Soren Madsen. Mrs. Hansen was a native of Denmark and came to the United States when twenty-one years of age, she and her brother. Mads, being the only members of the family who came at the time. She came to Gowan, where she worked until September. when she became the wife of Mr. Hansen.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are the parents of the following children: Sinca,
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William. Carey, Regina. Anna, Theodore. Amelia and Albert. Sinea is the wife of Hans 1 .. Jensen ; William lives in Detroit; Carey makes her home in Grand Rapids, where she married Albert Wortman; Regina is the wife of Victor Johnsen, of Grand Rapids: Anna also resides in Grand Rapids, and is the wife of Fred Gaber : Theodore is at home: Amelia. the wife of Albert Myers, resides in Grand Rapids, and Albert, who married Flossie Fish, lives in Evergreen township.
The parents of Lars P. Hansen came to America in 1871 and settled in Sidney township, where they bought a farm and made their home the rest of their lives. Both are dead.
Politically. Mr. Hansen is a Republican and has served has party and the people of his community in various offices, having been highway commis- sioner for two years, township treasurer for two years, and for eleven years township clerk. He has also been assessor and school officer for his district.
Mr. Hansen and his family are members of the Danish Lutheran church and take much interest in the work. Mr. Hansen has served the organization in a faithful manmer as one of its officers.
ERNEST A. RUTHERFORD.
Ernest A. Rutherford, who conducts an elevator in Sheridan, Mich- igan, was born in Canada, January 24, 1870, and is the son of William J. and Matilda (Sternes) Rutherford, both of whom were natives of Canada, where they farined all of their lives. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, four boys and four girls, John, Martha, William, Elizabeth, Charles, E. A. Clara and Nellie.
Ernest A. Rutherford received his education in the common schools of Canada and started out for himself at a very early age, working by the month at various places until he came to the United States on June 10, 1891. Ile had practically nothing when he arrived in this country, but he immedi- ately went to work for an unele on his farm and later leased the farm of four hundred and eighty acres. He remained on this farm for seven years and here he prospered and saved enough to get a start. For some time he carried mail on one of the rural routes, and six years ago went into the ele- vator business, but this was burned on January 24, 1915. He built a new up-to-date elevator in the spring of 1916, and also runs the Sheridan hotel. Sheridan, Michigan.
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Ernest A. Rutherford married Dora Griggs, who was born and reared in Montcalm county, and to them have been born two children, William, who is twelve years old, and Dorothy, who is ten. Both children are now attend- ing school.
Mrs. Rutherford and the two children are members of the Congrega- tional church. Fraternally, Mr. Rutherford is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge No. 321, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is the treasurer. In politics. Mr. Rutherford is an independent voter, and is a member of the Sheridan council.
OSCAR E. EHLE.
Oscar E. Ehle, a retired farmer, whose home is in Sheridan, was born on April 26. 1842. in Zora. County of Oxford, Canada, and was the son of Jacob and Mary ( Null) Ehle, the former of whom was a native of Penn- Sylvania and the latter a native of New York.
Jacob Ehle was the son of Adam Ehle, who moved from Pennsylvania to Canada in an early day. Adam Ehle, the father of Adam, Jr., was a native of Germany and came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, as one of the early pioneers.
Mary Inll. the daughter of Hendrick and Betsy Hull, who were natives of New York, moved with her parents to Canada and there met and mar- ried Jacob Ehle. They made their home in Canada until their deaths. the father dying when Oscar E. was but nine years old and the mother passing away one year later. They were the parents of the following children : Mariah, Sophia. Charles. Edwin. Lena, Oscar, John. Dewey and Arthur. Of these the following are deceased: Mariah, who was the wife of F. H. Gray, deceased; Sophia. Charles and Edwin, who died in Canada. Of the living. John is a resident of Iowa. Dewey lives in Duluth, Arthur is a resi- dent of Independence. and Oscar is the subject of this sketch.
Oscar E. Ehle, after the death of his parents, made his home with an uncle until he was eighteen years of age, when he worked by the month for others at teaming and at the lumber business. On February 24, 1864. Oscar F. Ehle was married to Mary Ann Tottle. the daughter of Joseph and Ann ( Tutten ) Tottle. She was a native of England and emigrated with her par- ents to Oxford county, Canada, when but five years of age. There she made her home with the parents until her marriage to Mr. Ehle.
In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Ehle came to Sheridan, Montcalm county, and
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bought forty acres of land, which was increased later to one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. After the purchase of the first forty acres of the farm, much labor was necessary on the part of the young couple to clear and get ready for cultivation their newly acquired home. Yet by dili- gence and strict attention to business the wilderness soon began to blossom into well cultivated fields.
Mr. and Mrs. Elle are the parents of the following children: Arthur Joseph, of Detroit; John Alfred, killed at the age of nineteen; Francis Dewey, a Baptist minister at Detroit; Milo lives on the old farm; Elbert Ernest, of Evergreen township; Charles Edwin, a Baptist minister of Bush- nell township; James Harvey, of Sidney township; Carlton E., of Ann Arbor, and Gordon Stewart, who lives on a farm and is a mail carrier out of Sheridan.
Mr. and Mrs. Ehle are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in its various departments. Mr. Ehle is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker, and favors the election of the best men to office.
ROY A. CUTLER.
A well-known and prosperous merchant of Sheridan, Michigan, is Roy A. Cutler, who was born on October 5, 1885, in Sturgis, St. Joseph county, Michigan, the son of J. G. and Mary ( Allman ) Cutler, the latter of whom died in 1800. J. G. Cutler is a native of St. Joseph county, and an active member of the J. G. Cutler Company. He started in business at Delton, Barry county, Michigan, in 1893, and remained there until 1906, when he came to Sheridan. He has remained in this city since that time and has become a very successful business man. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and, in politics, is a Democrat. To J. G. and Mary ( All- man) Cutler were born three children: Carl J., one of the firm of J. G. Cutler Company, of Sheridan; Roy A., the subject of this sketch, and Belle, the wife of Homer Crandall.
Roy A. Cutler was educated in the public schools of Delton and, after finishing his education, was employed in his father's store for five years, after which he worked for the J. S. Goodyear Company for two years at Hastings, Michigan. When he was twenty-one years of age he came to Sheridan, at which time the present firm of J. G. Cutler Company was organized. and here he has remained since that time.
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On June 17. 1908, Roy A. Cutler was married to Ethel Howard, who is a graduate of the normal school at Everett, Michigan, and who, before her marriage, was a teacher in the public schools of this state.
Mr. and Mrs. Cutler are members of the Congregational church, in which both are active workers. Mr. Cutler being superintendent of the Sun- day school. Fraternally, Mr. Cutler is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge No. 324, Free and Accepted Masons, and is the efficient master of the lodge. In politics, he is independent. Mr. Cutler is a quiet, unassuming man, attends strictly to his own affairs and is well liked by all who know him.
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