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 26
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J. WATSON COURTER.
J. Watson Courter, a well-known contractor and mechanic of Sheri- dan, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Essex county, New Jersey, July 18, 1852, the son of Henry and Alice A. (Bowden) Courter, both of whom were born, reared and married in Essex county. To Henry and Alice A. Courter were born five sons, four of whom are living: J. Watson, the subject of this sketch; Frank, of Essex county, New Jersey; Theodore. of Portland, Oregon, and Anthony of Sidney, Michigan. The mother of these children died in 1861 and the father later remarried.
J. Watson Courter was thirteen years of age when he came to Sidney, Montcalm county, Michigan, where he received his education in the public schools. Mr. Courter was twenty-two years of age when he started out for himself, working first on a farm and later as a millwright and at various other occupations. He was always naturally skillful in working with machinery, and he still follows this occupation, also being a contractor, justice of the peace and notary public. Mr. Courter owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in the southeastern part of Sidney township, Mont- calm county.
In 1877 J. Watson Courter was married to Alice Crane, a native of Newark, New Jersey, where she was reared and educated. To this union have been born four children, three of whom are now living: Anna. the wife of Bert C. Crawford, of Sheridan. Michigan; Frank H., a rural mail carrier on route No. 2. out of Sheridan, and Eva E., the wife of A. II. Brayton. a farmer in Sidney township.
Politically, Mr. Courter is affiliated with the Republican party and has always been active in local politics. The only official position which he has
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filled is that of supervisor of Sidney township. in which he served for three years. Fraternally. Mr. Courter is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge No. 324. Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been secretary for the past twenty years, and Even Lodge No. 87, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand and member of the grand lodge. Mr. Courter and his daughter are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. of which his daughter is a past worthy matron and a member of the grand lodge. Mrs. Alice Courter died in February. 1908. During her lifetime she was also a member of the Eastern Star.
EDWARD G. MULICK.
Edward G. Mnlick, leading florist and prominent citizen of Greenville. Montcalm county, Michigan, was born near Mt. Sterling, Wisconsin. on December 8, 1870, being the second born of a family of six children.
Edward G. Mulick was reared on the home farm in Wisconsin, where he lived until ten years of age, and in 1880 moved to Grand Rapids, Mich- igan. in which city he received his education in the public schools. After leaving school. Mr. Mulick learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, an occupa- tion which he followed for some time and then finding that indoor work was detrimental to his health, Edward G. Mulick went to the City of Chi- cago, Illinois. In that city Mr. Mulick was engaged in the work of build- ing motor boats for some time and then for three years he was a builder in the United States navy yard, at Mare Island. California.
During the month of July, 1903, Edward G. Mulick came to Greenville, Montcalm county, and engaged in his present business as a florist, which Mr. Mulick has built up until now it is one of the largest and most thriving floral companies of this region. When the business was started the plant had but ten thousand feet of glass, there now being seventy-five thousand feet of glass in the houses, and the product is shipped to various parts of the United States. In 1903, when Mr. Mulick came to Greenville and assisted in the organization of the Greenville Floral Company, he was elected as secretary and treasurer, with R. F. Sprague as president, and John Service as vice-president. During the year 1914. Mr. Mulick took over all the stock of the Greenville Floral Company and now conducts this flourishing busi- ness, which is among the concerns of which Greenville, and the county. may well be proud.
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Edward G. Mulick was married to Florence Eastman, who was edu- cated in the public schools of Greenville, and at the State Normal College at Mt. Pleasant, after which she became a school teacher at Greenville for three years and at Capac, Michigan, for one year. To the marriage of Edward G. and Florence Mulick have been born three children: Mabel, Edward and Charles, aged nine, seven and two years, respectively.
Edward G. Mulick has served as a member of the city council at Green- ville, and is a man who is active in the promotion of business and enterprise in the community. Fraternally, Mr. Mulick is a member of Greenville Lodge No. 96, Free and Accepted Masons, is a member of LeRoy Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is a member of Eureka Lodge No. 91, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
J. WILLIAM G. HANSEN. D. V. S.
Dr. J. William G. Hansen, a leading professional man, engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry, at Greenville, Mont- calm county, Michigan, was born in Fairplain township, this county, on September 16, 1878, a son of Nels G. and Karen (Jensen) Hansen, natives of Denmark, in which country they spent their early life, coming to America in 1871, and locating in Michigan, where the elder Hansen now lives a retired life at Greenville.
J. William G. Hansen received his early education in the schools of Fairplain township, Montcalm county, after which he became a farmer on his father's farm for about seven years. Later, Mr. Hansen went to Grand Rapids. Michigan, and entered the Grand Rapids Veterinary College, an institution from which J. William G. Hansen graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Surgery, in 1906. After the completion of his professional edu- cation. Dr. Hansen returned to Montcalm county. and located at Trufant, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for one and one-half years. Dr. J. William G. Hansen came to Greenville in 1907, where he is now successfully engaged in the duties of his profession, having risen to a place of prominence among the leading practitioners of veterinary science in the community.
On May 27. 1914. Dr. J. William G. Hansen was married to Ann Kromaim, who was born and educated at Greenville. Dr. Hansen and his wife now occupy a beautiful home which the Doctor has erected in Green-
( 18b)
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ville, and they are among the highly respected and esteemed people of the community. Doctor and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Danish Luth- eran church and take an active part in the work and worship of this congre- gation.
Dr. J. William G. Hansen is one of the leading members of the Ancient Order of Gleaners, in Montcalm county, for two years having served as secretary and treasurer of this organization, it being during his incumbency in this office that he realized the field of opportunity for his profession and therefore took up the study in which he has made such a notable success.
In the political life of the community Dr. Hansen has taken no especial part. preferring to serve as a private citizen in the ranks and as one ready to do his part in the advancement of general conditions in the town and county.
F. M. WYCKOFF.
F. M. Wyckoff. for twenty-one years a wholesale produce merchant. twelve years of which time he has been at Sheridan, was born in Tompkins county. state of New York, on June 13. 1876, the son of Ira and Christena (Metzger) Wyckoff.
Tra Wyckoff was born in the state of New York, of Holland Dutch descent and was the son of Jesse Wyckoff. was born in New Jersey, where he lived and died. The wife and mother. Christena Wyckoff. was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Metzger, of New York and Pennsylvania. respectively.
Ira Wyckoff and Christena Metzger were married in the state of New York, where Mr. Wyckoff was engaged in farming. They were the par- ents of four children : Loa B., in Greenville; F. M .; George L ... who resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jesse F., a resident of Greenville. Before his marriage to Christena Metzger, Mr. Wyckoff was married to Julia Ann Newman and to this union ten children were born: John, Levi, A. J., and Henry. all of whom are deceased: W. O., at one time president of the Rem- ington Typewriter Company: Julia. the wife of Thompson Metzger. of New York state: Alvin. of Harbor Springs. New York : C. H., at Aurora. New York, was the originator of the Wyckoff strain of Single Comb White Leghorn chickens: Susan, the wife of F. Metzger, and Sylvester Wyckoff. both of New York.
Tra Wyckoff died in 1884. when the son. F. M .. was but eight years
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of age. The next year the widow and the children came to Greenville, where she has since made her home. F. M. Wyckoff entered school at his new home and completed the ninth-year course, after which he began to work. At the age of eighteen he began operations on the potato market. Ile showed keen and intelligent knowledge of the business, almost from the first. By close application to business and noting cach detail of the trade he soon became proficient in the buying and selling and the handling of his products.
On September 10, 1896. F. M. Wyckoff was united in marriage to Caroline .A. Wittkopp. the daughter of William and Minnie Wittkopp, all of whom are natives of Germany, and came to Montcalm county when Caroline was but two years old. To this union the following children have been born: Ainsworth, a young man of eighteen years and with his father in business: Howard E., twelve years of age: William Gale, ten years old; Marion C., six years old, and Frank M., Jr., two years of age.
Fraternally, Mr. Wyckoff is a member of Camp No. 7312, Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church.
EDWIN E. MOFFATT.
Edwin E. Moffatt, manager of the Hine Lumber Company, and a man prominent in the citizenship of Sheridan, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Stanton, Michigan, on June 7. 1867, a son of J. L. and Julia ( Gould) Moffatt.
J. L. Moffatt was born at Lockport. New York, where he grew to maturity and where he learned the trade of a shoemaker, an occupation which Mr. Moffatt followed in New York state until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and was a soldier in various campaigns until the year 1865. when he was discharged at the end of the war. After the close of the Civil War. J. L. Moffatt came to his family, who were with relatives at Stanton, Monteahn county, Michigan, and here the elder Mof- fatt followed his trade of a shoemaker for many years. after which he became a carpenter and builder. a business which he followed at Stanton. Montcalm county, and thereabout. until 1883. when, with his family, Mr. Moffatt moved to Evergreen township and purchased forty acres of land which he cultivated until 1888. and then moved to Greenville, where he lived until his death, on May 27, 1911. J. L. Moffatt was buried on
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Memorial Day and his funeral was conducted by the Greenville Post, Grand Army of the Republic, a detail from which acted as an escort to the grave. J. L. Moffatt is survived by his wife, who lives at Greenville, and by five children : Fred, a newspaper man of Breckenridge, Michigan; Frank, a merchant tailor, of Detroit, Michigan; Edwin E., the subject of this sketch; W. G., of Greenville. Montcalm county, and Roy Layton, who lives with his mother at Greenville. Two children. Bertie and Lola, are deceased.
Edwin E. Moffatt received his education in the Montcalm county common schools and at the high school of Stanton, after which he lived at home and worked with his father until twenty-two years of age. when Mr. Moffatt learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, with James Wheeler, of Stan- ton. Montcalm county. Later, Edwin E. Moffatt secured a farm in Ever- green township, which he cultivated until 1889, and then he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and followed his trade for a short time, then moving to Belding, Ionia county. where he was engaged at the duties of his trade until 1894; during his residence at Belding also having been engaged in the meat business for one year. During the year 1894 Mr. Moffat purchased a farm located south of the city of Greenville, Montcalm county, and lived there as a general farmer until 1901, when he went to Sheridan and there fol- lowed his business as a contractor and builder. a line of activity which he followed until the month of May, 1915. when he became manager of the Hine Lumber .. Company, at Sheridan.
On October 13. 1888. Edwin E. Moffatt was married to Anna Griggs. who was born in Ontario, Canada, a daughter of George and Mary Griggs. who came to Michigan from their home in Canada. To the marriage of Edwin F. and Anna Moffatt have been born four children: Harry W., who lives at home: Goldie, who. after graduating from high school. became a student of music at Chicago, Illinois, and Fred and Frank, who are attend- ing school in Montcalm county, the former in high school, the latter in the grade schools.
Edwin E. Moffatt is prominently affiliated in the fraternal circles of Montcalm county, being a member of Even Lodge No. 87. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Sheridan; a member of the Evergreen Encamp- ment No. 89. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America camp, at Sheridan. Mr. Moffatt repre- sented his lodge as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the state encampment in 1913 and he is one of the best-known fraternal men of the community.
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In politics, Mr. Moffatt is a Republican, one who is active in the affairs of his party. Edwin E. Moffatt has served as a member of the board of trustees of Sheridan, Montcalm county, and is known as a citizen of influence in the public affairs of this town. Mr. Moffatt and family are members of the Congregational church at Sheridan, and take an active part in the work and worship of this denomination.
WILL H. LESTER, M. D.
Dr. Will H. Lester, one of the foremost physicians and a man of prominence in the public life of Greenville, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Greenville, this county, in the house where he now lives, on July 13, 1874, a son of Dr. Lyman B. and Amelia C. ( Pulver) Lester.
Dr. Lyman B. Lester was born in Oswego county, New York, on December 28. 1827, was reared on the home farm and received his early education in the public schools of Oswego county, New York. After the completion of his preparatory education, Lyman B. Lester became a student at the Geneva Medical College, Syracuse University, at Geneva, New York, an institution from which he graduated, with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine, in 1864. In the year 1867, Dr. Lyman B. Lester, his father having died, came to this county, journeying from Ionia by stage, at that time the railway ending at lonia. During 1868 Dr. Lyman B. Lester opened his office and began the practice of his profession at Greenville, he continuing in practice for the remainder of his days, dying on September 15, 1915, and so generally loved and esteemed was Dr. Lyman B. Lester that the business houses of Greenville were closed during the hours of the funeral of this man who had done so much for the advancement of the community and who had given the greater part of his life to service in Montcalm county and the vicinity.
Dr. Lyman B. Lester was married on November 25, 1868, to Amelia Pulver, and to this marriage were born two children: L. B. Lester, now a furniture dealer and undertaker, at Freeport, Michigan, and Will HI., the subject of this sketch.
Will H. Lester received his elementary education in the common schools of Greenville, attending and graduating from the high school in 1894. Later he was a medical student at Milwaukee for two years and then he went to Kansas City and completed his medical education in 1899. as a graduate of
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the medical department of the University of Kansas. Immediately fol- lowing his graduation. Dr. Will H. Lester returned to Greenville, Mont- calm county, and opened an office with his father under the firm name of Drs. Lester & Lester, an association which continued until the death of the elder Dr. Lester, after which Dr. Will H. Lester assumed the practice of his father and now is successfully engaged in caring for his own practice in addition to that of his father.
On June 23, 1906. Dr. Will HI. Lester was married to Effie M. Carroll, who graduated from the Greenville high school and then completed the life certificate course and graduated from the State Normal College. at Ypsi- lanti, Michigan in 1901, after which she taught in the Detroit public schools until her marriage. To the marriage of Will H. and Effie C. Lester have been born two children: Eileen E., born in 1911, and Wilma A., born in 1915.
Dr. Lester has been active in the public and official life of Greenville, having served two terms as a member of the city council and now is chair- man of the board of health. In politics, Dr. Lester is a Republican.
Fraternally, Dr. Will H Lester is a member of Greenville Lodge No. 96, Free and Accepted Masons; is a member of Chapter No. 79. Royal Arch Masons, and of the Ionia council; he is a member of the Greenville Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and of LeRoy Lodge No. 9. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Ionia. Dr. Lester as a progressive physician is also a member of the Montcalm Medical Society, of the Michigan State Medical Association and of the American Medical Association. He is a medical examiner for a number of old line insurance companies.
J. W. TAYLOR.
As a resident of Montcalm county. Michigan, for a period covering almost fifty years, during which he has been closely identified with the farm interests of the community in which he lives. J. W. Taylor can rightfully be looked upon as an authority on all branches of rural economy tonching the section of the state in which he resides. J. W. Taylor is a native of Canada, having been born twenty-eight miles from Ottawa, Ontario, on August 19, 1861. His parents were Robert and Elizabeth ( Taylor) Tay- lor, the former of whom was born in the very same house which was the birthplace of the subject of this sketch. The paternal grandfather of J. W.
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Taylor was James Taylor, who was born near Belfast, Ireland. As a young man he left the Emerald Isle to take up his residence in Canada. He settled near Ottawa, a location which at that time represented little more than a tract of wilderness. In that section of Canada, James Taylor was conse- quently looked upon as a pioneer. He grappled with the problems of the soil and was successful in his chosen line of endeavor, so that before his death he had acquired no small degree of prosperity.
Robert Taylor was reared amid the customs of a community experienc- ing its first stage of agricultural development, and as a child became accus- tomed to hard work. He lived on his father's farm until he reached the age of seventeen, when he turned his attention to learning a trade, and went to act as an apprentice in a shoemaker's shop. After spending several years at this occupation he returned to his home, where he divided his time between farm work and the shoemaking trade for over a year. After his marriage he went to New York state, where he followed the occupation of farming. In 1867 he was attracted by the possibilities offered in the agricultural resources of Michigan, and came to this state, where he settled in Maple Valley township, of Montcalm county. The farm, which was located in section 30, consisted of forty acres of unimproved land. Mr. Taylor was occupied with the interests of this farm for a period of two years, and at the end of that time moved to section 21. of the same township. where he bought twenty acres of land. In addition to farming he also continued to follow his trade as a shoemaker, which proved unusually profitable, since he was the only man skillful in that line of work in this township for several years.
The twenty-acre farm just mentioned remained the home of Robert Taylor until his death. During his residence here, however, he continued to add to his agricultural possessions until he had accumulated over two hundred acres of land. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor : J. W .. who is the subject of this sketch; G. T., who resides in Maple Valley township. Montcalm county: William E., who passed away at the age of nine months, and Mary E., who is a well-known school teacher and who makes her home with her brother, the subject of this sketch.
J. W. Taylor received the advantages of a common-school education, and as a young man began his life as a farmer on his father's farm. After his marriage, which occurred on September 2. 1890, to Annie Althouse, the daughter of George and Lizzie (Soules) Althouse. he made his home on sixty-five acres of land he had bought near Coral. Michigan, where he has lived ever since, with the exception of two years which were spent on a
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rented farm. It might be stated that the original farm has been extended to one hundred and twenty acres, part of which is located in section 28, of Maple Valley township. The residence occupied by the subject of this sketch is situated in section 21, of the same township, and is in rural route district of Coral, Michigan. Although Mr. Taylor devotes most of his attention to the lines of general farming, he also takes great pride in the raising of a high grade of stock, including Jersey cattle. Oxford sheep and Poland China hogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have become the parents of the following chil- dren : G. H., who resides with his parents and who completed the course in the common schools of his native township and later attended the high school at Coral, finishing at the Ferris Institute : Engene is agraduate of the How- ard City high school, of Ferris Institute and also attended the normal school at Mt. Pleasant and at the present time is engaged in teaching school at Coral; Doris, the youngest child. is still attending school.
In his political interests, the subject of this sketch is prominently affil- iated with the cause of the Republican party and his loyalty has been recog- nized by the members of the party, who have entrusted him with public office. He has been a member of the township board of review and has also served as township treasurer. For two terms Mr. Taylor held the office of highway commissioner, during which time he executed the duties of the posi- tion in a manner deserving the highest praise. In fraternal affairs he is a member of the Coral Grange, and serves that organization as master.
ERVIE E. DURKEE.
Ervie E. Durkee, a farmer and a former breeder of Oxford Down sheep, lives on his farm of forty acres in section 10. Maple Valley township. He also owns eighty acre of good land nearby. Mr. Durkce was born in Pavilion township. Kalamazoo county, on August 21, 1856, and is the son of Jason and Sabrina ( Deane) Durkee.
Jason Durkee was born in the state of New York and moved to Charles- town township. Kalamazoo county, with his father, Thomas Durkee, when but a small boy. Thomas Durkee was a direct descendant of the Durkee brothers, who came to Vermont from Scotland in a very early day.
When Thomas Durkee came to Michigan he entered one hundred and forty acres of government land, which he developed and improved and here
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he spent the remainder of his days. Here it was that Jason grew to man- hood and later made a home for himself and family.
Ervie Durkee lived in Kalamazoo county until he was nineteen years of age, when he left the home of his father and came to Montcalm county and settled in Maple Valley township. Here the father, Jason Durkee, and the sons bought a little farm, which was cleared and developed. Ervie, besides working on the farm, did much teaming and lumbering for different firms for a number of years, and when the timber became scarce at home he hauled lumber for E. F. Ward for a number of years. After his marriage. on October 22, 1883. to Minnie Skeoch, the daughter of John and Christena ( Sonles ) Skeoch, Ervie E. Durkee resigned his position with Mr. Ward and he and his wife lived at the old Skeoch home for the next six or seven years. keeping the family together after the death of the father. They later took up their residence on the old homestead of his father, where they cared for him in his old age. Here they have resided ever since.
Mr. Durkee is a Republican in politics, and held the position of school director for his district for twenty years. He is also an active and influential member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Coral.
OREN A. ROWLAND.
Oren A. Rowland was born on April 25, 1839. in Hamilton, New York. and is the son of Samuel and Lucy ( Brondige ) Rowland, the former of whom was a native of Rhode Island and the latter of New York state. They were married in New York and engaged in farming in that state, in Fulton county, remaining there until their death. They were the parents of eight children. Oren A. being the only remaining child. Six years after the death of Samuel Rowland his wife remarried, but remained a resident of her native state.
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