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 29
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the First Brigade of the Third Division on August 9, 1862. He was after- ward transferred to the Fourteenth Army Corps, in the Third Brigade of the First Division, where he served as a private for some time, but was later pro- moted to the rank of corporal. Among the battles in which he engaged the names of those following are the most notable: Perrysville. La Vergne, Stewart's Creek, Stone's River, Tullahoma. Elk River, Chickamauga, Chatta- nooga. Brown's Ferry, Missouri Ridge, Savannah, Averasborough and Ben- tonville. On June 22, 1865, he received his discharge at Detroit, Michigan.
After the close of the Civil War. Lucins L. Church located in Montcalm county, Michigan, the date of his arrival being April 20, 1868. On Febru- ary 13, 1866. he was united in marriage to Amelia 1 .. Spence, daughter of William and Hannah ( Newton ) Spence, and to them have been born these children : Anna E., born on August 22. 1868: Lucy L., August 7, 1870: Frank P., December 15. 1873 : Mandana, July 18, 1880, all of whom are liv- ing. Amelia 1. Spence was born on August 10, 1840, in Livingston county. New York. Lucius L. Church was exceedingly popular as a man and as a citizen and was elected to fill many positions of honor and trust, namely : Justice of the peace, which office he held for twelve years: highway con- missioner for one year ; treasurer for a period of two years; supervisor for eleven years, and also served as a member of the state Legislature for two terms. under the Republican regime. In his fraternal relations he was a member of the Free and Accepted Order of Masons and of the Eastern Star. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republican and a stanch Republican.
Frank P. Church was reared on the home place and received his educa- tion in the local public schools, remaining at home until the age of twenty- three years. On November 3. 1896, he was united in marriage to Ruby Cole, daughter of Albert and Hattie ( Wagner) Cole, and they are the par- ents of three children: Katherine A., born on May 3, 1898, a graduate of the local high school and now a student in the state normal; Harold F., July 7. 1901. is a student in the local high school, and Grace L., May 31. 1903. who is also a student in the high school of Howard City. Michigan. Ruby Cole was born on May 7. 1873. in New York state, and removed to Mont- calm county, Michigan, with her parents when she was a child of four years.
Frank P. Church has been active in local politics, rendering valuable service to the Republican party of which he is a member. He served as justice of the peace for two terms and as supervisor since 1912. He was also a candidate for the office of register of deeds of Montcalm county, Mich-
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igan, in 1914, but was defeated. Fraternally, he is a member of Howard City Lodge No. 329. Free and Accepted Masons, and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, of Howard City, Michigan. Frank P. Church is an active member of the Howard City Grange and has been identified with the local school board for a great many years. The farm on which he lives consists of one hundred and twenty acres of land, located two and one-half miles east of Howard City, and is one of the well managed, productive farms of this locality.
WILLIAM NOAH. . 1
William Noah has the distinction of having been a schoolmate of James A. Garfield, the martyred President. William Noah also fought for the preservation of the Union during the Civil War, losing his right arm in the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 19, 1865. He was a private in Company D. Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and now draws a pension of fifty-five dollars per month. He is the son of Joshna V. and Ruth ( Fox-Daniel ) Noah, and his birth occurred on August 14. 1831. in Nelson township. Portage county, Ohio. Joshua V. Noah was also born on the same place as his son and was the son of John Noah and wife, both natives of Germany, who first located in New York state, thence removing to Portage county, Ohio, where they died. They were the par- ents of eight children. Joshua \. Noah was married in Lake county, Ohio, and removed to Michigan in 1855, where he remained until his death. He was the father of eleven children, five of whom are living: William, Joshua, Orange, John and Emily, who is the wife of a Mr. Waters. Ruth ( Fox-Daniel ) Noah was the mother of five children by her first marriage.
William Noah received his education in the district schools of his native county, upon the completion of which he followed the trade of carpenter. In 1853 he was married to Hannah Goble and of this union nine children were born. She died in 1881 and he was then married to Roby ( Burl- ingame ) Leonard. Four children born of his first union are now living : George E .. a farmer living in Ohio: Asher R., a farmer living in Sidney township. Montcalm county. Michigan: Ruth, wife of Alonzo Crane, of Detroit, Michigan. and Rosa, of Stanton, Michigan.
William Noah is a member of the Congregational church and a liberal supporter of same. He is also acting deacon of this denomination in the
WILLIAM NOAH.
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town of Sidney, Michigan. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party, though he was a Democrat before the Civil War. He is a member of Stanton Post No. 37. Grand Army of the Republic. He has held all of the township offices and always been very active in all public questions. He was one of the first settlers of this county, locating here in 1856, and has done much for the progress of his community. Ilis farm consists of fifteen acres and is well managed. In the organization of the township in 1858 he was elected the first township clerk. At that time there were but twenty- two voters in the township.
MARTIN ALLEN GRILL.
Martin Allen Grill is the owner and efficient manager of "Pleasant View Farm," located one and one-half miles west and one-half mile south of the town of Stanton, Michigan. He was born on November 10, 1867, in Summit county, Ohio, and is the son of Martin and Rachel ( Ludwick ) Grill. Martin Grill, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife was a native of Ohio, in which state she was married. They removed to Mich- igan in 1868, locating in Clinton county, where they remained for one year, later removing to a farm which they had purchased in Gratiot county. Later they effected a residence in Ionia county, where his death occurred in 1911. The widow is still living. They were the parents of these children: Mary, wife of Albert Jones; Amanda, wife of Ansell Goodell; Henry, now living in Clinton county. Michigan; Emma, wife of Fred Trilliger, of Tonia county. Michigan; Martin A .; Charles, of Tonia county, Michigan, and Clara, wife of John Wright, of Clinton county, Michigan.
Martin Allen Grill was reared on the home farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools of the township, in Gratiot county, Michigan. He remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty- seven years, being paid for his services after he had reached his majority.
On March 7, 1894, Martin Allen Grill was married to Bertha A. Slan- ker, and of this union two children have been born: Hazel L., born on December 3. 1897. and Mabel M., March 7, 1901. Both are students in the school at Stanton, Michigan.
Bertha A. Slanker was born on January 3, 1876, in Gratiot county, Michigan, and was educated in the schools of that county, removing to Mont- calm county, Michigan, in the fall of 1894, where her husband engaged in
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saw-mill work. He purchased the present farm in 1904. He has two hun- dred and forty acres. one hundred and sixty of which are under cultivation. The family are members of the Church of God, in which church Martin Allen Grill serves as trustee. He is also a teacher in the Sunday school, as are also his wife and daughter.
Bertha A. (Slanker ) Grill is the daughter of S. S. and Bell ( Percell) Slanker. natives of Summit county, Ohio, and Genesee county, Michigan, respectively. They are now residing in Stanton, Michigan, and are members of the Congregational church of that town. S. S. Purcell is a teacher and deacon of that denomination. The names of their children follow: Bertha A., Theresa J., wife of Ed Goodwin. of Ionia, Michigan; Gertrude H., wife of Jay Kinsman : J. Lce, of Stanton, Michigan, and Raymond, who is living in Detroit, Michigan.
In politics, Martin Allen Grill is an independent voter, supporting thic best men on the ticket regardless of party.
DAVID L. WATERS.
David 1 .. Waters has been identified with the agricultural interests of this township for many years, and in all respects has held the high regard of his fellow citizens. He was born on January 8. 1850. in Grand Rapids, Kent county, Michigan, and is the son of Levi and Adeline ( Abel) Waters, natives of New York and Connecticut, respectively. Adeline ( Abel) Waters removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when a young girl and was reared and educated in that place. Levi Waters also removed to Grand Rapids when young, engaging in the tanner's trade, which he followed until his marriage. After his wedding he removed to Kent county, Michigan, where he operated a saw-mill for his brother. John Waters, for nine years. He then purchased forty acres of land in Montcalm county. on which he remained until his death on April 24, 1913. Ilis widow still survives. They were the parents of three children, David L .. Louise and Frances A. Louise died in infancy and Frances is the wife of J. I. Cook and lives with her mother.
David L. Waters was educated in the schools of Kent county. Michigan. being an attendant until his sixteenth year. Later he was a student in the schools of this county for two years. He was a resident of Lowell. Mich- igan, and for a period of two years worked in the lumber woods and saw- mills of Montcalm county.
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On February, 1871, David L. Waters was married to Mary A. Wilder and to this union two daughters were born, Addie A. and Jennie L. Addie A. is the wife of Henry Linderman, while Jennie L. is the wife of J. L. Schimmerhorn. After the death of his first wife, David L. Waters married Mrs. Emily A. Goodell. the wedding being solemnized on March 12, 1884. Emily A. Goodell was born in Summit county, Ohio, on July 6, 1840, and came to this county where her education was received. She has been married three times, having two children by her first union, Sylvia, widow of W. H. Kilpatrick, and George M., deceased. By her union with James A. Goodell two children were born. Ida A .. wife of E. C. Lowery, of Stanton, Michigan, and James A., a farmer in Sidney township. David Waters and his wife are members of the Congregational church and active in its support. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and in political matters is a member of the Republican party. His well-improved, well-regulated farm is located three miles west and one mile south of Stanton, Michigan, and consists of forty acres called "Lakeside Farm."
JOHN A. NELSON.
Among the younger generation of agriculturists who are active in local affairs as well as in their chosen profession, none are more worthy the respect of their fellow citizens than is John A. Nelson, of Sidney township, Mont- calm county, Michigan. He was born on January 31, 1880, in Penn Yan, Yates county, New York, and is the son of Charles and Hanna (Grimbeck ) Nelson, both natives of Sweden. They were the parents of two children. Oscar E. and John A. Oscar F .. is a farmer and lives in Sidney township. John A. Nelson was but three years of age at the time of his immigration to Michigan, in company with his parents who located in this locality. He received his education in the common schools of this township and in the Greenville Business College. after which he became an employee of the Buick Automobile Company in their plant at Flint, Michigan, remaining with them for two years. He had previously purchased a farm and in 1910 took possession of same.
On March 17. 1913. John A. Nelson was united in marriage to Mabel C. Sampson and they are the parents of one child, Dale E., who was born on February 14. 1915. Mabel C. (Sampson) Nelson was born in 1883. in McBride. Montcalm county, Michigan. She received her education in the
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public schools of Greenville. Michigan, graduating from the high school of that place and from the state normal in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She fol- lowed the vocation of teacher both in her native state and in the state of Washington, for two periods of three years cach.
John A. Nelson and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Politically, John A. Nelson is affiliated with the Republican party. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of Gleaners, at Stanton. In an agricul- tural way he is devoting his time to the raising of high-grade potatoes in which he specializes. His farm is well improved and has a fine bungalow which was built in the summer of 1913. A large barn was built in 1912. This place is called "Pleasant View Farm" and well deserves the name.
JOHN A. HEROLD.
Among the prominent business men and leading citizens of Howard City, Montcalm county, Michigan. is John A. Herold, who was born near Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio, on September 25. 1857, the son of Ernest and Susanna ( Bertsch) Herold, the former born at Rudelstadt, near Frank- fort-on-the-Main, Germany, the latter in the state of Pennsylvania.
Ernest Herold came to America when a young man and located in Craw- ford county, Ohio, where he followed his trade as a shoemaker for some time and then was married to Susanna Bertsch, who immigrated to Ohio with her parents, they being of German descent. Shortly following his marriage. Ernest Herold and his family came to Michigan and located at Holland. Ottawa county, where the elder Herold followed his trade and manufactured and sold boots and shoes for the remainder of his days. Ernest and Susanna Herold were the parents of the following children: Helen and Mary. of Woburn, Massachusetts: John A., of Howard City ; Alonzo, of Grand Rapids. Michigan : Mary, who is the widow of George Ballard, of Woburn, Massa- chusetts; Christina, the wife of John Benjamin, she now being deceased as is her twin sister. who died in infancy. and Kate, the wife of George Hunt, of Holland. Michigan.
John A. Herold secured a limited education in the schools of Ottawa county, after which he lived at home until thirteen years of age and then went to Grand Rapids, where he became an employee of a shoe factory, remaining with that company for ten years. About 1883 Mr. Herold opened a shoe store at Grand Rapids, a business which he conducted for two years
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and then sold to his brother, after which he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he followed his trade as a shoemaker, for about two and one-half years. Subsequently, Mr. Herold came to Howard City, Montcalm county, Michigan, and started a store, dealing in shoes, later adding stocks of furni- ture and general merchandise, lines which he has handled most successfully during twenty-eight years of his career as a merchant of Howard City.
On July 14, 1889, John A. Herold was married to Sadie Bennett, who was a daughter of Mrs. Nancy Bennett, of Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick, Canada. Mr. Herold and his wife are leading members of the Congrega- tional church, of Howard City, he now being the treasurer of this church. Mr. Herold was a member of the buikdling committee and was one of the lead- ing factors in the movement for the erection of the new church building for this denomination, at Iloward City, in 1893.
In politics. John A. Herold is a Republican, having been prominent in the efforts of this party for many years. Mr. Herold has occupied various offices in Howard City and is a man who has done no little in the progress and advancement of the interests of this community.
MRS. D. II. BAIRD.
Mrs. D. H. Baird, one of the well-known women and the widow of D. 11. Baird, who was one of the highly respected citizens of Winfield township, this county, was born in New York state, on September 3, 1853, a daughter of James and B. (Clark) Snyder, natives of New York state, where they grew to maturity, were married and where they lived until the death of James Snyder, on October 9, 1864.
Following the death of her husband. Mrs. James Snyder came to Mich- igan, where she made her home until her death at Morley, Mecosta county, in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. James Snyder were the parents of the following children : Spencer. of Manton. Michigan; Mrs. D. H. Baird, and Frank, a railroad man of Missouri. One child is deceased.
Mrs. D. H. Baird received her education in the schools of New York state, after which she lived on the farm of her parents, until September 24, 1874. when she was married, in New York state, to D. H. Baird. Shortly following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Baird came to Michigan, and located 011 a farm in Eureka township, Montcalm county, near Greenville, a place which was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baird for two years, after which they,
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in 1876, moved to a farm of eighty acres which Mr. Baird purchased in Winfield township, where Mrs. Baird now makes her home, on a well- improved and highly cultivated farm.
Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Baird were the parents of the following children : Merwin, Ernest and Irving, who live in Ohio; Mabel, the wife of N. F. Croff, an implement dealer of Morley. Michigan : Harvey, a dealer in Morley, Michigan; Edna, the wife of Albert Kohler. a farmer of Winfield township. and Albert and Harrison, who cultivate the home farm.
J. E. McCLOSKEY.
J. E. McCloskey has been identified with the educational interests of Montcalm county. Michigan. for many years and has fulfilled the trust with efficiency and fervor. Ilis present position as superintendent of the Howard City schools is but the culmination of past experience and the prelude to future successes. He was born on May 18, 1861, in Crystal township, Mont- calm county. Michigan, and is the son of Barney and Charlotte ( Skippey) McCloskey, natives of northern Ireland and Oakland county, Michigan, respectively. Barney McCloskey emigrated to the United States when he was twenty-one years of age, locating in the state of Vermont but later removing to Oakland county. Michigan, where his marriage took place. Soon after their union they moved to Crystal township of this county and remained here until death. Barney McCloskey followed farming and became prominent in local politics and held many township offices. He was also active in church affairs and the father of seven children.
J. E. McCloskey spent his boyhood days in Crystal township. where he attended the district schools. subsequently graduating from the Tonia high school, of Tonia, Michigan. He then became a student in the Michigan State Normal School. of Mt. Pleasant. Michigan, from which institution he gradu- ated and almost immediately took up educational duties at Stanton, Michigan. He taught school in the various districts of Montcalm county, and was elected superintendent of schools in Sheridan, Michigan, continuing in that capacity for two years. He was then elected secretary of the county board of examin- ers, serving for one term, following which he was elected first county school commissioner of Montcalm county, Michigan, serving in this capacity for four years. For eleven years, following his retirement from office, he served in the capacity of superintendent of schools of Stanton, Michigan, and was
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then, in 1904, elected to his present office. He has always been a Repub- lican in his political affiliations and very active in local politics.
On August 12, 1887, J. E. McCloskey was united in marriage to Jessie 1. Collins, of Carson City, Michigan, and a teacher in the schools of the county, and to them have been born these children: Grace, deceased; Roger, a graduate of the Iloward City high school and a teacher in the school at Amble, Montcalm county, Michigan; Ruth, also a graduate of the Howard City high school and now a student in the Michigan State Normal College, of Ypsilanti, Michigan: Esther, also a graduate of the same high school and a student of the same college: Helen, a student of the local high school, and Margaret, who is a student in the grades. In religious matters the family are affiliated with the Congregational church.
ALBERT O'DONALD.
Albert O'Donald, a grain and produce dealer of Howard City and the proprietor of the Howard City elevator, was born in Washington county, New York, June 2, 1853, the son of John and Eliza J. ( Nelson ) O'Donald, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Washington county, New York. John O'Donald came to the United States at the age of eight years, when he was thrown on his own responsibilities and worked at vari- ous occupations. He finally took up farming and was very prosperous, own- ing several large tracts of land at the time of his death. To John and Eliza J. O'Donald were born seven children, three of whom are living: Richard H., whose life history is given elsewhere in this volume; Mary J., the wife of T. D. Southworth, of Washington county. New York, and Albert, the subject of this sketch.
Albert ()'Donald was reared on a farm in Washington county, New York, where he attended the public schools and received a good common- school education. He remained at home until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Howard City and made his home with his brother, Richard IT .. for some time. For sixteen years he was employed by his brother and was very successful with him, but, preferring to go into business for himself. he engaged in the grain and produce business and has prospered from the beginning. He now does a large business in this line and has one of the lead- ing grain and produce concerns in Montcalm county.
Mr. O'Donald was married on June 12, 1878, to Elizabeth Roberts, who
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was born in Vermont, where they were married. To them has been born one daughter, Elizabeth M., born on March 8, 1893. She was graduated from the Howard City high school, later attending the Alma University, and is now the wife of H. V. Wilcox, of Detroit, Michigan, who is the sporting editor of the Detroit Times.
Fraternally. Mr. O'Donald is a member of Howard City Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons: Greenville Chapter. Royal Arch Masons: is a thirty- second degree Mason and also a member of the Shrine at Grand Rapids. Besides his Masonic relations, Mr. O'Donald is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Republican, but has never held a public office.
WILLIAM A. BROWN.
William A. Brown, prosperous farmer and owner of eighty acres of land. known as "Maple Drive Farmi," located near Howard City, in Winfield township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Barry township. Barry county, Michigan, on March 8, 1866, a son of J. A. and Agnes (Louden) Brown, natives of Vermont and of Rochester, New York respectively.
When a young man, J. A. Brown came to Michigan and located in Barry county, where. after some years, he was married to Agnes Louden, she having come to Barry county, with her parents, at an early age. Fol- lowing his marriage. J. A. Brown moved to Newaygo county, where he lived for the remainder of his days and where his widow now lives. J. A. and Agnes Brown were the parents of nine children, five of whom are now living: Mary, the wife of Cornelius Tack, of Pierson, Michigan; William A .; Edward L .. , a farmer of Newaygo county, this state; Florence, the wife of B. F. Wells, a farmer of Newaygo county, and Guy, a farmer of the same county.
William A. Brown was reared on the home farm and was educated in the schools of Barry county, Michigan, after which he worked with his father until twenty-one years of age, when he took up work in the woods of Newaygo county, to which locality his parents had moved, and where William A. Brown was employed for some time, following his duties as a lumberman in the winter and as a farmer in the summer. During the month of October, 1905, Mr. Brown came to Montcalm county and located near Howard City, in Winfield township, where he secured a farm which is
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now known as "Maple Drive Farm," a desirable and well-improved place of eighty acres. William A. Brown does not live on his farm now, but for some years has made his home at Howard City, where he is successfully engaged in the management of his livery and sale business.
During the year 1889. William A. Brown was married to Ella Ter- williger, who was born in Newaygo county, Michigan, on March 14, 1870. and received her education in the common schools and at the Fremont high school, after which she was a school teacher for three years. To the mar- riage of William A. and Ella Brown have been born two children : Clay- ton H., who married Lola Trudell, and Mary Pearl, who, after the com- pletion of her education, was married to Arthur R. Woods, living near Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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