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 3
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Some little time after A. J. Cole's return from the army, and while engaged in the carpenter business at Jackson. he met Miranda E. Palmer, of Onondaga county. New York, who was visiting kinsfolk in Jackson.
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and their marriage shortly followed. To this union two children were born, both sons, Fred J., the subject of this sketch, and Leon, who died in infancy. When the first-born of these sons was about one year old, in 1876, his parents moved from Jackson to Greenville and there have made their home since, long having been regarded as among the most highly-respected residents of that place. Mr. Cole followed his trade as a carpenter and builder at Greenville for about thirty-five years and has but lately retired from the active pursuits of life.
Fred J. Cole grew up at Greenville, receiving his elementary education in the schools of the village, supplementing the same by a course in the Detroit College of Law, from which he was graduated with his degree in 1902. Upon receiving his diploma, Mr. Cole returned to Greenville, was admitted to the bar and opened an office for the practice of his profession in his home town and has been thus engaged ever since, having gained the high regard of his associates at the bar in this and adjoining counties. Mr. Cole is a Republican and from the days of his youth has taken an active interest in local political affairs. Twice was he appointed circuit court com- missioner and twice has he been elected to that office, now serving his fourth teria in that capacity. He was elected justice of the peace and is still serv- ing in that capacity, giving to all his public service his thoughtful and intel- ligent attention.
On June 6, 1906. Fred J. Cole was united in marriage to Christine .Avery and both take a warm interest in the social activities of their home town, being held in high esteem by all thereabout. Mr. Cole is a member of LeRoy Lodge No. 9. Knights of Pythias, at Greenville, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that order.
JAY II. GIBBS.
Jay Il. Gibbs, well-known manager of the extensive interests of the firm of J. H. Gibbs & Son at Edmore, this county, and one of the most active and enterprising young business men of Montcalm county, is a native of this county, having been born in Home township on December 20. 1886. only son and second child of the late Lucius H. and Julia R. (Hanscom) Gibbs, the former of whom for many years was one of the leading men of the Edmore community, a review of whose career in this county, is set out in a memorial sketch relating to himself, presented elsewhere in this volume.
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where also is presented a history of the family of his father, Josiah H. Gibbs, who is still living at Edmore, where for many years before his retirement he took a prominent part in affairs and where he established the large interests now managed, in the third generation of the same family, by his grandson, the subject of this sketch.
J. H. Gibbs received his early education in the schools of Edmore and was graduated from the high school there in 1903, being the only mem- ber of the class of that year. He then took a special course in the Michi- gan Agricultural College, after which he entered Bliss Electrical School at Washington, D. C., from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1908. receiving the degree of electrical engineer. Upon receiving his diploma, Mr. Gibbs engaged his service as an electrical engineer with the Duncan Meter Manufacturing Company of Lafayette, Indiana, with which firm he remained a little more than six months, at the end of which time he . transferred his services to the Columbia Meter Company at Indianapolis, Indiana, from which concern he presently transferred his services to the Illinois Steel Company at South Chicago, where for some time he was employed in the meter department, and then went to the employ of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company at Newaygo, this state, where he had charge of the power plant of that concern for some time, after which he was employed by the Beaver Dam Light and Power Company at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, with which concern he remained until 1913, in which year he returned to Edmore and has since then been general manager and super- intendent of the J. H. Gibbs & Son flour-mill and elevator and electric-light plant at that place, in which form of service he is doing good work. Mr. Gibbs is an enterprising and progressive young business man and an expert electrician, being a member of the popular Jovian Society, an organization made up of electrical engineers over the country, which is doing great work in promoting the general interests of electrical service in the United States.
On June 25. 1915. Jay H. Gibbs was united in marriage to Marjorie Emerson, who was born in the town of Sterling, in the province of Ontario, Canada, daughter of R. F. and Rose ( McGee) Emerson, prominent resi- dents of Montcalm county, further details of the history of which family are set ont in a sketch relating to Mr. and Mrs. Emerson, presented else- where in this volume, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Robert Lucius, born on March 15. 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs take an active part in the various social and cultural activities of Edmore and vicinity and are held in the highest esteem by their many friends thereabout.
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Mr. Gibbs is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in the county's political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class of politicians. He is senior warden of the Masonic lodge at Edmore. a mem- ber of the consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons at Grand Rapids, and of the temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Grand Rapids, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these several branches of the ancient order of Freemasonry.
SERENUS D. KETCHUM.
Serenus D. Ketchum, cashier of the Edmore State Bank of Edmore, this county, and one of the most progressive and influential business men of that section of the county, is a native of Canada, having been born in Ontario, December 1, 1873, son of Stephen J. and Ellen ( Kerwin) Ketchum, the former a native of Pennsylvania. of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, and the latter, of Ireland.
Stephen J. Ketchum was born on December 2. 1833, and the first few years of his life were spent in Canada, his parents having moved to the Dominion when he was nine years of age, later returning to the United States and settling at Dunkirk, on Silver creek, in New York state, where he grew to manhood. He then returned to Canada and was there married. February 10, 1864, to Ellen Kerwin, who was born at Wexford, Ireland. on December 25, 1844. daughter of Nassa and Julia ( Cullen ) Kerwin, who came to this side of the Atlantic when Ellen was a little girl and settled in Canada, where the father died when the daughter was but nine years of age. Following his marriage, Stephen J. Ketchum continued to make his home in Canada, being engaged in the hotel business at Fornwick for about eight years, at the end of which time he came with his family to Michigan, presently locating at Edmore, in this county, where he made his home for about thirty-seven years. engaged during that time as a shoemaker, a trade in which he was proficient. In November. 1905, he went to Cour d'Alene, Idaho, where he died on December 23. following. During his residence in Canada. Stephen J. Ketchum was an Orangeman, and upon locating in the states became a Democrat, but in the memorable campaign of 1896 voted the Republican ticket and so continued a Republican the rest of his life. The widow is still living and makes her home with her children, she being the mother of four. all of whom are still living, as follow : Lavina.
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who married S. E. Young and lives in Idaho; John, of Edmore, this county ; Margaret Ann, who married Martin S. Gray and lives at Lansing, this state, and Serenus D., the subject of this sketch.
Serenus D. Ketchum was about four years of age when he came to Michigan with his parents and he grew up at Echinore. He was graduated from the village high school, after which he took a special course for teachers at Ferris Institute at Big Rapids and was engaged as a teacher in the dis- trict schools of Montcalm county for about eight years, at the end of which time, in 1897. he entered the service of the Edmore State Bank, with which old financial institution he has been connected ever since. Mr. Ketchum began his banking career literally "at the bottom of the ladder." and dis- played such proficiency in the details of bank work, that he was advanced to the position of assistant cashier and in 1910 was made cashier, a position of trust and responsibility he has occupied ever since, discharging the exact- ing duties of the same with entire satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Ketchum is a stockholder and a director of the bank and in addition to his work in that connection is also engaged in the general insurance business, in which line he has been successful. He is also interested in the general welfare of his home town and is secretary of the L. Barber Creamery and Produce Company, of Edmore, a prosperous and growing concern.
On July 10. 1904, Serenus D. Ketchum was united in marriage to E. May Dean, who was born at Edmore on July 25. 1885. daughter of H. H. and Mary J. (Fletcher ) Dean, and to this union one child, Serena May. was born on March 9, 1906. H. H. Dean was born at Kalamazoo, this state, on November 7. 1860. the only child of his parents. His father died when he was eleven years old. leaving him to aid in the support of his widowed mother. He grew up in the state of Iowa and later came to Michigan, settling at lonia, later moving to Edmore, where for a few years he worked for the railroad company, after which he started in business for himself, opening a general store, and was thus engaged for a period of twenty-five years, at the end of which time he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he and his wife now make their home. Mrs. Dean is a native of Canada and was born on April To, 1861, daughter of Orin Fletcher and wife. both natives of the Dominion, and she grew to womanhood in that country. To H. H. Dean and wife three children have been born, E. May, who married Mr. Ketchum; Herman, deceased, and George, who is with his parents in Vancouver. Before her marriage, Mrs. Ketchum had been engaged as a teacher in the public schools of Montcalm county for three years, having taught in district schools and in the schools at Coral.
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and she and Mr. Ketchum take an earnest part in the various social and cultural activities of their home neighborhood, being held in high regard by all thereabout. Mr. Ketchum is an Odd Fellow and a member of the encampment of that order; a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and formerly was a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a con- tributing member of the Young Men's Christian Association at Detroit, in the activities of which he takes much interest, and is keyman of the asso- ciation at Edmore, being interested in all movements designed to elevate the standards of living hereabout.
RICHARD H. O'DONALD.
Richard H. O'Donald, the proprietor of a private bank in Howard City, Michigan, was born in Washington county, New York, in September, 1849, the son of John and Eliza ( Nelson) O'Donald, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in Hebron, New York. John O'Donald came from Ireland to the United States when four years of age with an uncle and, on reaching maturity, worked for twenty-six years by the month. He was prosperous and successful and invested his savings, being worth, at the time of his death, about one hundred thousand dollars. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they were faithful workers and liberal supporters. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living, Richard H., the subject of this sketch; Albert, who is the proprietor of the Howard City elevator, and Mary. J., the wife of T. D. Southworth.
Richard H. O'Donald was reared on his father's farm and was cdu- cated in the public schools of Poultney, Vermont, where he was also grad- uated from a business college. At the age of eighteen, he left home and went to Twinsburg, Ohio, where he worked in a general store for his cousin. He worked here four years, the first year clearing one hundred dollars, the second year two hundred, and each of the last two years, three hundred. In August. 1873. he left Ohio with two hundred dollars and came to Howard City, Michigan, and, for fifteen years, engaged in buying shingles, in which business he was successful, being a member of the lumber firm of Lovely & O'Donald for ten years. In 1897. in partnership with a Mr. Scott, Mr. ()'Donald bought out a private bank, which was known under the firm name of O'Donald & Scott. and which was conducted under that name until
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1910, when Mr. O'Donald purchased Mr. Scott's interest, and has since conducted the bank alone under the name of the Richard II. O'Donald Bank. Besides his banking interests, Mr. ()'Donald is the owner of three thousand acres of fine land in the vicinity of Howard City, including some city prop- erty in Howard City.
Mr. O'Donald was married to Hattie Lusk, of Twinsburg, Ohio, and to them were born two daughters. May J., a graduate of an educational institution at Kalamazoo. Michigan, and now the wife of Arie Cook, of Howard City, and Grace M., the wife of Earl Phelps, an attorney of Grand Rapids. Mrs. Hattie ()'Donald died and Mr. O'Donald was married sub- sequently to Stella Ml. Nichols.
In 1872 Mr. O'Donald became a member of the Masonic fraternity at Twinsburg, and also joined the chapter at that place. Politically, Mr. ()'Donald is a Democrat. but, owing to his extensive banking and real-estate interests, he has never had much time to devote to politics. Mr. O'Donald is one of the most popular citizens of Howard City and Montcalm county, where he is held in the highest esteem and where he exerts a wide influence in all public movements.
CASS T. WRIGHT.
Cass T. Wright, prominent miller and foundryman, of Greenville, this county, who from his youth has been identified with the best interests of that thriving city, long having been one of the most energetic business men in that part of the county, is a native of the neighboring state of Wisconsin, having been born at Wrightstown, Brown county, that state, June 30, 1846, son of L. B. and Maryette (Thompson) Wright, who afterward became pioneer residents of Greenville, this county, and prominent factors in the development of the commercial and social life of that community.
L. B. Wright was born in the town of Lafayette, in Onondaga county, New York, son of Hoel S. Wright, who in 1833 bought an extensive tract of land in Brown county, Wisconsin, laid out the town of Wrightstown and was successfully engaged in promoting the sale of town lots and the general interests of the town which bore his name nintil 1866, when he and his family and the families of his two sons, L. B. and F. N. Wright, came to this state and settled at Greenville, this county, immediately becoming promi- nent factors in the development of the region thereabout.
When the Wrights came to Montcalm county the pine timber was still
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standing in the Greenville region and F. N. and I .. B. Wright engaged, as a partnership, in the lumber business. L. B. Wright died in 1868 and his son, Cass T., the subject of this sketch, took a quarter interest in the con- cern and the business was carried on until 1889, in which year it was closed out, the timber having been reduced to such an extent that it was no longer profitable to work it. F. N. Wright and Cass T. Wright then engaged in the agricultural implement business, which was continued as a partnership concern for a while, after which Cass T. Wright took over the whole busi- ness and has since been operating it alone. In the meantime, in 1880, the Wrights had started in the flour-milling business, in which they became quite successful, and later Cass T. Wright bought the old Partlow mill. which he also has carried on, not actively identified with it, but a prime factor in the operation of the same.
In addition to his extensive milling and commercial interests, Mr. Wright is identified with a number of other prominent enterprises in and about Greenville. He helped organize the Greenville State Bank, of which F. N. Wright was president until his death, and was a director in that con- cern for some time. Ile has been the treasurer of the Gibson Refrigerator Company since its organization in 1907. being also one of the directors of the company, and is vice-president of the Holland-St. Louis Sugar Com- pany, as well as a stockholder and director of the company. In local civic affairs Mr. Wright has been equally active and has done much toward the advancement and promotion of the general interests of Greenville, having served two or three terms as mayor of the city and several terms as alder- man, in all his public service ever having had an eye single to the public good, so that he long has been looked upon as one of Greenville's most public-spirited and progressive citizens. As a Republican he ever has given his thoughtful attention to the affairs of that party in this county and for years has been regarded as one of the leaders of the party in this section.
On November 6, 1868. Cass T. Wright was united in marriage to Ilelen Fuller, daughter of Benjamin H. Fuller, one of Greenville's most prominent citizens in his day, and to this union six children were born, as follow : L. B., who is associated with his father in the latter's business in Greenville: Ethel, wife of William Patterson, who also is connected with the Wright enterprises: Jesse C., who acts as his father's traveling repre- sentative, making his headquarters and home in Grand Rapids: Fay, also connected with his father's interests: Hugh, who also has an active part in the development of the Wright enterprises, and Vivien, wife of Stanley .
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Kemp, who is connected with the business affairs of his father, E. A. Kemp. The mother of these children died in March, 1911. The Wright family long has been actively interested in the social and cultural life of the community and is held in the highest esteem throughout that entire section of the county.
FREDERICK E. RANNEY.
Frederick E. Ranney, mayor of Greenville, and one of the best known business men of Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Massachusetts, on July 2, 1853, a son of Charles and Nancy ( Gray ) Ranney, who were farmers in New England during their lives, the former dying in 1867. and the latter in 1869.
Mr. Ranney received his early education in the public schools of the New England states, after which he attended classes at an academy of his locality for some time, and then engaged in farming until he was nineteen years of age. About the year 1872, he came to Michigan, and located at Belding, lonia county, where he worked as a carpenter, for about four years and then he engaged in the livery business for a number of years, at Belding. Some time later, Frederick E. Ranney entered the manufac- turing business at Belding, lonia county, and was there vice-president and, afterwards, president of the Belding Manufacturing Company, until the year 1892, when Mr. Ranney moved to Greenville, Montcalm county. where he established the Ranney Refrigerator Company, a stock company which he organized and of which he became the first president, a concern which under the management of Mr. Ranney has become one of the largest refrigerator manufactories of the United States. In October. 1915. he bought the Phelps hotel, of Greenville, the only first-class American house of this city.
In 1875. Mr. Ranney was married to Mary Ellis, who was born in lonia county. Michigan, and to this marriage were born four children : Ellis W., who after graduating from the Michigan Agricultural College, of Lansing, became secretary and treasurer of the Ranney Manufacturing Company; Leroy, who after graduating from the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, became assistant secretary of the same company; Carrie. who graduated from Olivet College, and now is a social welfare worker of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Hattie, who lives at home. In 1900, Mrs.
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Ranney died, and in 1901. Mr. Ranney was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Beardslee. To this marriage no children have been born.
Mr. Ranney for many years has taken a good citizen's interest in the political circles of Greenville and of Montcalm county, serving unselfishly as a private citizen, working industriously in the ranks of his party, until the election of 1915, when Mr. Ranney was elected as mayor of Greenville. the duties of which he is now fulfilling in a most efficient manner.
Fraternally, Mr. Ranney is a leading member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a prominent member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having attained to the Shrine and the thirty-second degree.
MANNING RUTAN.
Manning Rutan was born on September 25, 1808, at New Providence, Union county, New Jersey, and died at Greenville, Montcalm county, Michi- gan, on December 9, 1886. Ilis parents were Abraham and Hannah (Ship- man ) Rutan, the former a mechanic and in moderate circumstances. When fourteen years of age his school days ended, and he was apprenticed for a period of some years to a country storekeeper, his remuneration being his board and clothing and fifty dollars in cash.
In 1825 Mr. Rutan formed a partnership with a young friend and they opened a store in Dover, New Jersey. At the end of five years he retired from this partnership, engaging in other business. but later, again, returned to Dover and re-entered the store business there, where he remained until, in 1851, he came to Michigan in the interests of a Wisconsin pur- chase which he had previously made. Noting the fine character of the country in the vicinity of the present city of Greenville, he effected an exchange of his Wisconsin property for seven hundred acres of land in Montcalm county, a portion of which he had surveyed and platted as a village site, and on October 1, 1851, having bought a stock of goods, he commenced business as a permanent resident. erecting a store and dwelling house for the purpose.
Soon finding that his land business demanded all his time, Mr. Rutan disposed of his interest in the store. and devoted his attention to the sale of building sites, which, owing to the rapid increase in population, were rapidly sold. Later, he repurchased the mercantile business, which he continued successfully for five years, when it was resigned to his only son, Eugene
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Rutan, who, since, following in his father's footsteps, has made it the means vi a successful business career. Mr. Rutan was also extensively engaged in the lumber and saw-mill business, and assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of lonia, of which he was a director for many years. Ils also took part in the organization of the First National Bank of Green- ville. incorporated in 1872, of which for many years he also served as director. In 1876 he was elected president of this bank, and continued in that office until his death.
Mr. Rutan was married in 1831 to Miss Melinda Hurd, of Dover, New Jersey. Their son, Eugene Rutan, was born July 3, 1844. and is one o! Greenville's most respected and prominent citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Rutan were of the original eleven who organized the Congregational church society, of Greenville, and were always active workers in the church, it standing on ground donated by Mr. Rutan for the purpose. The ground on which stands the Baptist church and the Union school building was also given by him, and he helped to build many of the best churches and school houses in the county. Olivet College owes much to him, as it was the object of his largest gifts. Its Latin chair was endowed by him, and bears his name. Oberlin College, the Chicago Congregational Seminary, and numer- ous other educational and religious institutions owe him a debt of gratitude for oft-repeated contributions to their support.
The following extracts are quoted from the Greenville Independent, of December 16 1886: "In all his life and multifarious relations with men, Mr. Rutan was a transparent man of principle. He never spoke or acted out of a self-conscious spirit : he never did anything for effect. Mr. Rutan was particularly remarkable for his benevolence. although a strict economist in all his personal affairs. He gave large sums of money and a great amount of property to various benevolent and religious institutions. But few. however, were permitted to know the extent of his benevolence. He gave without show, and distributed his means in a quiet and secret manner. During his residence in Greenville his donations amounted to very much more than his remaining estate, and can be reckoned by the hundreds of thousands of dollars. A man of the strictest integrity and soundest of temperance principles, he has moved and lived among us for thirty-six years. the finest example of strict economy and great benevolence, upright- ness of character, and every qualification which goes to make up the pure, noble. exalted Christian gentleman. the writer has ever known among lay- men."
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