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 36
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In the official life of the community. Orland W. Galloup has been active, having served Bushnell township as a justice of the peace and as moderator of the township school board. . In politics, Mr. Galloup is an ardent Republi- can.
Fraternally. Orland W. Galloup is a prominent member of Vickeryville Lodge No. 756, Knights of the Maccabees, and he is a leading member of the Grange, in Bushnell township.
ALBERT A. RICHARDSON.
Albert .A. Richardson has been a resident of Bloomer township, this county, for over sixty years. He was born on December to. 1842, in Cornish, New Hampshire. He is the son of Ariel K. and Mary (Arm- strong ) Richardson, the former of whom was a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Vermont. The Richardsons came to Montcalm county as early as 1855 and settled in Bloomer township, which was in the first stage of its agricultural development. The settlers were few and the land was covered with timber and wild underbrush. Mr. Richardson built a cabin on the northwest corner of the cross roads at Bloomer Center and devoted the remainder of his life to the occupation of farming. For a number of years he filled the position of postmaster at Bloomer Center. Mr. Richardson passed away in January, 1900, and his wife died in 1886. The couple reared the following children : Albert A .. the subject of this sketch; Anna, Ella and Victoria.
Albert A. Richardson spent his boyhood days on the old Richardson farm in Bloomer township and upon reaching the age of manhood was obliged to lay aside his farm work and answer the call for volunteers to serve in the Civil War. On November 9, 1861, he enlisted in the First Regiment, United States Sharpshooters, and remained in the service a year. when, owing
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to physical disability, he was forced to resign from active service. He was di-charged on October 29. 1862, and for the six months following was unable to leave his home owing to poor health.
After his return to Bloomer township the subject of this sketch bought forty acres of land, which now forms a part of the Cliffe farm. After residing on this place for five years he sold out to Mr. Cliffe and bought the farm where he now resides in section 20, which contains one hundred and ninety acres. For several years during his residence on this farm he served as highway commissioner.
On December 18, 1864. Albert Richardson was united in marriage to Jane Louks, a native of Norfolk county, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of William IT. and Julia Ann ( Burger ) Louks. William Louks, who was born in Vermont, came with his family, in the fall of 1860, to Montcalm county, where he settled on a farm one and one-half miles south of Carson City. On the 18th of November. 1886, Mr. Louks passed away, and in November of the following year Mrs. Louks, who was a native of Canada, passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Richardson became the parents of two children, Asa. who follows the occupation of a farmer in Virginia. and Leon who is inter- ested in dairy farming, also in Virginia. Mr. Richardson has won the esteem of the members of his community for the manner in which he has conducted 'e public affairs in which he has been interested and for the high ideals of citizenship to which he has lived. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
HI. E. HEISLER.
1I. E. Heisler, well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Bushnell township, Montcalm county, Michigan. was born in Mahoning county, Ohio. on February 9, 1863, a son of D. W. and Catherine ( McDonald) Heisler, natives of Mahoning county and of Jefferson county, Ohio, respectively.
After his marriage D. W. Heisler and his wife came to Michigan from their home in Ohio, in 1866, and located on a farm in Bushnell township, Montcalm county, where the elder Heisler engaged in farming and where he operated the first saw-mill of the community for many years. D. W. Heisler was a prominent man of Bushnell township, having served as justice of the peace for twenty-seven years, during which time he was active and influential in the affairs of the Republican party in this community. The elder Heisler was a member of the Masons. D. W. and Catherine Heisler were the par-
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ents of four children, three of whom are living: Charles, a farmer of New Haven township, Gratiot county ; H. E., the subject of this sketch, and Emma, the wife of George Low, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
H. E. Heisler received his education in the public schools of Montcalm county, after which he became a farmer, working on the home place for some years and then he secured the home farm, where he now is successfully engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres, thirty acres of which is pasture and the rest improved and highly productive soil.
On January 4, 1894. H. E. Heisler was married to Eva Wellwood, who was born in Bloomer township, Montcalm county, a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Wellwood, of Bloomer township.
H. E. Heisler is a member of Palo Lodge No. 203, Free and Accepted Masons. and together with his wife Mr. Heisler is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics, H. E. Heisler is a Republican and has served his township as treasurer. Mr. Heisler is one of the highly respected and esteemed men of Bushnell township.
CHARLES HAWLEY.
Among the successful farmers and stock raisers of Bushnell township, Montcalm county, Michigan, is Charles Hawley, who was born in Roch- ester, New York, on March 1, 1845, a son of Charles and Eliza (Darling) Hawley, natives of Genesee county, New York.
Charles Hawley, Sr., after his marriage in New York state, came to Michigan, about 1855, and located at the town of Liberty, Jackson county, where he lived for some time and then moved to Iowa, living there for about one year, after which he returned to Michigan, and lived for the remainder of his days in Ronald township, Ionia county, where he was engaged in general farming on one hundred and sixty acres of land. Charles Hawley, Sr., was a prominent citizen of his community, having served for many years as justice of the peace, as well as being a man who, together with his wife, was active in the work and worship of the Baptist church, at Palo, Ionia county. Charles and Eliza Hawley were the parents of nine children, seven of whom survive, Charlotte, Susan, Lida, Marion, Charles, Byron and Asa.
Charles Hawley, the subject of this sketch, received his limited educa- tion in the common schools of Ionia county, Michigan, after which he
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES HAWLEY.
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became a farmer, working on the home farm until thirty-one years of age when Mr. Hawley, having married, moved to Bushville township, Montcalm county, and purchased a farm of eighty acres, located south of the town of Sheridan, a place which he has improved until it is one of the best farms of the county, and on which he now is engaged in general farming and in the raising of Durham cattle and fine horses. The well-improved, modernly equipped and conveniently arranged farm of Mr. Hawley is known as "Maple Ridge Stock Farm."
On July 4, 1872, Charles Hawley was married to Mahala Manier, of Ionia county. In the home of Charles and Mahala Hawley is one adopted daughter, Mabel.
In politics, Mr. Hawley is a Republican, and although he has not aspired to public office, he has filled his place well and is known as a man who acts intelligently in political matters and as a citizen who is ready at all times to do his part in the promotion of the good citizenship.
REV. NORMAN L. OTIS.
One of the best-known ministers of Montcalm county is Rev. Norman L. Otis, a native of Newfane township, Niagara county, New York, where he was born on April 12, 1834. His father, Chester Otis, who was born in Canada, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and his mother, who was Phoebe Wright before her marriage, was born in Vermont.
When Norman I .. Otis was five years old his parents moved to Mich- igan and located in Washtenaw county, in Sharon township. Later they settled near Albion, where Norman Otis grew to manhood. Norman L. Otis gained his preliminary education in the public schools of Washtenaw county, and thereafter completed a course in Albion College. A youth of deep spirituality and true earnestness, he early decided to prepare himself for the duties of the ministry and at the age of twenty-one preached his first sermon in the Methodist church in the Hastings circuit. His ministrations in this community were broken suddenly by the outbreak of the Civil War, and the subject of this sketch joined the army in 1862. His wife at this time became seriously ill and Mr. Otis was given permission to remain at home for a short while, during which time his wife passed away. After the death of his wife Mr. Otis returned to his duties in the army and was com- :missioned chaplain of the Eighth Michigan Cavalry with which he remained
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until the close of the war. After the war Mr. Otis was imable to resume his charge as pastor and spent several years in regaining his health. In 1870 he assumed a position in the Congregational church which led him to Mich- igan where he had charge of the pastorate of the churches at Hubbardston and Carson City. After four years spent in this community he went to Ithica where he remained four years. He then went to Crystal where he organized a church and where he preached for ten years with the greatest success and popularity. After Mr. Otis moved to the farm where he now resides, in the southwestern part of Bloomer township, he took charge of the church at Butternut for four years. Since passing his eightieth birth- day he has resigned from active work, but is still able to attend services and assist at formal meetings. Mr. Otis never has sought public offices, but owing to his popularity was chosen justice of the peace, an office he has held for twenty-four years with the highest praise of the people of the community in which he resides.
At the age of twenty-two years, Norman 1 .. Otis married Elizabeth Morgan, who was born and reared near Aberdeenshire, Scotland. and who came to America with her parents, who settled near Akron, Ohio. Later the family moved to Barry county, Michigan, when that section of the state was a wilderness. Three sous were born to the union of the Reverend and Mrs. Otis, as follow: Frederick Bliss, who died at the age of twenty-six while attending the Yale Divinity School; Clark, who resides in Frankfort, Michigan, where he has a large fruit farm and is a well known horticulturist, and a son who died in infancy. Clark Otis has a family of four children, Florence, Harry, Walter and Arthur. Mrs. Elizabeth Otis died in 1862.
The Rev. Norman Otis was married, secondly, in 1864, in Allegan, to Ann Merrill Copp. the daughter of Dr. J. M. Copp, a physician who moved to Allegan county, Michigan. from western New York. One daughter was born to the subject of this sketch by his second marriage, L. Grace, who attended college and took her Bachelor of Arts degree, and became the wife of Joseph L. Harter, who took the degree of Master of Laws at Ann Arbor. and who is now trustee, secretary and treasurer of Olivet College, at Olivet. Michigan.
Rev. Norman L. Otis is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and for many years has been chaplain of the post at Carson City. He is known in this part of the state as a valuable contributor to magazines and newspapers of articles on church history and war items. For a number of years he acted as correspondent for a newspaper where his writings, owing to their pleasing style and accuracy of description, found welcome.
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J. FRANK ISHAM.
Among the settlers of Montcalm county who have seen the development of this section of the state is J. Frank Isham, who has been a resident of Bloomer township for almost fifty years. IIe was born on June 23, 1866, in Bloomer township, and is the son of Alfred R. and Mary (Carey ) Isham. Alfred Isham was a native of Portland, lonia county, Michigan, and was the son of A. D. Isham, who, with his wife, came to this part of the country in the early pioneer days. While their son, Alfred, was still a boy Mr. and Mrs. Isham returned to their native state of New York where they remained until 1855, when they returned to Montcalm county and settled in the north- western part of Bloomer township. The land upon which they settled was obtained by them through a government grant, a copy of which is still in the hands of the subject of this sketch. At the time of granting the claim the small sum of fifty cents an acre was paid by Mr. Isham in order to gain possession of the homestead. . All the privations of early pioneer life were endured by A. D. Isham and his wife. There were no roads save those which had been chopped by hand through the forests, and the most valuable beast of burden was the ox which drew the wagon of provisions to the nearest town. Mr. and Mrs. Isham remained on the homestead until their death.
Although Alfred R. Isham devoted much of his time to general farming he was also interested in many other lines of activity. In partnership with Charles Cross he built a cheese factory in 1890, and during the same year he erected a brick store in Butternut. He always took an active interest in things pertaining to civic welfare and did much for the community in which he lived. At the time of his death he was owner of two hundred and ten acres of land. For a time he served as supervisor of the township. His death occurred on January 23, 1911, and his wife passed away on July 22, 1909. Mrs. Isham was the daughter of Jackson Carey, one of the prominent settlers of Hastings, Michigan, where Mrs. Isham was born. She became the mother of two sons, one of whom is the subject of this sketch, and Will Isham, who resides in Fargo, North Dakota.
With the exception of four years which were spent in other occupations, J. Frank Isham has followed general farming throughout his life. During the years 1903-04 he acted as traveling salesman for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, and later served in the same capacity for the company in Lansing, Michigan. Mr. Isham also became interested in the store at Butter- mnt which was owned by his father and where he was employed for two
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years. The farm now managed by the subject of this sketch extends over two hundred and ten acres of land and is kept in an excellent state of culti- vation. Aside from the farm residence there is another smaller building on the grounds which is also used as a dwelling.
On May 7, 1893, the marriage of J. Frank Isham to Jennie Wellwood, a native of Evergreen township, Montcalm county, was solemnized. She is the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Wellwood, the former of whom was born in Chatham. Kent county, Canada, and later moved to Bushnell town- ship, in this county, where he follows the occupation of a farmer. He is also an extensive landowner in Bloomer township.
Mr. and Mrs. Isham are the parents of one son, Charles, who was born on September 4, 1909. In fraternal affairs Mr. Isham has always taken a prominent part and is at the present time a popular member of Carson City Lodge No. 306, Free and Accepted Masons.
CHESTER E. CHANDLER.
One of the most widely-known men of Montcalm county is Chester E. Chandler, who, owing to the large field covered by his activities as an auc- tioncer, has numbered among his acquaintances citizens from every part of the county. As a man of an engaging personality, force of conviction and powers of administration he has easily attained success in a line of work which has appealed to him since his boyhood. With a thorough knowledge of affairs pertaining to agriculture and a wealth of information on all branches of rural economy, he has filled a place in the industrial activities of the county in a manner deserving of the highest praise.
Chester E. Chandler is a native of Ashford, Cattaragus county, New York, where he was born on the 30th of September, 1864. He is the son of Archelaus and Ellen ( Frank) Chandler, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, of English parentage. Ellen Frank was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Quackenbush ) Frank, natives of Germany, and claimed Ashford, New York, as her birthplace. At the time of his marriage Mr. Chandler was captain of a boat on the Erie canal and made his home at Palmyra, New York. After his marriage he took up his residence at Ash- ford, where he followed the occupation of an auctioneer with much success and where he lived until his death, which occurred when the subject of this sketch was just two and one-half years old. After the death of her husband,
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whom she survived fifteen years, Mrs. Chandler married Robert Mackie, a native of New York, who was of Scotch ancestry. The family moved from Sugartown, New York, to Franklinville, where Mrs. Chandler passed away. The early education of Chester E. Chandler was received at the West- field Academy, in Chautauqua county, New York. Upon completing the course of study prescribed by the academy he returned to the farm in Frank- linville where he remained until he was seventeen years old. After his mar- riage, which took place in 1886. Mr. Chandler came to Montcalm where he purchased the farm which still remains his home. The land, which con- sisted at that time of eighty acres, was partly owned by his wife and Mr. Chandler gained full possession of the estate by buying out the other heirs. From time to time the subject of this sketch has bought land surrounding the original farm until he has gained a tract of one hundred and seventeen acres.
At an early age Chester E. Chandler acquired a love of oratory and public speaking, which was a family trait, and which found expression in many instances. The first opportunity given Mr. Chandler to serve as an auctioneer occurred when he was nineteen years old, during the time when he was employed in a general store at Linden Center in Chautauqua county. The manager expressed his intention of closing out the business and Mr. Chandler seized the opportunity of originating a week sale, with himself as auctioneer of the stock. The venture proved most successful and Mr. Chandler soon learned through his accomplishments in this line of work that he was possessed of more than ordinary talent. After he had followed the occupation of a farmer for some years in Montcalm county, he decided to take up auctioneering as a profession and began on the 8th of March, 1893. to sell stocks of general merchandise in Montcalm, Mecosta and Isabella counties. Since that time he has conducted over twenty-eight hundred sales of many varieties and in various localities. Although he has been inter- ested in a number of different kinds of sales, Mr. Chandler has made a specialty of farm and stock sales. His business, which extends over seven counties, often averages one hundred and seventy-five sales a year. Aside from his occupation as an auctioneer. Mr. Chandler has also been interested in the life insurance business and for the last three years has represented the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, which has an agency in this state extending over six counties. During his residence in this county, Mr. Chandler has taken an active and prominent part in the affairs of the Republican party.
On the 21st of February. 1886. Chester E. Chandler was united in mar-
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riage to Della Rich, the daughter of Addison and Harriet (Camp) Rich, a native of Sandusky, New York. Her parents came to Montcalm county in 1869 and settled on the farm now occupied by Mr. Chandler and his family. The original homestead was covered with timber and wild underbrush and the task of clearing the land and cultivating the soil was beset with many of the hardships of pioneer life in this state. Mr. Rich passed away in 1885 and his wife survived him until 1910.
To Mr. and Mrs. Chandler one son, Harry IT., has been born, who will complete the high school course in 1916. He was born on the 9th of December. 1896, and during his school years has made an unusual record for attendance and high deportment, never having been tardy during his entire attendance in school. His average standing in his studies for three and one-half years of school has been 9612, having taken his class honors at each term. He holds membership in the Congregational church. The sub- ject of this sketch holds membership in Carson City Lodge No. 306, Free and Accepted Masons, and for twenty-four years was a member of the Mac- cabees. Mr. Chandler was one of the first settlers in this part of the county and for miles around the vicinity of his home few citizens may be found who were here when the subject of this sketch came to Montcalm county for permanent residence.
MRS. MARY S. EITELBUSS.
Mrs. Mary S. Eitelbuss, the widow of George W. Eitelbuss, is the pro- prietor of the farm known as "Pioneer Place," consisting of two hundred and twenty-three acres of land lying four and one-half miles southeast of Fenwick, Michigan, on rural route No. I. She was born in Bushnell town- ship, October 20, 1863. the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Curtis) Allchin. Both of her parents were natives of the state of New York and came to Michigan where they located in Lenawee county and there they grew to maturity and were married. Then they moved to Bushmell town- ship, and entered, by homestead, one hundred acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin and became a well-to-do farmer. He was a soldier in the Civil War. He became the father of nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity : Burdett, deceased: Alice, wife of William Reimer; Delfred, deceased; Mary S .; Pearl, wife of William Edmonds, of Isabella county. Michigan; Elizabeth, wife of George Reeves; Vir C., a farmer and super-
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visor of Bushnell township; Vernie, wife of Robert Chapman, of Fenwick, Michigan: Octa N., wife of O. Gallonp, of Bushnell township.
Mary S. AAllchin was reared on the farm and educated in the district schools. She was married to George W. Eitelbuss on October 15, 1879. He was born in lonia county, just across the line from Palo, Michigan, March 23, 1858, and was a child when his father entered the land now known as "Pioneer Place."
Mrs. Mary S. Eitelbuss became the mother of three children, namely : Catherine, who graduated at the Palo high school and the State Normal, is now the wife of B. R. Snow and lives in Fenwick, Michigan; Ward A., of St. Johns, Michigan, is a carpenter; Lea M., is the wife of Abraham Hor- igan, and lives in Greenville, Michigan. Mrs. Eitelbuss is a member of the Grange, and the auxiliary to the Maccabees.
Mrs. Eitelbuss is a prominent woman, being well known in this part of the state. Mr. Eitelbuss died on June 12. 1903, and was buried in the Bushnell cemetery. He was a prominent worker and member of the Meth- odist church at Fenwick. He was instrumental in building this church and contributed of his means and time to secure its erection. In 1885 Mr. Eitel- buss moved from the farm and erected a hardware store in Fenwick and engaged in this business for nine years. after which he and his family returned to his farm. Ile remained on the farm until his death. He was popular among all who knew him and during his lifetime was an ardent Prohibitionist. .
HENRY RADER.
Henry Rader is one of the many men who have found ample oppor- tunity in America for the realization of laudable ambition, especially in the agricultural field. Ile was born on July 12, 1862, in Germany, as were also his brothers and sisters, by name: Conrad. John II., George, Catherine, Una and Lizzie. John II. served for four years in the German army and in 1915 was acting as recruiting officer in the great world war. Conrad and Catherine ( Hinkle ) Rader. parents of Henry Rader, were born and reared in Germany and remained in that country all their lives. Of their seven children only two immigrated to America, namely, George and Henry, George arriving in 1883. He at once engaged in the vocation of farmer and located in Amble, Michigan, where he has since remained.
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Henry Rader attended the German schools until he was fourteen years of age and was then confirmed by Rev. Clajbury, pastor of the German Lutheran church. After receiving his education and spending three years as a laboring man in his native country he sought his fortune in the United States, immigrating in 1880. Locating in Howard City, Michigan, he began his experience with an uncle and later engaged in the lumber woods, fol- lowing this line of endeavor for some time. In 1888 Henry Rader was married to Mary Garbow, also a native of Germany, and established a resi- (lence on forty acres of land located six miles south of Howard City, Mich- igan. This farm has been increased until it now consists of one hundred and thirty-two acres of well improved and well cultivated soil.
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