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 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
EDWIN R. BANTON.
Edwin R. Banton, one of the pioneers of Montcalm county, a well- known resident of the northern part of Bloomer township, this county, is a native of Maine, having been born in Bangor, that state, on June 2, 1836, son of Joseph B. and Sophronia ( Raulet ) Banton, the former of whom was born in Manchester, England, and the latter in Maine. Joseph B. Banton was a sca-faring man, captain of a vessel on the Atlantic in the earlier years of his manhood, who later retired to shore and became a Maine farmer. He was a highly educated man and gave his son, Edwin R., every assistance in acquiring a liberal education.
In the fall of 1857. he then having reached his majority, Edwin R. Banton came to Michigan. seeking fortune amid the conditions that even then gave large promise in this section of the state. He located at Ionia, where, on March 1, 1864, he married Samantha Holcomb, who was born in New York, but who had come to Michigan with her parents in her girlhood and had been reared at Ionia. In the November following Mr. Banton and his bride came to this county and entered a tract of land in the midst of the forest at the north edge of Bloomer township and there proceeded to make their home in the wilderness. Their first home was a log cabin, eleven by twelve feet in dimensions, in which they lived for twelve years before they supplanted it by a more pretentious residence, and there, with the exception
395
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of a few years following 1900, in which he was engaged in the music busi- ness at Flint, this state, Mr. Banton has made his home ever since.
To Edwin R. and Samantha ( Holcomb ) Banton two children were born, George R., the well-known elevator man, of Butternut, this county, a bio- graphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and Ella, a former well-known school teacher of this county, who married George A. Smith, a traveling salesman and auctioneer, and has one child, a daughter, Nila B., who was graduated from the University of Michigan and is now a teacher in the city schools of Calumet. this state. Following the death of the mother of these children, Mr. Banton married. secondly, Mrs. Loretta ( Yaw) Searle, daughter of Calvin and Nancy ( Packard) Yaw, and widow of Wallace Searle, a former well-known farmer of Bushnell township, this county, who died in March, 1894. Mr. Searle was born in Batavia, New York, and came to this county when he was twenty-one years of age, the remainder of his life having been spent here. Mrs. Banton was born in the city of Chagrin Falls, in Geauga county. Ohio, her father having been a native of Wales and her mother of New York state. They moved to Mich- igan when she was ten years of age and settled in Sidney township, this county, where they bought a farm and established their permanent home.
HERMAN W. SMITH.
Herman W. Smith, postmaster at Entrican and a well-known and pro- gressive merchant of that thriving village, is a native son of Montcalm county, having been born on a farm in Douglass township, April 11, 1875, son of Byron and Colista (Lee) Smith, the former of whom died in 1899 and the latter of whom is still living in Douglass township.
Byron Smith was born at Smithport, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1855, son of Silas I .. and Mary (Vaughn) Smith, who emigrated from Pennsyl- vania to Michigan in 1861 and settled on a tract of land in Douglass town- ship, this county, where the village of Entrican now stands and in that neighborhood spent the remainder of their lives. Silas L. Smith was an expert woodsman and was for years active in the work of clearing the forests hereabout. Upon settling in Douglass township he took a small farm of forty acres, which he later sold and bought a farm of eighty acres in Cato township, where his last days were spent, meeting a tragic death in 1887, when he was fatally gored by an angry bull. He was active in local affairs
396
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and had served his township in the capacity of treasurer and supervisor, to which offices he was elected on the Democratic ticket. He and his wife were the parents of three children, their only son, Byron, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, having had two sisters, Mrs. Phoebe Luther, now living in Nebraska, and Mrs. Nettie Luther, now living in Oregon.
Byron Smith was about six years of age when his parents moved to this county and he grew to manhood on the paternal farm and followed farm- ing all through his life. On March 31, 1874, he married Colista Lee. who was born in Canada. July 24, 1856, daughter of Peter and Rebecca ( Shaver) Lee, who drove through with their family in a covered wagon to this county in 1865 and settled in Douglass township, about a mile and a half cast of Entrican. Peter Lee became a substantial farmer. the owner of a farm of more than two hundred acres, and was also active in local public affairs. having served his township as supervisor and as treasurer at different times, being elected to the same on the Republican ticket. He and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church and ever were active in good works. They were the parents of five children, of whom there are still liv- ing, Mrs. Sophrona Buckrell, of Muskegan, this state; the mother of the subject of this sketch, and Elgin, of Edmore; the second born, Mrs. Adaline Bennett and James being deceased, the former having died in 1908. l'eter Lee died in 1878 and his widow survived him many years, her death occurring at the home of her grandson, Herman W. Smith, at Entrican, in 1909.
To Byron and Colista ( Lee) Smith two children were born, their only son, Herman W., having a younger sister, Gertrude, born in 1884. who was graduated from the Michigan State Normal at Mt. Pleasant and was for years one of Montcalm county's well-known teachers. She mar- ried W. V. Horn, who is employed in her brother's store at Entrican, and has one child, a daughter, Cecelia. Byron Smith was for years one of the best-known farmers in Douglass township, his well-kept place, "Rose Lawn Farm." abont one and one-half miles west from Entrican, being long regarded as one of the model farms of the neighborhood. Mr. Smith was a Republican, taking a good citizen's part in local political affairs, but was never an aspirant for office, though he did serve the public very acceptably for a time as highway commissioner. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church and at the time of his death in 1899 he had been serv- ing for some years as one of the stewards of the church. In 1910 his widow married, secondly, Oscar Johnson, who was born in Kent county, this state, and is now living in Douglass township.
397
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Ilerman W. Smith was reared on the home farm in Douglass township, receiving his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home. Evincing unusual aptitude for his studies he was sent to the high school at lonia and upon completing the course there successfully passed the examination for teacher's license and for six years was engaged as a teacher, conducting in all, eighteen terms of school, in the meantime taking a course in the Normal School at Big Rapids and at Mt. Pleasant. During his service as a teacher he taught two years in Cato township, and the bal- ance of the time in Douglass township. In October. 1900, Mr. Smith began his business carcer by engaging in the general merchandise business at Bowne Center, in Kent county, and was there thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he bought the general store of Arthur J. Steere at Entrican, this county, an eight-thousand-dollar stock of goods, to which he added the five-thousand-dollar stock he had been carrying at Bowne Center, and has ever since been successfully engaged in business at Entrican, having built up quite a flourishing and profitable business, his trade covering a rich section for miles thereabout. In addition to his general merchandise business, Mr. Smith also acts as agent for the International line of agricultural imple- ments and farm machinery and has an extensive trade in that line. Mr. Smith is an enterprising, energetic and up-to-date merchant. looking closely after all lines of his business and occupies a high place in the estimation of commercial circles generally hereabout. He is a Republican and for years has given close attention to political affairs in this county, being accounted one of the leaders of the party in his part of the county. In 1913 he was appointed postmaster at Entrican and ever since has performed the duties of that office in a manner very acceptable to the people of that vicinity, the post- office being conducted in his store.
On August 29. 1896. Herman W. Smith was united in marriage to Grace Steere, who was born at Crystal, this county, daughter of Leonard and Sarah ( Jason) Steere, prominent pioneers of that neighborhood, a detailed history of which family is set out in the biographical sketch of Mrs. Smith's brother, Arthur J. Steere, a prominent merchant of McBride, presented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active mem- bers of the Methodist church at Entrican, Mr. Smith being one of the trustees of the church, and both take an interested part in the general social activities of the community, being held in high esteem by all thereabout. Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow, a member of the local lodge of the Macca- bees and of the Gleaners and takes a warm interest in the affairs of all these several organizations.
398
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ERNEST A. KEMP.
Ernest A. Kemp, prominent business man and citizen of Greenville, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on February 28, 1861, a son of Alfred and Mary (Jones) Kemp, the former born in England, in 1814, the latter born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, where she lived until moving to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where she was married.
Alfred Kemp came to America, with his parents, when he was a boy and lived in New York state, for a time, after which he moved to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he grew to manhood and where he lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. Alfred Kemp enlisted with the Seventh Regi- ment, Michigan Volunteer Cavalry and served for four years, at the battle of Gettysburg being seriously wounded. Following the close of the Civil War, Alfred Kemp returned to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, where he engaged in farming for the remainder of his active life. Alfred and Mary Kemp were the parents of eight children, of whom four survive, namely : William, of Clinton county ; Fred, of Pasadena, California; O. C., of Green- ville, Montcalm county, and Ernest A., the subject of this sketch.
Ernest A. Kemp was educated in the common schools and lived at home until he was nineteen years of age, in 1879 becoming an employee of his brother, O. C. Kemp, in the insurance business at Greenville, Michigan. Later, Ernest A. Kemp secured a half interest in the business and then some time afterward became the sole proprietor of the agency, he now, as a result of his able management, being at the head of one of the best known and most thriving agencies of the community, it being known now as E. A. Kemp & Son.
In September, 1887, Ernest A. Kemp was married to Sarah M. Hutchins, who was born in Greenville and after completing her education in the public schools became a school teacher, a profession which she fol- lowed for seven years, when she was married. Ernest A. and Sarah M. Kemp are the parents of two cihldren: L. Stanley, twenty-four years of age, who after completing his education in the Greenville public schools and at the University of Michigan, became associated with his father in the insurance business, and Lucile, twenty-one years of age, who was educated at the Greenville high school, now a student at the Detroit Conservatory of Music.
Ernest A. Kemp is not only prominent in the insurance business at
399
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Greenville, Montcalm county, but he is active in other business circles, now being a director of the Commercial State Savings Bank, as well as serv- ing on the directorate of the Moore Plow and Implement Company, and the Northland Lumber Company.
Mr. Kemp is a well-known member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias, in Greenville, and is active in all community matters. In politics he is a Republican.
SHERMAN LONG.
Sherman Long, prosperous farmer and man of influence in the affairs of Reynolds township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Huron county, Ohio, on April 11, 1867, the son of James and Harriet (McKelvey) Long, natives of Huron county, Ohio, they being of Irish descent.
James Long was a son of Andrew Long, who came from his home in Ireland to America and located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where after living for about five years, he moved to Ohio, and settled in Huron county, where Andrew Long made his home for the remainder of his days. Follow- ing his marriage to Harriet Mckelvey, a daughter of Robert McKelvey and wife, who came to Huron county, Ohio, from Ireland, at an early date, James Long, in 1878, came to Michigan, and located in Kalkaska county, where he bought a farm and one year later sold that place and came to Reynolds township, Montcalm county. Here James Long purchased one thousand acres of land, some of which he sold, retaining four hundred and forty-five acres, which he cultivated for the remainder of his active life, he also having conducted a mill for about twenty-five years. James and Har- riet Long were the parents of two children. Grant, of this county, and Sherman. James Long died in 1911 ; his wife, Harriet, died in 1893.
Sherman Long received his education in the common schools of his locality, after which he worked on the home farm for some years, and then he was given possession of four hundred and forty-five acres of land in sec- tions 11 and 12, of Reynolds township, on which Mr. Long now is success- fully engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
Sherman Long is one of the prominent citizens of Reynolds township, his activity for the development of the community and its resources, as well as his interest in modern agriculture and the advancement of the general con- ditions of the farmer in this locality, having given him a place of note among the valued citizens of Montcalm county. In politics, Mr. Long is an ardent
400
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Republican, and although he has not aspired to public office, preferring to serve as a private citizen, he has been active in the election of good officers and the promotion of good citizenship.
ANGUS H. McDONALD.
One of the public-spirited citizens and progressive business men of Six Lakes, Montcalm county, Michigan, is Angus H. McDonald, a native of the Dominion of Canada, born at Kingston, April 11, 1853, a son of William K. and Charlotte ( Wright) McDonald. Both parents were born in Canada, the father on November 3, 1821, at Prescott, near Kingston. He was a son of Andrew McDonald and wife, who came to the Dominion from Scotland, having been born and reared in Edinburgh. William K. McDonald was a dealer in cattle, horses and other live stock, and died on September 20, 1885. His wife, who was born in 1830, died January 16. 1869, when just forty years of age.
Angus H. McDonald was one of a family of six children, the eldest dying in infancy, and Angus is next in order of birth: Andrew lives at Cleveland; Malcolm still remains at Kingston, in Canada; Marinda lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Daniel is deceased, and Clara is Mrs. Redlen, living near the old home in Canada.
Mr. McDonald left Canada in 1870, and came to Greenville in 1872, where he remained for ten years. He then came to Six Lakes and has since that time been actively engaged in various business enterprises in this section. He was at first employed in lumber and shingle mills in Six Lakes and vicinity and later operated same. When the lumber business had seen its best days, he purchased an elevator and operated it for eleven or twelve years, selling out to J. W. Gaffield and Sons. Mr. McDonald has now practically retired from active business matters and gives considerable attention to his farm in Belvidere township. He lives on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres just outside the corporation of Six Lakes, and owned another farm of eighty acres elsewhere in the township which he recently sold. He is also agent for the Ford automobile in Belvidere. Home, Richland and one-half of Douglas townships and formerly had the agency for the whole of Genesee county. He is a hustler and places many of these machines during a season.
Mr. McDonald gives ardent support to the Republican party and has
ANGU'S H. MCDONALD.
401
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
served twelve years as township treasurer of Belvidere township in addition to other services rendered his party. He holds fraternal affiliation with the Free and Accepted Masons, being connected with the blue lodge at Six Lakes and the chapter at Stanton. He is also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows through the local lodge at Edmore, and takes a commendable interest in the work of these orders.
Angus H. McDonald was married on July 5, 1882, to Theresa J. Lake, born on July 13, 1857, in Gratiot county, this state, a daughter of Jolin and Nancy Lake. Mrs. McDonald passed from this life on March 19, 1914. Mr. McDonald has two adopted children : Andrew H., at home attending school, and Clara E., wife of Lieut. F. C. Hecox, a native of Greenville, Michigan, now of the Seventh Regiment, United States Army, located at El Paso, Texas, and they have two children, Robert A., and Floyd C., Jr. Mr. McDonald is very highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen, is pos- sessed of keen business foresight and integrity above reproach, conse- quently, he is entitled to the high regard in which he is held.
GEORGE F. COMDEN.
George Ff. Comden, supervisor of Douglass township, this county, and one of the best-known and most highly respected farmers of that section of the county, is a native of the British dominion across the line to the north, having been born in Canada on May 1, 1872, son of the Rev. Anthony J. and Sarah (Widdess) Comden, the former a native of England and the latter of Canada, for years prominent and influential residents of Douglass township, this county. The Rev. Anthony J. Comden, who died in 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years, was for years not only a substantial farmer of Douglass township, but was one of the best-known "local" preachers attached to the lonia district of the Michigan conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, long having been engaged as pastor of the Langston circuit of that district, a leader in all good works thereabout, whose death was widely mourned throughout the circuit in which he had labored so unselfishly and so usefully. His widow is now living at Stanton, this county, enjoying many evidences of the high esteem in which she is held by all who know her.
The Rev. Anthony J. Comden was English by birth and blood. having (26b)
402
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
been born within two miles of the town of Torquay, in Devonshire, Eng- land, November 12, 1841, son of Thomas and Jane (Tucker) Comden. who were the parents of five other children, Thomas S., Mary, Sarah, Maria and Eliza. In 1855 the lad, Anthony, being then about thirteen years of age, the Comdens emigrated from England to Canada, and settled on a farm on what is now known as the Durham and Northumberland tract. where Anthony grew to manhood, assisting in the development of the new farm. and where he remained until his twenty-fourth year. In 1866 he married Sarah Widdess, who was born at Cartwright. Canada, in October, 1845. and in 1868 came to Michigan, settling on a farm near Pontiac, in Oakland county, in October of that year, and there he remained until 1880, in which year he and his family came to this county and settled in Douglass town- ship, where they established a permanent home. Mr. Comden bought a quarter section of land here, which he proceeded to improve until at the time of his death, in 1898, he had a well-cultivated and model farm.
Intensely carnest in his nature. Mr. Comden early became interested in religion and by thoughtful and studious application fitted himself for the pulpit, sitting up late at night after the labors of the day in order that he might be properly equipped for conveying to others the message of the Gospel which rested heavily on his heart. He was ordained as a "local" preacher of the Methodist conference and for ten years served most accept- ably as pastor of the Langston circuit, being thus engaged in the dual voca- tion of farmer and minister of the Gospel. in both of which he was highly successful. The Rev. Anthony J. Compton also took an intense interest in educational matters and for years was influential in the work of elevating the standards of education in this county. He was treasurer of the school board for years and in many ways assisted in promoting the cause of the schools in Douglass township. He also was assessor of his district for nine years and in all his relations to the public service was as faithful and con- scientious as he was in his private relations with his fellowmen. He was a most earnest worker in the Sunday school and organized a number of such schools during his term of service in this community. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the affairs of which order he took a warm interest.
To the Rev. Anthony J. and Sarah ( Widdess) Comden ten children were born, as follow: Mary, who married J. Luther. and lives in Mecosta county, this state; Ella, who married Lacey Farwell and lives at Quincy. this state: Elizabeth, deceased: George F .. the immediate subject of this
403
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
biographical sketch; Samuel, a farmer of Douglass township, this county, who is highway commissioner for that township; Lily, wife of the Rev. William Mann, of North Muskegon, this state; Charles, who lives at Stan- ton, this county ; Emma, wife of E. O. Silver, of Douglass township; Fred, a Douglass township farmer, and one other who died in infancy.
George F. Comden was eight years of age when his parents moved from Oakland county to Montcalm county and he grew up on the home farm in Douglass township. He remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-three, after which he settled on a farm of forty acres in Donglass township, which he presently increased by purchase to one hundred and twenty acres. Later, however, he sold eighty acres of that tract and is now confining his farming operations to his well-kept place of forty acres. Mr. Comden is a Republican and has ever taken an active part in local political affairs. He was treasurer of the township for six terms and has served on the school board for more than sixteen years, still serving as a director, and in other ways has done his part well in doing what he could to advance the better interests of the community.
In 1895, at Greenville, this county, George F. Comden was united in marriage to Mamie V. Steele, who was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Overmeyer) Steele, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany. John Steele's father, Captain Steele, was a wealthy shipper at Philadelphia, for twenty-five years a sea captain, who had an interest in six vessels and warehouses and was for years harbor-master at Philadelphia. He was the father of ten children, of whom three are still living, William, of Philadelphia; George, of Grand Rapids, this state, and Walter, who lives in the state of Washington. To John Steele and wife three children were born, Joseph Conrad, who died in 1898; Charles Daniel, who is with the Waldron Lake Resort Company at Charlevoix. this state, and Mamie Virginia, who married Mr. Comden. John Steele died in Philadelphia. His widow died in 1899, at the age of sixty-one years. She was ten years of age when she came to this country from Germany with her parents and she grew to womanhood in Baltimore, Maryland, where she married John Steele.
To George F. and Mamie Virginia (Steele) Comden two children have been born, Roy Thompson, born on June 1, 1901, who died when eleven days old, and Carl, March 25, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Comden also have an adopted daughter, Dorothy Grace. They are devoted members of the Meth- odist church, Mr. Comden having become connected with that church when
404
MONTCALM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
thirteen years of age and his wife also at an early age, and are interested in all community good works, being held in high esteem throughout the neigh- borhood of their home. Mr. Comden is one of the stewards of the church and has been a trustee of the same ever since it was built. He is a member of the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Entrican and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that order.
ROBERT NEVE.
Of the fourteen children born to his parents, Robert Neve and his brother, James, are the only ones who survive. Thrown upon his own resources at a very early age, Robert Neve has overcome all obstacles and now holds an enviable place among the citizens of Montcalm county, Mich- igan. His efforts in acquiring an honorable competency have been well directed and guided by a Christian spirit. He was born on March 22, 1853, in Rotterdam, New York, and is the son of William and Mary ( Page) Neve, both natives of England, who married there and reared thirteen of their children in that country. They immigrated to America where the death of William Neve occurred in 1855. Robert Neve being nearly two years of age at the time. Following their arrival on American shores the family located in the state of New York but subsequently removed to Ionia county, Michigan, where the husband and father died. A farm was pur- chased, the first payment being made by William Neve, and the sons paid the balance due. The widow removed to Montcalm county, Michigan, in 1860 and took a homestead of forty acres which is now part of the Robert Neve farm, and she made a home for her son. Robert, until he was old enough to support himself, at which time he assumed the care of his mother until her death in 1894.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.