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 39
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On February 24, 1879. at the age of twenty-six. Robert Neve was mar- ried to Fanny Eastwood, who was born on July 12, 1859, in Oakland county, Michigan, and they became the parents of three daughters and two sons, Grace, Blanch. Mary, William and Chester. Grace is a graduate of the Pierson high school and the wife of Fred Hartwell and they reside at Sand Lake; Blanch is also a graduate of the Pierson school and is the wife of Paul Shafley and they live at Lansing; Mary died, aged nineteen years; William died in infancy, and Chester, who died aged seven years. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Pierson, and
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active supporters of that denomination. At the time of his marriage, Robert Neve was the owner of forty acres of land which is now a part of the one hundred and twenty acres comprising his home place. This property is devoted to the breeding of Poland China hogs, the herd leader being "Big Bone Perfection," and Shorthorn cattle as well as Oxford sheep. "Star Duke" is the leader of the cattle, which herd was started in 1900. The breeding of hogs was begun in 1875 and succeeded so well that the breeding of cattle and sheep became a natural sequence. The stock farm is known as "Spring Water Stock Farm." and the forty acres which is devoted to general agriculture is known as "Sunny Nook Garden and Fruit Farm."
Robert Neve is a man that is well known throughout Montcalm county as an honorable, upright citizen and is well liked by all who know him. In his political views he is a stanch Republican and has served as highway com- missioner of Pierson township. His brother, James Neve, married Anstus Kinny and is a retired farmer living south of the town of Pierson.
E. A. KITTLE.
On rural route No. 1, out of Sidney, this county, one-half mile south of that pleasant village, is a snug little farm of sixty acres, where, in a comfortable and hospitable home live F. A. Kittle and wife, well-known and popular residents of that part of the county.
E. A. Kittle was born on a farm in Wood county, Ohio, on September 21, 1854, son of John and Martha ( Brisbin) Kittle, the former of whom was born in Holland and the latter in Ohio. John Kittle came to the United States in his early manhood and for a time lived in New York state, but later went to Ohio, where. in Wood county, he married Martha Brisbin and settled down on a small farm, where his three children were born, the sub- ject of this sketch having two sisters, Mary, wife of William Thomas, of Stanton, this county, and Alice, wife of Lawson Ackerman, of Wilson, New York. John Kittle died in 1856, his only son being at that time but two years of age, and his widow married again, to which second union three children were born, namely: Levi Hunsicker, of Stanton, this county; Rena, who married John Nillwood, of Evergreen township, this county, and C. J. Hunsicker, of McGuffey, Ohio. In 1866 the Hunsickers came to this county from Ohio, making the journey overland by "prairie schooner,"
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and settled at Stanton. E. A. Kittle at that time was twelve years of age and he continued his school work in the schools of Stanton. Two years later his mother was killed by a falling tree and thus, at the age of fourteen, he was left to "shift for himself." He secured work in a shingle factory. where he worked for a wage of one dollar and fifty cents a day for about a year, at the end of which time he returned to Wood county, Ohio, where he went to work on a farm and continued his schooling during the winter months. Presently he returned to this county and resumed his former employment in the shingle mill, becoming in time an expert shingle packer, and was there employed until he bought his present farm on the outskirts of Sidney, where he ever since has lived very comfortably and very con- tentedly, he and his good wife enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know theni.
On May 14, 1876. E. A. Kittle was mited in marriage to Eva J. Griffin, who was born in Warren county, New York, on December 1. 1853. daughter of Reuben and Mary J. Griffin, and who came to this county with her parents in 1860, she then being but six years of age. Her father enlisted for service in the Union army, in a Michigan regiment, in November, 1861, and was discharged in June, 1862, on a physician's certificate of disability. To Mr. and Mrs. Kittle but one child has been born, a daughter, Lulu M., born on October 2, 1878, who married C. J. Olin, of Douglass township. this county, and has four children, as follow : Reuben E., born on Septem- ber 30, 1899; Herbert, January 29, 1904; Eva, July 5. 1908, and Mary, in April, 1910. Mrs. Kittle is a member of the congregational church and takes an active interest in the various beneficences of the same, being looked upon as one of the leaders in the several woman's aid movements in con- nection with the congregation.
Mr. Kittle is a Republican and for years has taken an active and influential part in local politics. For two terms he served as treasurer of Sidney township and in other ways has given of his time and energies to the public service. He is a member of Star Lodge No. 250, Free and Accepted Masons, at Stanton, and Mrs. Kittle is a member of Chapter No. 47, Order of the Eastern Star, in which interesting woman's auxiliary to the Masonic order she for some time occupied the chair of Electa. She also is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and in both of these organiza- tions she takes a deep and active interest. Mr. and Mrs. Kittle are genial and hospitable in their relations with their neighbors and occupy a very high place in the estimation of the people of that community.
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JOHN FINNEGAN.
One of the best-known and most popular farmers in Evergreen town- ship, this county, is John Finnegan, who has been a resident of this county since 1866, in which year he came to Michigan and followed the timber woods until timber was pretty well exhausted in this section, after which he developed the farm which he had meanwhile bought and has resided there ever since, he and his good wife being among the most respected residents of that section. Their farm is a well-kept place on the state road in section 7. Evergreen township, rural route No. 5, out of Stanton.
John Finnegan was born in Willsborough, Essex county, New York, on February 28, 1837, son of Michael and Mary ( McCusker ) Finnegan, the former of whom was a native of Ireland and the latter of New York state, born of Irish parents.
Michael Finnegan was but a lad when his parents emigrated to this country and settled in New York state and it was there that he grew to manhood. There he married Mary McCusker, to which union fourteen children were born, of whom eight sons and one daughter are still living. Richard Finnegan, one of these sons, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, the other sons being Thomas, Charles, William, James, George. Henry and John, the subject of this sketch.
John Finnegan was reared on the home farm in New York, receiving an excellent education in the schools of his home neighborhood. On May 18. 1866. he married Catherine Chambers, who was born in Lawrence county, New York. in 1844, and he and his bride at once came to Michigan, where Mr. Finnegan went into the lumber business. He became an expert timber man and presently was raised to the position of lumber inspector, a position he held as long as he remained in that business, which was until the timber had been pretty well cut out in this region. In the meantime he had bought. the farm on which he is now living in Evergreen township, this county, and in 1880 he and his wife moved onto the same and straightway began to develop, it, until it gradually was brought to its present excellent state of cultivation, a highly improved and delightful place of residence.
Mr. Finnegan is a Democrat and takes a proper degree of interest in the political movements of the times. For two years he served his home town- ship in the capacity of supervisor, in which position he performed excellent service. ITe is regarded as one of the substantial men of his township and he and his wife are held in high esteem by their many friends thereabout.
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ROSWELL FLECK.
Roswell Fleck, farmer of Belvidere township, Montcalm county, Mich- igan, was born in Hillsdale county, this state, April 15. 1845, a son of John and Priscilla ( Swager ) Fleck. Mr. Fleck's father was probably born in Massachusetts (no exact record being obtainable), and was brought with his parents to Ohio, where they settled on a farm on the banks of the San- dusky river. There Mr. Fleck's father grew to manhood and was reared as a farmer. Both parents died in Ohio, and John moved to Hillsdale county, this state, where he located and married. He operated a grist-mill for many years in partnership with his brother. George. He was a life-long farmer, a man highly respected, who took an active part in the early develop- ment of Hillsdale county. Roswell Fleck is the youngest of a family of eight children, namely : George, Isabelle, Rose, Fletcher, Elizabeth. Leonard, Rachael and Roswell, and the latter is the only survivor. ITis mother died when he was very small and his father brought the children to Montcalm county, settling on a farm with his brother, George, about four miles east of Greenville, Fairplain township. There he married Mary Butterworth and to that union were born five children: Cyrus, of Mecosta county, this state; Frederick, of Sidney township, this county; John, deceased; Luella, now Mrs. Sharkey, of Richland township, and Charles, who died in infancy. John Fleck died in Sidney in 1874 at the age of sixty-eight years.
Roswell Fleck was sixteen years of age when he came to Fairplain township, Montcalm county, and in addition to being reared a farmer he also learned the carpenter's trade, following his two vocations together. IIe came to Six Lakes in 1875 and has accumulated considerable land in Bel- videre township. His farm of two hundred and eighty acres is located about one-half inile east of Six Lakes and he took up his residence thereon in 1895 and follows general farming and stock raising.
On August 3, 1862, Roswell Fleck enlisted for service in the Civil War at Greenville, this state, as a private in Company F, Twenty-first Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and ten months. He was given an honorable discharge on June 25, 1865, having served in the western campaign and been engaged in the important battles of Perrysville, Chickamauga, Bentonville, Stone's River, the siege of Savannah, and many other skirmishes. He became ill with typhoid after the battle of Stone's River and was confined to a hospital for five months.
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Roswell Fleck was married on December 17, 1865, to Helen C. Meil, born in the state of New York, September 20, 1847, a daughter of Charles Homer Meil and wife. ( A history of the Meil family is given in connec- tion with biography of L. M. Meil, probate judge at Stanton, presented elsewhere in this volume.) To Mr. and Mrs. Fleck were born three chil- dren, the eldest of whom, Percy, was married first to Amelia Newman and by her became the father of two children, Arlington and Mildred. After her death he married Maggie Erner, who has borne him four children, Lawrence. Catherine, Helen and Eleanor. Percy Fleck is a carpenter by trade and works in a factory at Greenville. Oscar and his wife, who was Edith Nevins, live at home with the father, assisting him in the work of the farm. They have four children, Harlan, Lucus, May Alice and Asa Guy. Inez, the youngest of the family, died on September 20, 1886. Mrs. Helen Fleck died on February 20, 1913.
On March 1, 1915, Mr. Fleck retired from the position of postmaster of Six Lakes, after having served for ten years. He is an active Republican and has served as clerk of Belvidere township for five terms and was formerly director and moderator of the school board. Mr. Fleck is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons through the local lodge at Six Lakes and is a faithful and devoted member of the First Congregational church of Six Lakes. Mr. Fleck is a man of many excellent qualities. He is public spirited, of unquestionable integrity and of a genial disposition which wins and holds friends.
JOSEPH B. STEERE.
One of the best-known young farmers in Montcalm county is Joseph B. Steere, proprietor of "Steere Farms," consisting of two hundred and thirty- six acres, situated on rural route No. 5. out of Stanton, in Evergreen town- ship, five miles east and three miles south of the county seat.
Joseph B. Steere was born on a farm in Crystal Lake township, this county, on December 12, 1876, son of William and Emma (Tone) Steere, the former of whom was born in Lenawee county, this state, and the latter near the village of Bergen, in Genesee county, New York. Both were teach- ers in the public schools of Michigan and it was through this mutual relation that they met, the acquaintance quickly growing into a warmer attachment, which shortly was followed by marriage. Emma Tone was educated in her
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home schools for the profession of teaching and came to Michigan to follow that vocation, being located in Ionia county, where William Steere also was teaching. Some time after their marriage, William Steere and his wife came to Montcalm county and bought a farm in Crystal Lake township, where they made a home and where they reared their family. They pros- pered and later added totheir possessions by the purchase of a farm in Ever- green township. Both are now living comfortably retired at Crystal, where they have a pleasant home and where they enjoy the respect and esteem of their many friends. Mr. Steere is a Republican and is looked upon as one of Montcalm county's most substantial citizens. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children were reared in that faith. These children, eight in number, are all living, as follow : Edith, living in Crystal, a dressmaker and school teacher, who formerly was employed in a large establishment in Detroit; Joseph B., the immediate sub- ject of this biographical sketch; Leonard, a well-known farmer in Evergreen township, this county; Ellen, formerly a teacher in the public schools of Montcalm county, now the wife of Peter Johnson ; Dr. Thomas, a veterinary surgeon at Belding, this county: Electa, a graduate of Albion College, who is a well-known teacher in the schools of this county; Ethel, also a teacher, who was graduated from the high school, after which she took a course in the county normal, and Wilfred, a farmer in Crystal Lake township.
Joseph B. Steere was reared on the paternal farm in Crystal Lake town- ship, receiving an excellent education in the neighborhood schools, and early devoted himself to farming. He married Lillian Scott, a graduate of the Sheridan high school, who was teaching in the public schools of the county, and they at once settled on the farm on which they are still living. To the sixty acres on which they began their farming operations, they have added. as prosperity has attended their efforts, until they are now the owners of two hundred and thirty-six acres of well-cultivated and productive land. Mr. Steere gives particular attention to the breeding of Holstein cattle and was the first man to introduce registered stock into his neighborhood. His excel- lent herd so lieaded by the locally noted "Carl Boss," and his Holsteins are in demand far and near. He also handles considerable high-grade stock of other kinds and is widely recognized as a progressive farmer.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Steere. William R., born on April 22, 1904, and Joseph B., Jr., December 20, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Steere are actively identified with the church work of their neighborhood and take a warm interest in the general social and cultural life of the community,
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being held in high esteem by their many friends in that part of the county. Mr. Stecre is a Republican and for years has taken an interested part in local politics. He has served the public as clerk and treasurer of the town- ship and also has repeatedly been called on to represent his locality as a dele- gate to the county and state conventions of his party. Ile is an excellent farmer, a public-spirited and energetic citizen and a good neighbor and is held in high regard by all who know him.
ROBERT EVANS.
Robert Evans, a well-known and prosperous merchant at Fishville, this county, was chairman of the board of supervisors of Montcalm county during the time the new court house at Stanton was being erected and not only in the performance of that signal service on behalf of the public, but in many other ways ever has rendered his full duty as a citizen and as a man in this community. Though he is a native of a foreign country, there is no more patriotic American anywhere than Robert Evans, and he is regarded as one of Montcalm's most substantial citizens, a man who in all the relations of life is doing well his part.
Robert Evans was born in Ireland on February 22, 1844, one of the nine children of Richard and Ellen ( McCarty) Evans. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Ellen Evans brought her family to America and settled in Livingston county, New York, where she died in 1875. Of her nine children, but four are now living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Ellen, widow of Timothy Cullinan; Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Cullinan, and Lizzie, a widow. Robert Evans was nineteen years of age when he came to America with his widowed mother and his brothers and sisters and for a time, during his early residence in Livingston county, New York, did whatever his hand found to do in order to help maintain the family. Following his marriage, in 1867, he came to Michigan and settled in Evergreen township, this county, and has lived here ever since, doing quite well. For some years he followed farming and still owns a fine farm of eighty-five acres in Evergreen township, but in 1884 he started his store at Fishville, and has ever since been actively engaged in merchandising. Not only has Robert Evans been diligent in his own business, but he has given much of his time and attention to public affairs and in that connection long ago carned the sincere approbation of the people of this county. For
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twenty-two years he served the people of his vicinage faithfully as super- visor of Evergreen township and was chairman of the board of supervisors at the time of the erection of the new Montcalm county court house, doing well his duty in that important capacity.
On September 10, 1867, in Livingston county, New York, Robert Evans was united in marriage to Mary Wall, who also was born in Ireland, and to this union three children were born, of whom only one is now living. Nellie, wife of W. G. Long, of lonia. this state. Mrs. Mary Evans died in 1875, and on April 22, 1879, Robert Evans married, secondly, Jennie E. Gallagher, also a native of Ireland, and to this latter union three children have been born, namely: Anna, who is the wife of Irving Greenhoy ; Rob- ert J., a traveling salesman, who lives at Mitchell, South Dakota, and Marian, who is a Sister of Charity. All of Mr. Evans's children have been graduated from some school and are doing well their respective parts in life. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are devout members of the Catholic church at Stanton and their children were reared in the faith of the mother church. The Evans family is held in high regard in the Fishville neighborhood and are active in all good works thereabout.
SAMUEL SUTTON.
The proprietor of "Plain View Farm." on the line between Evergreen and Day townships, two and one-half miles east of Stanton, in this county, on rural route No. 2, out of Stanton, is Samuel Sutton, who was born in Canada, on May 21, 1859, son of Peter and Anna ( Misener) Sutton, natives of that dominion. At the age of fourteen he was thrown upon his own resources and all he has in the world has been gained by his own industrious efforts. For some years during his young manhood he worked at various odd jobs, but with the love of the farm ever uppermost, and he presently came to this county and finally acquired his present well-tilled farm of seventy-three acres in the Stanton vicinity, on which he has lived ever since and where he has made a comfortable competence for himself and his wife.
On July 14, 1900, Samuel Sutton was united in marriage to Elizabeth Chapin, who was born in Evergreen township, this county, a member of one of the best-known families in that neighborhood, and this good couple
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are very pleasantly situated in their comfortable home and enjoy the esteem and respect of the whole community.
Mr. Sutton is a Democrat, but does not give much attention to politics, although an earnest advocate of the principles of good government, and is looked upon as one of the most substantial residents of that part of the county. Hle is a modest and unassuming man and an honored citizen of Montcalm county, who is held in high regard by all who know him.
FRANK A. TAYLOR.
Frank A. Taylor, who is well known as a farmer in Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Almont, Lapeer county, Michigan, on August 7, 1849. He is the son of J. R. and Adelia ( Makepiece ) Taylor, the former of whom was a native of Westfield, Massachusetts, and the son of James Taylor, of English descent.
J. R. Taylor lived in his native city until he reached the age of man- hood, when he went to North Carolina to teach school. He taught school during slavery times and spent two years in the South before coming to Michigan for permanent residence. He brought with him to this state his wife, whom he had married in Westfield. Upon arriving in Michigan he took a homestead claim on one hundred and sixty acres of land, located two miles west of Almont. The occupation of clearing the land was begun at once and he lived on the tract just long enough to convert it into a farm attractive enough to sell. After selling the land he moved to Almont village and started a tannery, a line of work which proved profitable and interesting. He remained at this occupation for a period of twelve years and then traded the tannery for a farm three miles from Lapeer, where he lived for ten years on a farm which consisted of ninety-six acres. He later sold this farm and moved to Winona, where for two years he was employed in a drug store. Mr. Taylor then came to Coral, Michigan, where for ten years he conducted a general store. He lived here until his death, which occurred in 1880, twenty-two years after his wife had passed away.
By his first wife J. R. Taylor became the father of the following chil- dren : Clara, now deceased. who became the wife of Amos Palmerlee, of Romeo, Michigan; Knight, also deceased: James, who is living in Greenville, Michigan: Frank A. and Charles, who died at the age of fifty-two years. His second wife, who survived him, and whose name before her marriage
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to Mr. Taylor was Mrs. Mary Strong. became the mother of a daughter. Lula, who married Rev. George Hunt, of Madison, Wisconsin.
Frank A. Taylor made his home with his father until the latter passed away. During his entire career as a farmer he worked in partnership with his father and at the time of the father's death took up the business which he continued for thirteen years. In 1893 he sold the place and bought eighty acres of land in section 5. of Maple Valley township, where he continued to reside. Since the time of his purchase he added eighty acres to the tract. which he later sold. Mr. Taylor is an expert in the line of general farming and enjoys a place of authority in the community in which he lives. On November 20, 1879, Frank A. Taylor was united in marriage to Carrie Allen.
In his political interests, the subject of this sketch gives firm support to the principles of the Republican party. He has always manifested a deep interest in educational affairs and for a number of years was a mem- ber of the township school board. He has also acted as moderator of his school district. The farm occupied by Mr. Taylor is known as "Maple Lawn Farm," which gives an idea of the attractiveness of its surroundings.
OSCAR W. WILSON.
One of the well-known farmers of Montcalm county, Michigan, is Oscar W. Wilson, who was born in 1854, in Eaton county, Michigan, and is the son of George and Lena (Fox) Wilson. George Wilson, who was born in England, came to this country at the age of eighteen years and set- tled in New York, where his marriage later took place. His wife, who was a native of Fort Plain, New York, accompanied her husband to Michigan in the carly forties, and located in Kalmo, Eaton county, where the subject of this sketch was born in a log house. The family lived in Eaton county over fifteen years and at the end of that time moved to Sheridan, in Mont- calm county, where the father had charge of a hotel business for four years. Later the family moved back to the original homestead and from there to Charlotte, Michigan, where Mr. and Mrs. Wilson passed the last days of their life.
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