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 47
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Melvin C. Hubbard was reared in his native township and received his initial education in the district schools of that locality and in the schools of Waldron, Michigan, where he was a student for nearly three years. He then taught school for one year. in Hillsdale county, after which he became a student in the Fayette Normal School in Fayette, Ohio. He then taught
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schoot again, in his home town, for one year. Having determined to dedi- cate his future to the practice of medicine, he became a student in the Detroit Medical College, in Detroit, Michigan, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1906. After receiving his degree as Doctor of Medicine he engaged in the general practice of this profession in Vestaburg, Michigan, and has since opened a drug store for the benefit of the public. The stock of drugs was purchased of J. H. Owen but the building was especially erected by Doctor Hubbard, being opened to the public in July, 1915. In the fall of 1914 he was successful in passing the pharmaceutic examina- tions at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and received his state license. The Gratiot County Medical Association as well as the State Medical Associa- tion claim him as a member. He is also eligible to membership in the American Medical Association. He was formerly health officer for the town of Vestaburg, Michigan, and in many ways has been active for the improvement of the civic life of the community. Politically, he is an active Republican, although more or less independent in his voting, being firm in the belief that the best man should be elected.
On June 2, 1906, Dr. Melvin C. Hubbard was united in marriage to Edna L. Hannibal, daughter of Wallace and Orilla (House) Hannibal, and to them were born two children. Edna L. Hannibal was born on October 6, 1882, in Jefferson township, Hillsdale county, Michigan. Doctor and Mrs. Hubbard are members of the Church of Christ and are very active in the work.
BERT ALVIN ELDRIDGE.
Bert Alvin Eldridge, successful farmer, dairyman and stock raiser, and a man well known for his part in agricultural life of Crystal township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born where he now lives, in section 22, Crystal township, this county, on August 19, 1870, a son of James S. and Harriett (Higgins) Eldridge, natives of Kent county, England, where they spent their early life and where they were married.
James S. Eldridge, who was a son of Timothy and Fanny (Sellen) Eldridge, after his marriage, in 1858, came to America and located at De- troit, Michigan, from there he went to Newaygo county, afterward moving to Lake View, and from there, in 1864, came to Crystal township, Montcalm county. In Crystal township the elder Eldridge secured eighty acres of
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uncleared land in section 22, which he cleared and prepared for cultivation, adding such improvements as were necessary for pioneer life.
James S. Eldridge was a prominent citizen of his community in his day, his patriotism and his public spirit being matters of note, qualities which he demonstrated by his service as a soldier in Company G. Fifteenth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War, as well as by his efforts, as drain commissioner, to the building up and improvement of Mont- calm county, in the days of early settlement. In addition to his farm activity, the elder Eldridge for some years operated a saw-mill in his community. As a minister of the United Brethren, the Baptist and the Church of God churches, and as a devout temperance worker, James S. Eldridge served his community and according to his light gave of his time and effort for the development of the life and interest of Montcalm county. As a business man, James E. Eldridge was one of the organizers and a heavy stockholder of the Crystal Telephone Company. James S. Eldridge died in May, 1910, at the age of eighty-six years. James S. and Harriett Eldridge were the parents of five children: Eli A., William Elisha, Addie C., Bert A. and Nettie, who died in 1890.
Bert Alvin Eldridge was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of Crystal township, Montcalm county. After his school days Mr. Eldridge became a farmer, a vocation which he has since followed, on the old Eldridge farm, he now, in addition to the original eighty acres, having added land until he owns one hundred and sixty acres of well-tilled and highly improved land. Mr. Eldridge now engages in general farming, in dairying and in the raising of live stock, being one of the most successful men of this line of activity, in the county.
During the year 1892, Bert Alvin Eldridge was married to Cora Drum, who died on July 16, 1894. On December 31, 1899, Mr. Eldridge was married, secondly, to Clara Groom, who was born in Ionia county, Mich- igan, and to this marriage have been born seven children: Alden J., Leona May, Carl Theodore, Lyla Belle, Walter Henry, Florence and Donald G.
Mrs. Eldridge is a daughter of John H. and Emeline (Criel) Groom, natives of Shelby township, Orleans county, New York, the former born on May 8, 1842, a son of William and Rebecca (Moyer) Groom, natives of upper Canada, where they were married on October 7, 1834, after which they moved to New York state, then to Genesee county, Michigan, William Groom dying at Flushing, not long after the close of the Civil War.
John Groom, who was a blacksmith, followed his trade until August
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26, 1863, when he enlisted in Company L, Tenth Cavalry, a command with which he served, in the Civil War, until October, 1864, when he was dis- charged on account of physical disability. After the war, Mr. Groom, in the spring of 1865, moved from Fenton, Genesee county, Michigan, to Iona county, where he farmed until 1882, and then came to Crystal township, Montcalm county, where he bought forty acres of land and farmed until June, 1911, and then moved to Butternut, which place is now his home.
John Groom was married on August 17, 1862, to Emeline Croel, a daughter of Silas and Ruth (Saxon ) Croel, of New York state, who moved to Genesee county, Michigan, in 1855, and after ten years in that locality moved to Ionia county, where they spent their last days. To the marriage of John and Emeline Groom were born ten children, eight of whom sur- vive.
John Groom was a prominent member of the Grand Army of Republic, at Crystal, having served as commander and also as officer of the day; and Mrs. Groom was active in the affairs of the Woman's Relief Corps, having served as president of that organization for two years.
Bert Alvin Eldridge and his family are members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Eldridge is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is one of the highly respected citizens of this community.
WILLIAM H. PUGSLEY.
William H. Pugsley, prosperous farmer and well-known citizen of Ferris township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Devonshire, England, on April 9, 1850, a son of William and Sarah (Ayres) Pugsley, natives of Eng- land.
William Pugsley, Sr. came to America in 1854 and settled at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, near Cleveland, where he lived for ten years and then, in 1864. moved to the village of Sumner, Gratiot county, Michigan, there becoming one of the early settlers and following his trade as a tailor, although he was the owner of a farm in the community. The elder Pugsley lived at. Sumner, Gratiot county, until his death in 1882; his wife, Sarah, lived until 19II. William and Sarah Pugsley were the parents of two children, Wil- liam H. and Lena.
William H. Pugsley lived at home and was educated in the public schools of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Sumner, Michigan, after which he worked
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with his father and was employed variously in his locality until after his marriage, when he became an employee of a furniture dealer at St. Louis, Michigan. On account of failing health, Mr. Pugsley found it necessary to retire from his work at St. Louis, and he returned to Sumner, Gratiot county. and purchased the local hotel, which he conducted for two years. He then traded the hotel property for his present farm in section 36, Ferris township, Montcalm county, which he rented and then engaged in the operation of a mill near Wheeler, Michigan, for several years, during which time he also. lived as a farmer for one year.
Mr. Pugsley was engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business until 1891, when he moved to his farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Ferris town- ship, Montcalm county, and here he has since lived as a general farmer. Since coming to his farm, he has cleared considerable of the land, has erected a substantial brick residence, located on rising ground, has built other buildings, including a tenant house, and he has added land until now he has a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, which is known throughout the community as. one of the most desirable places of the county.
In 1877, William H. Pugsley was married to Albina Fowler, who was. born in Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin and Ann (Reader) Fowler, natives of England, who came to America and located at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, later moving to Sumner, Gratiot county, Michigan, where Mr. Fowler was a farmer until after the death of his wife in 1894, when he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Pugsley until his death in 1909. Benjamin Fowler, who was widely known as "Uncle Ben" Fowler, was one of the best known men of the community, not only among the farmers, but among the lumbermen, with whom he worked and dealt in the winter months.
To the marriage of William H. and Albina Pugsley have been born five children : Charles, of the state of Washington, who married Alta Flint, they being the parents of two children, Cecil and Joy; Arthur, who married Iva Dayton, they living on a farm near Sumner, Gratiot county; Ada, wife of Charles Jolly, a farmer of Ferris township, this county, they being the par- ents of one son, Forrest; Benjamin, living on the home place, who married Pearl Black, to this union there being born one daughter, Alice, and Leah, who lives with her parents.
William H. Pugsley, during the past few years, has devoted some time to travel, having made a journey to his native country, and while there visited the grave of his grandfather, John Pugsley, who was a soldier of the British army for twenty-one years, during which time he served under the Duke of
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Wellington, at the battle of Waterloo, receiving a medal in recognition of his services ; and Mr. Pugsley has also made a trip to the Pacific coast, his obser- vations in this region furnishing material for much entertainment as he reviews his travels and experiences.
LEMUEL J. TEED.
One of the prominent citizens and a man who has been active and suc- cessful as a farmer, business man, minister and office holder, of Crystal township, Montcalm county, Michigan, is Lemuel J. Teed, who was born in Wood county, Ohio, on October 27, 1853, a son of Rev. Joseph B. and Louisa J. (Stone) Teed, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Crawford county, the latter in Erie county.
When Lemuel J. Teed was six months of age, in 1854, the father, Joseph B. Teed, together with his family, moved to Gratiot county, Mich- igan, and settled in North Star township, the Teed family being the third to locate in that township. Here the Reverend Teed homsteaded a farm on which he lived until 1864, and then disposing of his original farm he bought another farm located about three miles further into the unsettled country. After three years on his second farm. Joseph B. Teed, in the spring of 1867. moved to New Haven township, Gratiot county, where he lived for the remainder of his days, dying in 1879, at the age of sixty-one years; his wife, Louisa, survived her husband until 1890.
Rev. Joseph B. Teed was married to Mary Jane Richardson, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Robert Richardson and wife. To the marriage of Joseph B. and Mary Jane Teed were born six children: Martha, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Olive, who is the wife of Nathaniel Carbaugh; Annie, deceased; James, of Gratiot county, and Anderson, who was born on October 2, 1851, was mar- ried to Mary Jane Calvin, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, who died on March 20, 1907, survived by her husband and two children. The two chil- dren of Anderson Teed are Perry, who is a railway man; and Bessie, the wife of David Minnis, of Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, they being the parents of three children, Paul Anderson, William and Mary Jane. Anderson Teed now lives with his brother, Lemuel T., of this sketch.
Joseph B. Teed was married, secondly, to Louisa J. Stone, and to this marriage were born seven children: Lemuel T., Seymour S., who lives
i
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on the old homestead in New Haven township, Gratiot county; Anna Jane, who died in 1876; George Henry, who lives at Boise City, Idaho; William, . who lives in the eastern part of Crystal township; Eliza, the wife of Elias Van Horne, who lives in the southeastern part of Crystal township, and Frederick, who lives at Butternut, Montcalm county.
Rev. Joseph B. Teed, for many years, was a pioneer minister of the United Brethren church, later becoming a minister of the Church of God, as a minister of these churches this good man having done much and served to a great purpose among the early settlers of this community.
Lemuel J. Teed lived with his father until sixteen years of age. Hav- ing completed his education in the common schools of Gratiot county, he worked in the lumber camps and on the rivers of his locality, until 1877, when he became a farmer on forty acres of land which he purchased in Crystal township. Montcalm county. After clearing his land of timber, on a lumber contract, Lemuel J. Teed disposed of his original land and invested in a farm located over the county line, in Gratiot county, Michigan. Two years later, Mr. Teed sold his land in Gratiot county, and in 1883 purchased his present farm in section 12, Crystal township, Montcalm county, clearing this land and adding improvements until now it is one of the most desirable places of the community.
During the year 1889 Lemuel J. Teed entered the ministry of the Church of God. For two years Rev. Lemuel J. Teed served as a minister to the lumbermen in the lumber camps of the woods of this locality, men whom Reverend Teed recalls as always kind and sympathetic in their deal- ings with him in his efforts to improve the moral atmosphere of their environ- ment. The Reverend Mr. Teed also served as a circuit rider in Clare and in Isabella counties, Michigan, serving the ministry, with the exception of eight years, up to the present time.
During the year 1896 Lemuel J. Teed was elected, as the candidate of the Republican party, to the office of supervisor of Crystal township, this good citizen serving with his charactistic efficiency in this capacity until 1901, when he was elected to the office as register of deeds, taking office at Stanton, in January, 1902, and serving four years. While in this office Mr. Teed became interested, financially, in a store, at Crystal, conducting this store for about four years after retiring from public office. Following his business career, Mr. Teed resumed his duties as a minister, later taking up his work as a farmer and then, in 1915, returning to public life, at that time being elected to the office of supervisor of Crystal township, this county.
Lemuel J. Teed was first married to Ella Blood, of Englishville, Kent
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county, Michigan, she dying at the time of the birth of the first child, who also failed to survive. Later, Mr. Teed was married to Hannah Ball, of Butler, Dekalb county, Indiana, she, too, dying after thirty-four years of married life, there being no children by this marriage. Thirdly, Lemuel J. Teed was married to Myrtle McCracken, a daughter of James McCracken and wife, of Crystal, Montcalm county. To the marriage of Lemuel J. and Myrtle Teed was born one son, Lemuel James, on March 23, 1913. Myrtle, the wife of Lemuel J. Teed, died on April 3, 1913, and on November 12, 1913, Mr. Teed was married, fourthly, to Azalia Dunkling, who was born in Lockport, New York. Her parents moved to Seville township, Gratiot county, Michigan. They were James and Susan (Jellings) Dunkling.
Lemuel J. Teed is one of the respected and honored men of this com- munity, his active and useful life having had no small part in the develop- ment of the township and county to its present advanced state of progress and interest.
JOHN PHILIP YOUNG, M. D.
The late Dr. John Philip Young, who for many years was a leading physician and honored citizen of Crystal, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 1842, a son of the Rev. John George and Lydia Ann (Artz) Young, natives of Pennsylvania, where the former, for many years was a circuit-rider minister of the German Luth- eran church.
John Philip Young received his early education in the common schools of his native county, and at the Jefferson Academy, Pennsylvania, where he prepared for the study of medicine. He later pursued the study of medicine at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Keokuk, at Keokuk. Iowa, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
When seventeen years of age, John Philip Young enlisted with a Penn- sylvania regiment for service in the Civil War, serving under General Thomas and participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Murfreesboro, also taking part in Sherman's march to the sea, as far as Atlanta, from which place he returned to Tennessee, with the army of General Thomas.
In 1870. Dr. John Philip Young came to Crystal, Montcalm county, and engaged in the practice of his profession until 1882, when he went to Cali-
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fornia, where he practiced medicine and surgery until 1898. At this time, Dr. Young returned to Crystal, where he lived until 1902, again going to California, where he lived for the remainder of his days, dying on March 14, 1904, as a result of hemorrhage.
On February 9, 1871, Dr. John Philip Young was married to Sarah A. Murtha, and to this marriage were born five children: Elton, Nellie and an infant son, who are deceased; Audley, a physician of Oakdale, Cali- fornia, and Ethel, a musician, who lives at Oakdale, California, with her mother.
Doctor Young not only was notably successful as a physician, but as an educator and teacher was well known, having for a number of years served as county superintendent of schools of Isabella county, in which he, at one time, was a school teacher. Doctor Young was an active and promi- nent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and served in the capacity of acting colonel commander of the Michigan Civil War veterans in their reunion in 1901.
As a physician and citizen, Doctor Young was one who was generally loved by all, his clean, moral life, his strong character, which was exemplified by his many kindly deeds, and his careful and strict attention to the duties of his profession having given him a permanent place among the worthy people who have lived and served in this community.
GEORGE A. BRAMAN.
George Arthur Braman is a native of Montcalm county, Michigan, having been born in the southwestern part of Crystal township on May 4, 1883. He is the son of George and Mary A. (Bancroft) Braman, pioneers in this section of the state and among its most highly respected and esteemed residents. The Bancrofts were among the earliest settlers in Montcalm county and a more extensive account of their labor here is given in the account of the life of George Braman which appears elsewhere in this volume. The subject of this sketch was reared to the discipline of farm life on the homestead farm belonging to his father. He was educated in the common schools and later attended Ferris Institute and upon returning home resumed his interest in farm life, with which he has been identified ever since. He is a man who has inherited his father's traits of thrift, progressiveness and perseverance and has developed to the highest degree his own attributes of strong character.
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The marriage of George A. Braman to Inez McConkey was solemnized on March 21, 1907. Mrs. Braman, who is a native of Abington, Illinois, is the daughter of Marchand J. and Anna Belle (Crosson) McConkey. Her father was born in Richland county, Ohio, near Mansfield, and is the son of R. H. McConkey. When M. J. McConkey was a young man he went to Illinois where he worked as a farmer until his marriage. After his mar- riage to Anna Belle Crossman, who was born and reared near Abington, he rented a place near Abington, which is located in Knox county, Illinois, and farmed independently. Later, probably in 1901. he moved with his family to Iowa where he remained until 1903, when he came to Moncalm county, Mich- igan, for permanent residence. At the present time he resides on a farm in the northeastern part of Evergreen township. Mrs. Braman lived with her parents until her marriage. She attended high school at Crystal and before her marriage taught school in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Braman have the following children : Marvin Arthur, Doris E., Beulah Leone and Lester W.
Mr. Braman takes an active interest in the industrial and social life of the community and occupies a place of high standing in Crystal township.
FRANK PLATT.
Frank Platt is a public spirited man with progressive ideas and sterling traits of character. He was born on October 26, 1862, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and is the son of Jeremiah and Caroline (Geiger) Platt, both natives of Pennsylvania, Ohio. Frank Platt is one of eleven children born to the union of his parents, five of whom are now living. He was but one year old when his parents located in Springport, Jackson county, Michigan, and con- sequently received his education in the schools of Jackson county. He was reared as a farmer but engaged as a stage driver for eight months in Wash- ington Territory, making daily trips of sixty miles. Following this experi- ence, he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land and continued to cultivate same for two years. He then rented eighty acres in Jackson county, Mich- igan, and operated this for two years, removing to his present place of one hundred and twenty-seven and one-half acres, on October 13, 1896. This property was then so wild that a horse could not be turned around in the under brush, but is now a well-improved farm known as "Rock Lake Farm."
On December 25, 1889, Frank Platt was united in marriage to Frances Torrant, daughter of Richard and Ann ( Palmer) Torrant, and five children
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were born of their union : Earl, Bernice, Elsie, Harry and Russell. Bernice teaches in the Cutler Savage school, in Home township, Montcalm county, Michigan. Elsie is a student in the normal school in Stanton, Michigan. The parents of these children are members of the Rock Lake Congregational chapel, and are active in its support.
In the civic and political life of the community, Frank Platt has taken active interest, serving in many offices of trust. For ten years he was school inspector and is treasurer of the school district at the present time, having served in this capacity for the past five years. He served as roadmaster of the road district and as highway commissioner while a resident of Jackson county, Michigan. He is a member of the Republican party and votes that ticket at all elections.
WILLIAM E. STRAIT.
One of the prominent farmers and stock raisers and a man who has taken an important place in the citizenship of Crystal township, Montcalm county, Michigan, is William E. Strait, who was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, on December 14, 1876, a son of John B. and Catherine (Johnson) Strait, a sketch of whose lives appear elsewhere in this volume.
William E. Strait was about two years of age when his parents returned to Montcalm county, Michigan, after nine years residence as farmers in Black Hawk county, Iowa. After one year in Ferris township, Montcalm county, they moved into the northern part of Crystal township, where William E. Strait now lives, and where his father lived on forty acres of land which he purchased and cleared of the timber. On this farm, John B. Strait and his family lived until December, 1903, when he and his wife moved to the town of Crystal.
After the completion of his education in the common schools of Crystal township, William E. Strait became a farmer, working on the home farm for some time after which he and his brother, Milo M., purchased twenty acres of partly cleared land in section 34, Ferris township. The two brothers worked together and prospered and added to their acreage, until they were the owners of two hundred and forty acres of well-improved land, which they cultivated as partners until 1911, when they divided their holdings, William E. Strait retained forty acres where he now lives and eighty acres of land located on the opposite side of the road. Since becoming an independent farmer Mr. Strait has added to his land until now he owns two hundred and seventy-three
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