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 52
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The father of Samuel Closson was a plantation owner and slave holder in the South, and because of his aversion to the system of slavery Samuel left home when quite young and went to Virginia. There he worked as a farmer and was married. Later he emigrated to Michigan and located in Ferris township, Montcalm county. At that time the land was nearly all timbered, and under the pioneer conditions typical of that period Samuel Closson developed a farm and rearer a family in Ferris township.
Abner P. Closson was born in Ferris township, this county, in 1843, and early in life began to assist his father in the work of the farm. Later he spent considerable time in the lumber camps of Montcalm county when the timber business was the most important industry of that region.
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Abner P. Closson was married, in Ferris township, to Delilah Smith, who. was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1843. To this union were born six children, as follow: Mrs. Elmina Hall, deceased; Adraina, wife of Joseph Wagar, of Charlevoix county, this state; Mrs. Ella May Williams, deceased; Cornelius F., the subject of this sketch; Peter, a resident of Ferris township, this county, where he lives with his mother on the old home farm; Lillian, wife of Bert Benton, of Ferris township, this county.
In 1885 Abner P. Closson removed with his family from Montcalm county, trading his Montcalm county farm for one in Lake county. He later moved to Otsego county, this state, where he farmed for four years, and there he met his death in an accident in 1890. Mrs. Delilah Closson took the family to Gratiot county, where they spent two years at Alma, and in 1892 they removed to Ferris township.
Cornelius F. Closson received his education in the common schools and completed his school training in the Alma union school. He was reared as a farmer and on coming to manhood started to work for himself in the agricultural line. After his marriage he rented land for some time and then purchased eighty acres in Ferris township, which he partially cleared and improved and farmed there for six years. In May, 1911, Mr. Closson moved to Edmore, this county, and entered the real-estate business. For two years he worked alone, dealing in real estate, writing insurance and making loans. He then became general manager of the real-estate business of Ketchum & Morse and served in that capacity for one year, at the expiration of which period he bought out the interest of S. D. Ketchum and the name of the firm was changed to Closson & Morse, and in this business Mr. Closson is now actively engaged. This firm does a thriving business, as both members are well and favorably known through- out Montcalm county. By actual experience in the field Mr. Closson has acquired first-hand knowledge of every type of soil found in this section of Michigan and is a careful judge of land values. The company has established a reputation for fair dealing which merits their increasing patronage.
On April 9, 1899, Cornelius F. Closson was married to Ora Hunt, who was born in Ionia county, this state, a daughter of Charles and Maggie (Frazier) Hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Closson are the parents of five children, Hazel, Luella, Leola, Bernice and Wellington Frederick. The Closson family are members of the Disciples Christian church of Ferris township.
Cornelius F. Closson is an active Gleaner of the Ferris Center arbor,
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and is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Closson is a Repub- lican and in the spring of 1914 was elected as justice of the peace, in which position he is still serving. While he does not seek the "lime-light" Mr. Closson tries to do his part in advancing every measure that will tend to make Montcalm county a better place in which to live. He is a helpful neighbor, a devoted father, and has a host of friends in this county, all of whom hold him, in the highest esteem.
ALMERON N. KNAPP.
Almeron Nathan Knapp, the oldest living settler of Bloomer township, Montcalm county, is a figure of much force in the history of the county in which he lives. He has given of his best to the service of the state and holds precedence as one of the representatives of agricultural life in that com- munity. The subject of this sketch, who was born on January 24, 1840, in Harrisville, Medina county, Ohio, is the son of Charles W. and Alvira (Judson) Knapp. His father, who was a native of Chemung county, New York, having been born there on November 23, 1808, was a son of Zephaniah Knapp, and came to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, with his parents when he was six years old. Upon reaching the age of twenty-one years he moved to Medina county, Ohio, where he was married to Alvira Judson, also a native of the state of New York, and the daughter of Samuel Judson.
In 1851, the history of the Knapp family in the state of Michigan began, when Charles Knapp, the father of the subject of this sketch, moved to the section of the state three and one-half miles south of where Palo is located. He rented a tract of land, now known as the Hoople farm, where he remained until November, 1852, when he moved to Bloomer township, Montcalm county. An amusing transaction took place when Mr. Knapp acquired eighty acres of land in this township, by trading for it a horse and wagon and a double harness. When relating the story of the trade he said that in addition to the eighty acres he also received a cow and a double buggy, with the family cat as a token of good will. When Mr. Knapp first took up his residence on the farm the land was covered entirely with timber and underbrush. Wild animals, including wolves, ran at liberty and deer often served as food for the pioneers of that community. In 1884 Mr. Knapp traded his farm in order that he might move to Palo, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in August, 1891.
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Almeron N. Knapp gave his services to help save the Union during the Civil War, risking his health and making noble sacrifices. In the fall of 1861, after he had returned from a visit to the West, Mr. Knapp, who was at that time just twenty-one years of age, enlisted in Company I, Berden's First Regiment, United States Volunteer Sharpshooters. He followed the entire activities of the war, remaining in service until March 6, 1865. During that time he was part of the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Kapp was ill during most of the war period and still feels the effects of the strain upon his health after all the years since the war.
In August, 1866, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Phoebe Ann Swem, a native of Elkhart, Indiana, and the daughter of Asa Swem, a Methodist minister, who was also born near Elkhart. After his marriage Mr. Knapp moved to the farm opposite his father's place in Bushnell town- ship, Montcalm county, where he lived for a year. At the end of that time he took up his residence two and one-half miles south of Butternut, where he followed the occupation of general farming, until 1914, at which time he retired from active duties of the farm. At the present time he resides in Butternut. He relates that when the Knapp family came to this county, Indians were still living in remote sections of the township and the nearest white settlers were as far as two miles north from the Knapp home. The father of Almeron N. Knapp used the first "jumping shovel" plow, in this part of Michigan.
Mr. Knapp, the subject of this sketch, attended the first town meeting of Bloomer township, which was held at the home of Anderson Miner. Twenty-three voters were present and a knife box taken from the meager supply of kitchen utensils of the household was used as a ballot-box. At the age of fifteen years, Mr. Knapp joined the Methodist church and has been a member of that congregation ever since. His wife, who passed away in 1876, was also a member of the same church.
Mrs. Knapp became the mother of five children: Ama Ida May, the wife of Albert Fowler, of Bloomer township, who soon after their mar- riage moved to northern Iowa, where they rented a farm and in transaction of business he lost his property. While on this farm their son, Harry States, was born, the parents separating soon after his birth. Mrs. Fowler moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she still resides. Her son, Harry States, when he became of age went west to Alberta, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, where he now resides. The second child, Charles Asa Lorenzo, was born in Bloomer township at
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the home farm on the 16th of July, 1868, who married Minnie Carey, and to this union were born the following children: M. I., George, Floyd and Austin, who now reside on the old farm. The third child was Sarah Jane Elizabeth, who died at San Lake, Mason county, at the age of ten years, while living with her grandfather, Asa Swem. The fourth child was Minnie Maud, who later married Bruce Clement in the township of Bloomer, and is the mother of two children, Donald and Alma May, who now reside in Saginaw, Michigan. A fifth child was later born, who died in infancy.
In the fall of 1876 Mr. Knapp married Harriett Rosetta Mosier, a native of the state of New York, and the daughter of Oliver Mosier. Her parents moved to Muir, Michigan, when their daughter was a girl, and from Muir came to Evergreen township, in this county, where they became well known and where they spent the remainder of their lives. Harriett (Mosier) Knapp has become the mother of the following children: Willard Oren. who married Lucy Grimwood and who lives near Butternut; Oscar, who died at the age of eight months, and Iva B., the wife of Claire Reynolds, of Butternut. Mrs. Knapp is an earnest member of the Methodist church, where she is prominently affiliated with the aid society. Mr. Knapp holds member- ship in few organizations, but takes an active interest in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic at Carson City, with which body he has been connected since the formation of this branch of the society.
IRWIN M. COLLINS.
The late Irwin M. Collins was a Christian gentleman and a review of his life is justly entitled to a place in the pages of this history. He was the son of Charles E. and Adela (Bennett) Collins, and his birth occurred in their home in Lenawee county, Michigan, on May 17, 1871. Charles Collins was a native of Lenawee county, Michigan, and was born on May 24, 1855. His parents were Simeon and Phoebe A. (Soule) Collins. Simeon Collins was born on January 22, 1820, and was the son of Hiram Collins and wife, both natives of New York state. Simeon Collins was reared and educated in his native state of New York and his marriage to Phoebe Soule was solemnized there. She was born in 1827 and was the daughter of George B. and Ellen (Clement) Soule, who left their native state and settled in Steuben county, Indiana, where they farmed for many years, finally locating in Waterloo, Indiana, where they both died. Following his
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marriage, Simeon Collins removed to Lenawee county, Michigan, where he engaged in blacksmithing until his death on March 6, 1897, at the age of seventy-seven years. He and his wife were the parents of seven chil- dren, four of whom died in infancy. The three remaining children are Edward S., now residing in Cedar Lake, Michigan; George E., near Fen- wick, Michigan, and Charles E.
Charles E. Collins, father of the late Irwin M. Collins, was married in 1873 to Adela Bennett, daughter of Moses and Susanna (Soule) Bennett, and to their union were born the children whose names follow: Fred, now residing in Jackson county, Michigan; Irwin, deceased; Frederick, also in Jackson county, Michigan; Millis, also a resident of Jackson county, Mich- igan; Edward, Ira, Orval and Conn. Charles E. Collins came to Cedar Lake, Michigan, about 1880, engaging in both the lumber business, as a jobber, and in the agricultural line. He now lives in Jackson, Michigan.
Irwin M. Collins was reared in Home township, Montcalm county, Michigan, his home being in the town of Cedar Lake, where his preliminary education was received. He later became a student in the Ferris Institute, in Big Rapids, Michigan, where he took up special work for fitting himself as a teacher. For six years, following his work at the Ferris Institute, he was engaged in school teaching. He also attended the Michigan Agricul- tural College, in Lansing, Michigan, but did not graduate because of illness. He then returned to Cedar Lake and, with his wife, made a trip to Cali- fornia in search of health, later returning to Cedar Lake. A short time after his return he became principal of the Vestaburg public schools, Vesta- burg, Richland township, Montcalm county, Michigan. While on a southern trip, Irwin M. Collins and his wife made plans of the unique home, "The House That Jack Built," the original of which was built on a bluff of the Tennessee river near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The duplicate of this is a fine modern residence and the material used is mostly cobble-stone. There is nothing like it in the county and this community may well be proud of it. Irwin M. Collins was an active Republican and notary public until his death, which occurred on December 28, 1909.
On March 27, 1902, Irwin M. Collins was united in marriage to Mary Nelson, daughter of William S. Nelson, who was the founder of the town of Cedar Lake, Michigan, and a prominent lumberman of that town. He was born on July 6, 1837, in Palmyra, Lenawee county, Michigan, and is the son of Judge Francis Nelson, one of the pioneers of Gratiot county, Mich- igan, where he located as early as 1854, and of which county he held the office of judge of probate for twelve years. William S. Nelson enjoyed the
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advantages of a good common-school education, and also studied for several terms in the colleges at Hillsdale and Kalamazoo, Michigan. On October 28, 1860, he was married to Harriet McHenry, of St. Louis, Michigan. He purchased a large farm in Arcade, Gratiot county, Michigan, which he improved and on which he resided for sixteen years. This place was dis- posed of in 1876, and he then removed to Cedar Lake, Michigan, where a business partnership was formed with James T. Hall, under the firm name of Nelson & Hall. This firm built a saw-mill on the banks of Cedar Lake, Michigan, and engaged in lumbering on an extended scale. Later Mr. Hall sold his interest to Mr. Bates, of Oswego, New York, and the firm was afterward known as Bates & Nelson. Their mill was burned in the spring of 1878, and the firm was then dissolved, since which time William S. Nelson has conducted the business alone. In connection with the lumbering busi- ness he manages a general store, his various enterprises giving employment to a considerable number of men. William S. Nelson is the eldest of three brothers, the others being Hon. Wilbur Nelson, a prominent merchant of Ithaca, Michigan, and Rev. Theodore Nelson, of East Saginaw, Michigan.
JAMES CORDER.
James Corder was born on May 2, 1881, in Richland township, Mont- calm county, Michigan, and is the son of Benjamin and Sarah ( Painter) Corder. Benjamin F. Corder was born on February 12, 1850, in Ohio, and was the son of Elias and Helen ( Howell) Corder. Elias Corder was a native of Virginia, and his wife was born in Ohio. Benjamin F. Corder remained in his native state until he was seventeen years of age and then removed to Montcalm county, Michigan, with his father and stepmother. When Benjamin Corder first came to Michigan he assisted his father with the work on the home farm of forty acres, in Ferris township, which place he helped to clear and cultivate. He then moved to Richland township where he settled on his present place.
James Corder was reared as a farmer and completed his education in the high school at Vestaburg, Montcalm county, Michigan, remaining on the home place until his marriage. On February 9, 1909, he was married to Cora Taylor, daughter of Frank and Vida (Ferguson) Taylor, and they became the parents of two children: Benjamin, born on December 13. IOTO, and Beatrice. born on January 5, 1912. The mother of these children
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was born in Breckenridge, Gratiot county. After marriage, James Corder engaged in the cultivation of forty acres of land in Richland township for two years, finally selling it and locating in the town of Vestaburg, Michigan. In April, 1912. he was appointed as highway commissioner. He also served as director of the Block school in this township for one year. Politically, James Corder is an active Republican and serves his party at every oppor- tunity.
CICERO W. HARTT.
Cicero W. Hartt, the owner and proprietor of "Hartt's Resort," Pierson township, Montcalm county, as well as the owner of one hundred and twenty-one acres of land, in section 20, of Pierson township, is the son of Samuel and Eliza J. (Gilchrist) Hartt, and was born in Oxford, Ontario, Canada, on December 19, 1857.
Samuel Hartt was born in Canada and was the son of Jonathan and .Jemima ( Phillips) Hartt, who brought their family into the wild country of Canada from New England. Jonathan Hartt was a native of New Hampshire while his wife was a native of the northern part of Pennsylvania. Jonathan was the son of John Hartt, who was a member of the Continental Congress and was one of five brothers, two of whom remained loyal to the cause of England during the Revolution, the three remaining brothers being stanch supporters of the Colonists. The name was originally "Hart," but the three brothers who remained loyal to the union of the states changed the name to "Hartt."
Jonathan Hartt in time moved to New Brunswick, where he was. engaged in lumbering and later moved to New York and finally settled with his family thirteen miles from Hamilton, Canada, where he died. Samuel Hartt was twelve years of age when his father died and two years later his mother died. After the death of his parents he learned the trade of a mill- wright which he followed for some years. In 1869 he moved to Lowell. Michigan, where he remained until the next year when he moved to Grand Haven, where he lived for one year and then went to Sand Lake, where he worked at the lumber business until 1880.
On September 3, 1854, Samuel Hartt was united in marriage to Eliza J. Gilchrist, the daughter of John and Margaret Gilchrist, who came from New Brunswick and were of English origin. Samuel Hartt, after moving to Newaygo county, took a contract of lumbering, as well as the manufac-
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turing of lumber and the erection of a large saw-mill. He was there until 1896 when he came to live with his son, Cicero. He died on September 21, 1908, the wife and mother having died on April 9, 1890.
Samuel Hartt and wife were the parents of the following children : Emily, the wife of H. L. Carter, of Traverse City; Cicero W., Ella Jane, the wife of L. B. Brandish, of Grand Rapids; Sylvia, the wife of Frank E. Shatluck, of Sand Lake, and Charley, who died in infancy. Mr. Hartt was a member of King Hiram Lodge No. 33, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ingersoll, Canada, later transferring his membership to Big Rapids, Michigan.
Cicero W. Hartt lived at home with his parents till he was thirty years of age, being engaged with his father in mill work and as a partner in other enterprises. At the age of thirty he went to Newaygo county, where he engaged in the manufacturing business for eight years. While there he was married, on February 11, 1891, to Maude M. Barbour, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Barbour.
Frank W. Barbour was the son of Theron W. and Abigail (Gates) Barbour, the former of whom was a native of Rutland and the latter of Shoreham, Vermont. Frank W. was born at Pontiac, Michigan, on Novem- ber 20, 1840, and died on July 31, 1914. He received his education in the district schools, after which he studied dentistry and removed to Mt. Clem- ens. For fourteen years he was the general foreman of the Detroit and Lansing plank road, and for eight years foreman of the Detroit and Saline road, after which he moved to Newaygo county, where he purchased two hundred acres of land, which he improved and developed.
On August 29, 1863, Frank W. Barbour was united in marriage to Harriett D., the daughter of George and Hannah M. (Sowles) Matthews. Her father was a native of Connecticut, having been born in 1799 and died in 1871. Her mother was born on January 8, 1811, and died on June 17, 1881. Mrs. Barbour was a native of Michigan, having been born in Ingram county on December II, 1846. They were the parents of the following children: Arthur, who died on December 24, 1865; Maude, born on March 30, 1867; Frankie R., October 12, 1869; Nellie J., Decem- ber 28, 1871; Albert W., June 7, 1875; Robert F., February 17, 1879, now deceased; Stephen S., December 15. 1881 ; Theron W. and Abigail. Mrs. Harriet Barbour died on April 7, 1913.
Cicero W. Hartt, on coming to Montcalm county, purchased fifty-six acres of land and later added to this sixty-six acres. He was among the first to see the advantage to be gained by the establishment of a first-class
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summer resort at his Michigan home. The result of his forethought was the development of "Hartt's Resort," which has become a very popular place.
Cicero Hartt and wife are the parents of the following children : J. Samuel, born on December 16, 1893, a graduate of the local high school and of the electrical engineering department of the Michigan Agricultural College and at present is with the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light and Power plant, and Sylvia Mona, born on September 6, 1902, at home with her parents.
Mr. Hartt is an active member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is also an active Republican and served two terms as treasurer of Monroe township, Newaygo county, Michigan.
JACOB McCREA.
The late Jacob McCrea, who was a successful farmer, a pioneer and prosperous business man and a citizen of prominence in the affairs of McBride, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born at Plymouth, Ohio, on April 4, 1847, the son of Isaac and Mary Ann (Church) McCrea, pioneer farmers of Barry county, Michigan, the former, after the death of his wife, having lived at Petoskey for some time, and then came to McBride, Mont- calm county, where he died in 1885.
Jacob McCrea was educated in the schools of Barry county, Michigan, and lived in that community until 1871, when, being twenty-four years of age, he came to Montcalm county, and became a worker in the lumber camps of Day township, at a time when the country was thinly settled and when there were few signs of civilization. In 1874, having been married, Jacob McCrea went to the town of Westville, Montcalm county, and there started a general merchandise store, a place which he conducted for some time and then sold, Jacob McCrea then engaging in farming for about one year, after which he returned to the mercantile business and continued as a merchant of Westville, until 1879, when he moved to the newly settled town of McBride. At McBride, Montcalm county, Jacob McCrea opened a har- ness and shoe store and conducted an undertaking establishment for a short time and then added a hotel to his interests, he being prosperously engaged in the conduct of his business when a disastrous fire swept over the town
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and destroyed the whole of his property, with the exception of his home. After the fire, Mr. McCrea again established himself in business, carrying a large stock of general merchandise and following his business as an under- taker, when, in 1879, a second fire swept the town and destroyed the greater part of the property of Jacob McCrea. Later, Mr. McCrea again started in his business, opening a first-class store in the newly-erected Neff block and conducted his undertaking place on the site where the McBride postoffice now stands. At these places Jacob McCrea was successfully engaged in the pursuit of his business interests for the remainder of his active life.
In addition to his career as a business man, Jacob McCrea, for seven years, was engaged in general agricultural pursuits on his valuable farm of two hundred and four acres of land located about one-half mile south of the town of McBride.
On October 22, 1874, Jacob McCrea was married to Ellen Bibler, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, on July 26, 1857, a daughter of Jolin and Leah ( Vanness) Bibler, natives of Ohio. To the marriage of Jacob and Ellen McCrea were born two children, Claude C. and Clyde Parker.
Claude C. McCrea was born on May 10, 1881, at McBride, where he received his early education and where he received his business education in the concerns of his father. After having completed the courses of study in the McBride public schools and having studied, with his father, for the pro- fession as an undertaker, Claude C. McCrea went to the city of Detroit, and there completed in three weeks, the six-months course of study for a state license as an embalmer. Since the completion of his special education, Claude C. McCrea has conducted the undertaking establishment started by his father and in addition to this work has acted as manager of other McBride interests.
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