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 59
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Clayton, George, Raymond and Hiram; Frank, born on December 29, 1871, married to Jennie Smith, and now living near Ionia, Ionia county, Michi- gan, with three children, Myrta, Ethel and Ila; Sidney J., who was born on November 12, 1878, and died on June 16, 1879; Earl J., born on April 4, 1883, married to Josie Swarthout, he now being a merchant of Graton Cen- ter, Michigan, and Eva May, born on November 20, 1886, she now being the wife of Benjamin J. Adams, of Ionia, Michigan, they being; the parents of three children, Ira, Lottie and Sidney.
Mrs. Hatchew is a daughter of James and Janet (Seely) Allen, the former born in Broome county, New York, on March 12, 1833; the latter at Portland, Whiteside county, Illinois, on June 30, 1836. They were the parents of five children : Philena, born on October 11, 1852; Eve L., Octo- ber II, 1854; M. Isabell, April 11, 1859; Nellie Janet, April 17, 1865, and Lawrence J., on May 17, 1868.
Philip J. Hatchew is a member of the Baptist church at Stanton, and takes an active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, with which he is affiliated. At one time Mr. Hatchew was a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, but is not now active in this organization. Mrs. Hatchew is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist church at Clifford Lake, and is an active member of the Ladies of the Maccabees, in which organization she has been a worker for fifteen years.
FRANK S. GIBSON.
Frank S. Gibson, one of the oldest and best-known merchants of Green- ville, this county, president of the Greenville State Bank and president of the Gibson Refrigerator Company of that same place, is a native of the state of New York, having been born in the town of East Aurora, not far from Buffalo, that state, December 20, 1857, son of Chisman and Elizabeth (Smith) Gibson, the former of whom was a native of England and the latter of the state of New York.
Chisman Gibson was born in Darlington, Durham county, England, in August 1824, and grew up to be a tailor. He married in his native land, and to that union three sons were born: Thomas C., now a merchant at Green- ville, Pennsylvania: Fred, who died in Florida in 1900, and William, who died at Denver, Colorado, in 1911. Following the death of his wife in England, Chisman Gibson, with his three sons, in company with his three
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brothers, came to America, sailing from Liverpool to New York City. Upon arriving in New York, Chisman Gibson worked for several years as a tailor and from that city moved to Buffalo, same state, where he married Elizabeth Smith, who was born in that city in 1831, and to this second union five chil- dren were born, namely: John, who died in Chicago in 1882; Charles H., who is engaged in the produce business at Greenville, this county; Frank S., the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Byron D., a merchant at East Aurora, New York, and Sarah E., who married E. M. Bartlett, and died in 1912. Following his second marriage, Chisman Gibson moved to East Aurora, New York, where he opened a clothing store and tailoring establishment and there he spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the best-known merchants in that city. His wife died in 1868 and he survived her many years, his death occurring in 1890.
Frank S. Gibson was reared at East Aurora, receiving his education there and was granted a regent's certificate from the East Aurora Academy. In September, 1876, he then being about nineteen years of age, he came to Michigan, locating at Hancock, where his uncle, John Gibson, was engaged in business, and for three years was employed in his uncle's store. In the fall of 1879 he returned to Buffalo and East Aurora, but in the next February, 1880, came back to Michigan, locating at Greenville, this county, where he ever since has made his home and where he has been very successful in busi- ness. Upon locating at Greenville, Mr. Gibson opened a clothing store, merchant tailoring and men's furnishings, and has ever since been actively connected with the Gibson Clothing Company at that place. In addition to his extensive mercantile interests, Mr. Gibson has taken a prominent part in the development of other interests and industries in and about Greenville and long has been regarded as a public-spirited and energetic citizen. In Novem- ber. 1908, he organized the Gibson Refrigerator Company at Greenville, was elected the first president of that thriving concern and has served in that capacity ever since. He was one of the founders of the Greenville State Bank, having been one of the original directors of that sound old financial institution, for a good many years was vice-president of the same and since November. 1914. has been president of the bank, in which connection he occupies a high place in banking circles in this part of the state. Mr. Gibson is a Republican and for years has taken an active interest in local political affairs, though not being included among the office seekers. He has ever taken a warm interest in educational matters and for twelve or fifteen years has served very usefully as a member of the Greenville school board.
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On October 30, 1889, Frank S. Gibson was united in marriage to Ger- trude Johnson, daughter of Charles W. and Justine Elizabeth (Tabor) John- son, and to this union three children have been born: Charles J., who is secretary of the Gibson Refrigerator Company; Justine E., who was grad- uated from the Greenville high school and is now a student at the Martha Washington Seminary at Washington, D. C., and Frank S., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson and members of the Congregational church at Greenville and take an active interest in all local social and cultural activities, being held in high esteem thereabout. Mr. Gibson is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the blue lodge at Greenville and of the consistory of the Scottish Rite at Grand Rapids and of Saladin Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at the same place. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen of America at Greenville, and in the affairs of all these several organizations takes a warm interest.
SAMUEL D. PECK.
Samuel D. Peck, a well-known farmer, specializing in the production of beans, and a man who takes a prominent place in the affairs of Montcalm township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born on the farm where he now lives, near Greenville, on August 30, 1871, a son of Philander A. and Elma A. (Hart) Peck, natives of New Haven, Connecticut, and of Lima, Ohio, respectively.
Philander A. Peck, who was a son of Samuel B. Peck, and who was directly descended from William Peck, of a party of settlers who landed at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1622, moved to New York state when a boy and lived there until he was eighteen years of age, and then, his father having died, Philander A. Peck, with his mother and a brother, came to the state of Michigan, in 1852, and after a long journey made by wagon from their former home, they settled near Greenville, Montcalm county, on a farm of eighty acres which had been homesteaded about two years before this time. Later, Philander A. Peck purchased the interest of the other owners and secured the farm of eighty acres on which he engaged in farm pursuits for the remainder of his days.
Philander A. Peck was married on December 10, 1862, to Elma A. Hart, a daughter of John Hart and wife, of Lima, Ohio, they being descended
(39b)
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from an old Quaker family, who settled originally in the state of Pennsyl- vania. Philander A. and Elma A. Peck were the parents of three children :' Mary I., who is deceased; Mertie E., the wife of William O'Conner, and Samuel D., the subject of this sketch.
Samuel D. Peck received his education in the public schools of Green- ville, after which he worked on the home farm, until he reached maturity, and then, on November 1, 1905, Samuel D. Peck was married to Harriet L. Snyder, a daughter of Herbert S. and Flora (Fuller) Snyder, the former of whom came from the state of Minnesota to Michigan, and located in Montcalm township, of Montcalm county. To the marriage of Samuel D. and Harriet Peck have been born five children, three of whom are living, all at home: Elma F., William S. and M. Imogene. Mr. Peck and his family are active members of the Congregational church at Greenville.
In the official life of Montcalm township, Samuel D. Peck is well known, he now serving in the capacity of township treasurer, an office to which he was elected in April, 1915. Mr. Peck is an ardent Republican. Samuel D. Peck is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Gleaners, in Mont- calm county, and is a citizen who is active and devoted to the promotion of public good and welfare.
ENGLEBRECHT HANSEN.
Englebrecht Hansen, a well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Montcalm township, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born at Steuby, Den- mark, on December 5, 1848, a son of Hans Christian and Mary Anna ( Pet- ersen) Hansen, natives of Denmark, where Hans Christian Hansen lived and died, after which his widow and her five children came to America in 1872 and located at Greenville, Montcalm county, Michigan.
After reaching his new home in Greenville, Montcalm county, Engle- brecht Hansen, together with the other members of his mother's family, engaged in general work, by the day, Englebrecht Hansen taking up duties as a lumber worker, succeeding in this occupation until he was receiving a good income. After two years in the vicinity of Greenville, Englebrecht Hansen went to Stanton, where he was employed for one year and then he went to Caldwell, where he worked for about one year. Later, Englebrecht Hansen went to Coral, Michigan, and after one year moved to the state of Wisconsin, where he was employed for about four years, and then he and a former employer started a lumber yard, which they conducted for five
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months, when Mr. Hansen disposed of his interests in the lumber business and returned to the state of Michigan. On his return to Michigan, Engle- brecht Hansen, in 1885, bought eighty acres of land located near Green- ville, in Montcalm township, Montcalm county, which he improved and a farm to which he has added land, until now he is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of well-improved and highly-cultivated land, on which he is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits.
On January 9, 1883, Englebrecht Hansen was married to Caroline Stephsen, a native of Denmark, and to this marriage were born the fol- lowing children: Arthur, Florence, Cephas, Orletta and Carl. On Decem- ber 10, 1895, Caroline, the wife of Englebrecht Hansen, died, and some time later Mr. Hansen was married, secondly, to Katrina Petersen. To the mar- riage of Englebrecht and Katrina Hansen have been born four children, Louise, Helen, Myrtle and Morgan. Englebrecht Hansen and his family are active members of the Danish Lutheran church.
Englebrecht Hansen has taken a notable place in the public affairs and official life of Montcalm county, having served four terms as township treas- urer, having been a school director for some years and now Mr. Hansen is occupying the office as moderator of the school district. In politics, Mr. Hansen is an ardent Republican.
Englebrecht Hansen is prominent in the affairs of the Danish Brother- hood Society and is a man who is foremost in all general efforts and move- ments having for their object the promotion of the welfare of the commun- ity. Mr. Hansen and his family are among the highly respected people of the township and of Montcalm county.
DAVID C. REED.
"Walnut Grove Farm," a snug little tract, well kept and substantially improved, lying on rural route No. 2, out of Stanton, this county, five miles east and a quarter of a mile north of the county seat, and consisting of forty acres, is owned by David C. Reed, a veteran of the Civil War, who has been a resident of Montcalm county since the year 1882.
David C. Reed was born in Niagara county, New York, on December 27, 1834, son of Josiah and Harnett (Umpslead) Reed, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Connecticut, farming people, who were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the
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sole survivor. When he was six years of age, David C. Reed was bereft by death of his father and he was thereafter taken care of by his grandfather, who carefully schooled and sheltered him until he had arrived at the age of self-support, after which he began working for neighboring farmers for twenty-five cents a day and was employed as a farm laborer until he was twenty-one years of age.
On December 27, 1853, David C. Reed was united in marriage to Lucy E. Warner, who was born in Erie county, New York, November 20, 1836, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Boardman) Warner, and whose parents left New York for Toledo, Ohio, when she was an infant, she having been reared by an aunt from the time she was a little more than a year old and with whom she lived until the time of her marriage. She is now the last survivor of her family. Following their marriage David C. Reed and his wife settled down on a farm in New York state and were there located when the Civil War broke out. Mr. Reed enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, attached to the Army of the Potomac, with which he served valiantly until the close of the war and was mustered out with his regiment in July, 1865.
At the close of the war Mr. Reed returned to his New York home, resuming his farming operations and was thus engaged there until 1882, in which year he and his family came to Michigan, settling in this county, where they have resided ever since. At the time the Reeds settled on their present place in Day township the country thereabout was all woods, but they have made a very comfortable home out of the woods tract and are now very pleasantly situated on pretty "Walnut Grove Farm."
Mr. and Mrs. Reed have four children, namely: Edwin D. Reed, a farmer of Day township, this county ; Jennie M., wife of Peter Foley, living near Crystal Lake, this county; William I., a farmer, of Gratiot county, this state, and Alvin L., a farmer of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cedarville and are held in high esteem in their neighborhood, Mrs. Reed being one of the most active participants in the good works of that congregaton and all members of the family are earnest supporters of the cause.
Mr. Reed is a Republican and ever has given a good citizen's attention to the county's political affairs and has served the public as a member of the highway commission. He is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is held in high regard by the comrades of his post as well as by the community at large. being widely recognized as a good neighbor and a substantial citizen.
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M. J. McCONKIE.
M. J. McConkie, one of the most substantial farmers in Montcalm county, owner of a well-cultivated and profitable tract of two hundred acres situated on rural route No. 5, out of Stanton, five miles east and one mile south of the county seat, in Evergreen township, has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1903 and has long been recognized as one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers of that section of the county.
M. J. McConkie was born in Richland county, Ohio, on September 30, 1857, son of R. H. and Catherine (O'Henay) McConkie, both of whom were born in that same county and who grew up together in the same neigh- borhood. R. H. McConkie was a son of James McConkie, who came to the United States from Ireland and settled in Richland county, Ohio, where he married a Johnson and settled on a farm in that county, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, he living to the great age of ninety-seven years and she to the age of ninety-three. They were prosper- ous farmers and leaders in the community in which they lived, influential in church work and active in all good works, and were held in high regard thereabout. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters.
R. H. McConkie was reared on the paternal farm and received his edu- cation in the district schools of his home neighborhood and so greatly excelled in his studies that he became a teacher in the schools of Richland county and was thus engaged for several years. He married Catherine O'Henay, a schoolmate of his boyhood days, and to this union nine children were born, five of whom are still living, namely: M. J., the immediate sub- ject of this biographical sketch; E. E., a farmer, who still lives in Ohio; George E., a prosperous fruit grower in California ; James B., a prominent teacher in the schools of Ohio, and Anna, wife of Joseph Brown, who also lives in Ohio.
M. J. McConkie spent his boyhood on the home farm in Ohio and sup- plemented his schooling in the district school by a course in Abingdon College. At the age of sixteen he left home and went to Illinois, locating in Knox county, where he was engaged in farm work for others until his marriage in 1881, after which he settled down on a farm of his own in that county and remained there for twenty-seven years, at the end of which time, in March, 1903, he came to Michigan, locating in Montcalm county, where he bought three hundred and sixty acres in Evergreen township, where he has lived
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ever since and where he has prospered. Some time after buying his place in this county he sold a quarter of a section off the tract and is now the owner of two hundred acres of fine land, which has been brought to an excellent state of cultivation.
On March 23, 1881, M. J. McConkie was united in marriage to Anna B. Crosson, who was born in Knox county, Illinois, and to this union the following children have been born: Mabel C., wife of Eugene Spach; Leonard, of Bloomington, Illinois; Florence, now deceased, who was a graduate of an Evangelistic school at Chicago; Inez, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant school, wife of George Breman, of Bushnell township, this county ; Minnie, wife of Lowell McCarty, of Wyandotte, Michigan; Ray, a farmer in Ferris township, this county, who married Addie McDonald; Roy, an elec- trician at Grand Rapids, this state, who married Olive Stratton; Tracy, at home; Verna, who lives at Crystal, this county; Winifred, a graduate of the Crystal high school, and Marcetta and Gladys, students in the high school. Mr. and Mrs. McConkie are looked upon as among the leaders in the com- munal life of their neighborhood and they and all the members of their family are held in very high regard thereabout.
Mr. McConkie is a Republican and takes a proper and earnest interest in the political affairs of the county, though never having been included in the office-seeking class and has never held any public office. He is a good citizen, a prosperous and progressive farmer and possesses the warm esteem of the entire neighborhood.
WILLIAM E. DREWS.
William E. Drews has the distinction of being a self-made man and is worthy of the respect and esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. He was born on September 1, 1861, in Germany, and is the son of Louis and Wilhelmina (Brightman) Drews, both natives of Germany, who immi- grated to America in 1874. They were married in that country and two of their children died there. After their arrival in the United States they located in Sidney township, Montcalm county, Michigan, and remained there until death. They were the parents of eight children, two only of whom are now living, Minnie and William E. Minnie is the wife of John Edgett and their home is in Somerset, Kentucky.
William E. Drews received most of his education in the schools of his
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native land, only attending one term of school after his immigration to this country in 1874. He was but fourteen years of age when he arrived here, accompanied by his parents, and located with them in Sidney township, Mont- calm county, Michigan. His parents were poor and he began his career as a farm hand, continuing in this capacity for three years after he had reached his majority. He then was employed in a shingle mill.
On January 29, 1889, William E. Drews was married to Minnie Noah, daughter of J. H. Noah, and to them have been born these children: Ralph, Leta, Arthur, Burl, Charley and Frank. William E. Drews has acquired both a competency and the responsibility of public office, having served in every township office except that of supervisor and is at present acting as highway commissioner. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge No. 324, Free and Accepted Masons. He has a well improved, well regulated farm known as the "Popular Stock Farm" which consists of one hundred and eighty acres. This place is devoted to the breeding of Holstein cattle, draft horses and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
EDGAR A. STOKES.
Edgar A. Stokes, the proprietor of the well-known "Montcalm Stock Farm," was born in Eureka township, Montcalm county, April 14, 1862, the son of William and Mary (Van Kleek) Stokes. Both William and Mary Stokes were born in New York state and came to Michigan with their respective parents, settling in Montcalm county, where they grew up and were married. William Stokes was a prosperous and well-to-do farmer and was always active in local politics. He is now deceased, but his wife is still living and resides in Greenville, Michigan. To them were born three chil- dren, Edgar A., the subject of this sketch; Frank L., the proprietor of the Central House in Greenville; and Fred, who is a prosperous farmer of Eureka township.
Edgar A. Stokes was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and in the Belding high school. After completing his education he began farming with his father and con- tinued with him for five years, at the end of which time he purchased a part of the old home farm and lived on it until 1909, when he sold it and bought the farm where he now lives. This farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres and is situated five miles north and one mile east of Greenville. Mr.
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Stokes is an extensive breeder of live stock, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He has been breeding cattle for the past ten years and has a fine herd headed by "Marcus," which he exhibits at local fairs and on which he has taken numerous prizes. During the past year he has sold over twelve hundred dollars worth of cattle. He also has a fine herd of registered Poland China hogs, on which he often holds sales. Mr. Stokes's farm is well improved and highly productive and is modern and up-to-date in every respect.
Edgar A. Stokes was married in May. 1885, to Metta A. Moon, who was born in this county on October 1, 1864, the daughter of John B. Moon. Mrs. Stokes was graduated from the Belding high school and taught school before her marriage. To this union have been born eight children: Leroy E., who is a graduate of the Greenville Business College and a bookkeeper in Ionia; Glenn R., a graduate of Bliss Business College and a farmer in Mont- calm township; Forrest G., who is a resident of Detroit and the mail order clerk of a ten-cent store in that city; Edna M., the wife of Esmond Har- rington; Vera I .. , he wife of John Lavender; William J., Fred B. and Rhoda M., who are at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Stokes and family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and take an active interest in the work of the church and Sun- day school. In politics, he is a Republican and has served his township as justice of the peace and school director.
SPENCER MCCLELLAN.
Spencer McClellan, the postmaster of Gowen, Michigan, was born in Kent county, Michigan, March 28, 1850, the son of Samuel and Jane (Spencer ) McClellan, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia, where they grew up and married. After their marriage they came to Michigan and located in Jackson county, later moving to Kent county, where they farmed until their deaths. They were the parents of twelve children, four of whom are living: James, who lives in Oceana county, Michigan; Tabitha, the wife of Uri Stuher; Spencer, the subject of this sketch, and Susan, the wife of George Fellows, of Cadillac, Michigan.
At the early age of ten years, Spencer Mcclellan was left without a father, and, after leaving school at the age of twelve years, he started out for himself. He was married at the age of twenty-one years, after which
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he located in Spencer township, Kent county, Michigan, where he lived for some time. For six years he worked in the Watson mill and, during this time, his foreman in the mill lived on Mr. McClellan's farm. Mr. McClellan owns a farm in Mason county, Michigan, and also a house and twelve lots in Gowen. He moved to Montcalm county in 1900 and has lived here since that time.
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