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 9
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EARLE B. SLAWSON.
Earle B. Slawson, well-known dealer in coal and farm produce at Greenville, this county, is "native and to the manner born," for he first saw the light of day in that pleasant little city on June 17, 1875, son of George R. and Julia (Berridge) Slawson, the former a native of Cayug :: county. New York, and the latter of this county.
George R. Slawson, for many years a prominent merchant of Green- ville, came to Michigan with his parents when he was a small boy and was
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reared on a farm in Oakfield township, Oakfield county, receiving his early education in the schools of Oakfieldl, after which he entered a school of pharmacy and became a graduate pharmacist. Thus equipped for the busi- ness to which he had devoted his life he settled at Greenville, in this county and entered into a partnership with C. C. Merritt, in the drug and jewelry business, and was thus engaged for five or six years, at the end of which the the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Slawson engaged in the drug business wholly on his own account and continued in that line until his death.
Not long after settling in Greenville, George R. Slawson was united in marriage to Julia Burridge, who was born in Fairplain township, this county, member of a pioneer family in that section, whose parents, both natives of England, who had come to America in their young days, met at Detroit and were married there, after which they came to this county, mak- ing the trip by ox-team, and established a permanent home in Fairplain township. Mrs. Slawson died in 1895 and Mr. Slawson survived her but a few years. his death occurring in 1898. To them two sons had been born, Earle B., the immediate subject of this sketch, and David Henry, a singer in grand opera, who for years has made his home in Paris.
Earle B. Slawson grew up in his native town and was graduated from the Greenville high school. Even from his earliest youth he had evinced the most intense interest in music and upon completing his course in the home schools, entered the Mehan College of Music, which he attended for five years, diligently pursuing his musical studies, and then entered upon ins career as a professional musician. He followed this career until the death of his parents left his grandmother alone at Greenville and he returned to the home of his boyhood to make her declining days confort- ble. Upon returning to Greenville he bought the coal and produce busi- ness of Miller & Miller at that place and ever since has been conducting that business, and is looked upon as one of the leading business men of the town. being held in high regard by his associates generally, and accounted one of the city's most energetic and public-spirited citizens.
On April 15, 1897, Earle B. Slawson was united in marriage to Nina Louise Gray, daughter of William and Emma ( Rutter) Gray, of Romeo, Michigan, and to this union four children have been born, Seth, Donald, Gretchen and Barbara. Mr. and Mrs. Slawson are members of the Con- gregational church and take an active interest in the city's social and cul- tural activities, musical circles there being particularly favored by Mr. and Mrs. Slawson's interest along the lines of musical culture.
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Mr. Slawson is a Republican and gives his intelligent attention to political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class. He is master of the Greenville lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, also a member of the local chapter of the Royal Arch Masons and of the commandery of the Knights Templar at Ionia, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs, as well as in the affairs of the Knights of Pythias, of which order he is also a member.
LORENZO D. CURTIS.
Lorenzo D. Curtis, who is extensively engaged in the coal, wood and ice business at Edmore, this county, and the owner of a farm in the neigh- borhood of that village, is a native of the British dominion, having been born at Chatham, Canada, on September 21, 1851, son of John N. and Mary (Cunningham ) Curtis, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of ('anada.
John N. Curtis was the son of John N. Curtis, also a native of Ver- mont, who moved to Detroit and thence to Canada and whose last days were spent in the home of his son in Barry county, this state. In the spring of 1853 the junior John N. Curtis moved with his family from Canada to this state. Lorenzo D .. the subject of this sketch being then about a year and a half old, and settled in Barry county, where he spent the rest of his life. becoming a well-to-do farmer. He bought a quarter of a section of land there and developed his farm to a high state of cultivation. He was a Democrat and took an active interest in local political affairs and has served in several township offices. He was a Mason, a member of the lodge of that order at Hastings, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist church, he long having been a deacon in the church, and their children were reared in that faith. Mrs. Curtis died in 1895, at the age of sixty-four years. She was a native of Ireland and was a babe in arms when her parents came to this side of the Atlantic, locating in Canada, where she grew to womanhood. and where she married. John N. Curtis died in 1905. at the age of sixty-eight. He and his wife were the parents of eight chil- dren, namely: Lorenzo D., Martin, who lives at Big Rapids, this state; ITorace, who lives at Woodland, in Barry county; Alfred. a resident of Edmore, this county; John, who lives at Vermontville, this state; Elmer, also of Vermontville; Henry, of Battle Creek, and Olive, deceased.
Lorenzo D. Curtis remained on the home farm in Barry county until
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his marriage in 1873, he then being twenty-two years of age, after which he bought a small farm in that same county and there made his home until 1885, in which year he sold the farm and came to this county, settling at Edmore, where he opened a feed store, in connection with which he also bought and sold grain, and was thus engaged for two or three years, at the end of which time he opened a meat market and was engaged in that busi- ness for several years. He then took up the drayage line and was thus engaged until he embarked in his present business, a general dealer in coal, wood and ice, and has ever since been thus engagd, having built up a profit- able business in that line. In the meantime Mr. Curtis had bought an eighty- acre farm in Home township, which he has improved in good shape, and twenty-one acres adjoining the village of Edmore, where he makes his home, being very pleasantly situated there. He also owns property of value in Edmore and is regarded as a substantial citizen.
In 1873. in Barry county, this state, Lorenzo D. Curtis was united in marriage to Catherine Elizabeth Paddock, who was born in Steuben county, New York, May 22, 1856. daughter of Lory and Catherine (Jordan) Pad- dock, the former of whom was born in New Jersey on March 8, 1816, and the latter, in New York state, April 9, 1816, daughter of Jesse and Anna Wartz ) Jordan, both natives of New York state. In 1865 the Paddocks left New York and came to Michigan, settling in Barry county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Paddock dying in 1870 and his widow surviving until 1900. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom ten grew to maturity, but four of whom are now living, however, Lorenzo, who lives at Concord, this state; Mrs. Mary Buchanan, of Holland. this state: Hezekiah. of Woodland. and Mrs. Curtis, those deceased after maturity having been Eliza. Jessie, David, Lydia, Levi, and Phebe.
To Lorenzo D. and Catherine E. ( Paddock) Curtis eleven children county, and the remainder in Edmore this county, as follow: Edward, have been born, the first five of whom were born at Woodland, in Barry born in 1874, who died at the age of two years; Bert. 1876, owns a meat market at Cadillac, this state, married Leona Clark and has four children. Harry, Neva. Mand and Fred: Henry. 1878, manager of the Standard Oil Company's wagons at Edmore, married Agnes Wilkins and has two chil- dren, Uula and J. D .: Fred. 1880, who operates the dray line at Edmore. married Edna Eldridge and has four children, Elsie, Charlotte, Alvin and "lyde; Mary, 1883, who died at the age of two years: Ollie, 1885, who died at the age of two years: Etta, 1887, who died at Edmore: Lera, 1888,
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who was educated in the schools at Edmore, the normal schools at Ypsilanti and Big Rapids and at the Ferris Institute and is now in charge of the physical training department of the Kalamazoo high school; Leslie, 1890, now living at Ionia, this state, who married Ruth Mauterstock, who died leaving one child. Catherine, whereupon he married, secondly, Elsie Chris- tiansen ; Letha, 1801, who is still at home. and Glenn, 1808, also at home. Mrs. Curtis is a member of the Methodist church and takes an earnest interest in the general beneficences of that church. Mr. Curtis is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and Mrs. Curtis is a social member of the same order as well as of the Woman's Relief Corps, in the affairs of which she is warmly interested. The family is substantially situated and is held in high esteem throughout the community.
SIMON ANDERSON.
Simon Anderson, a well-known retired farmer of Montcalm county, who now is living in comfort in the pleasant little city of Sheridan, this county, is a native of the kingdom of Norway, where he was born on Angust 4, 1844, son of Aanon Aanonson and wife, also natives of that coun- try, whose entire lives were spent there.
When he was twenty-eight years of age, in 1872, Simon Anderson was united in marriage to Mary Osulson and he and his bride at once started out to make a home for themselves in the great country across the water. They landed in Canada and after a stay of three months there, crossed the line into Detroit and thence to Ionia, this state, where for a time Mr. Ander- son was employed on the maintenance force of the Pere Marquette railroad. On December 31, 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson came to Montcalin county and settled at Sheridan, where for about three years Mr. Anderson worked in a saw-mill, after which he bought a farm which, in time, proved so profitable that he was enabled to retire from active labor, since which time he and his wife have been living in Sheridan, where they are held in high esteem by their many friends. They are members of the Lutheran church and take an active interest in church work. Mr. Anderson is a Republican, but is not a particularly active worker in political affairs. He is a substan- tial citizen of the county and enjoys the confidence and regard of all who know him.
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WILLIAM H. LOVELY.
William H. Lovely, a retired lumberman and produce dealer of Howard ity. was born in Ontario, August 15, 1847, the son of John and Catherine i Dunham) Lovely. Both John and Catherine Lovely were natives of New Brunswick and came from their native province to Ontario with their respective parents, John Lovely walking all the way. They located near Hamilton and here grew up and married. coming to Michigan some years later in the spring of 1865 and locating near Lowell in Tonia county. Here John Lovely followed farming until about seventy years of age, when he retired and he and his wife moved to Howard City, where they lived until their deaths, he passing away in December, 1893, and she on December 1, 1001. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which they took a very active interest. Mr. Lovely was a Republican in politics and always an enthusiastic promoter of good government. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living, James, a farmer in Ionia county; William IT .. the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, the wife of Milton Page, a farmer of lonia county, and J. W., a fruit grower in California.
William H. Lovely was reared and educated in Ontario and remained in that country until fifteen years of age, when he came to the United States, landing in Detroit with only ten cents in money. The day following his arrival he secured a position at shingle packing. being paid by the thou- and, and followed this occupation during 1864. In the fall of that year, he went to Grand Rapids and from there to Big Rapids with a lumber crew, -pending the winter in the woods. The following summer he worked on a farm near Lowell. and during the winter of 1865 and 1866 worked again in the woods, but in 1867 gave up his work in the timber and came to Howard City, where he has remained ever since. Some time after coming :o Howard City, Mr. Lovely formed a partnership with R. H. O'Donald, which was known as the firm of Lovely & O'Donald, and dealt in lumber, grain and produce, continuing until the timber was exhausted, when the I rmi was dissolved. Mr. Lovely was then engaged in the grain and produce business until 1905, when he retired from active business. Mr. Lovely : whis three hundred and sixty acres of excellent farming land, part of which is in Montcalm county, part in Ionia and the remainder in Mecosta county.
In 1873 Mr. Lovely was married in Grand Rapids to Mary A. Van Navery. who was born in Ontario, where she was reared and educated.
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To this union has been born one daughter, Minnie B., on April 9, 1875. She is a graduate of the Howard City high school and the Alma College at Alma, Michigan, and is now the wife of George F. Rowe, of Traverse City, Michigan.
Mr. Lovely is a charter member and one of the organizers of the Howard City lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the chapter, Royal Arch Masons. In politics, Mr. Lovely is a Republican and has served as supervisor and treasurer of Reynolds township, and as presi- dent of the town board of Howard City.
A. NOAH RUSSELL.
A prominent hardware merchant and breeder of live stock of Sheridan, Montcalm county, Michigan, is A. Noah Russell, who was born in Warren county, New York, Angust 12, 1866, the son of Morris and Chlistia (Bramard) Russell. Morris Russell was a native of France and his wife of England, both having come to Montreal, where they grew up together. They were married at La Prairie and settled in Warren county, New York, where Morris Russell died in 1868. Although Mrs. Russell survived her husband many years, she never married again but died at the home of her son, A. Noah, in 1900. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living, Lewis, who is the owner of a mill in Lowell, Mis- sissippi ; C. W., who conducts a mill at Marinette, Wisconsin, and A. Noah, the subject of this sketch.
A. Noah Russell was reared in Sheridan, Michigan, and received his education in the public schools of that city, later attending the Ionia Busi- ness College. At the age of thirteen he started out for himself. working by the month until he was twenty-three, when he began clerking in a hard- ware store. In 1889 he engaged in business for himself and has continued so since that time. He now owns the building in which he has his store and also an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres. About six years ago, Mr. Russell began the breeding of Percheron horses and Holstein cattle, and now has some splendid animals. His herd of horses is headed by Robush R. No. 111344, and the mares in this herd are Bijou. No. 111343. Madam DuBarry, No. 15835. Roma, No. 24942 and Jesse. No. 66182. His herd of cattle is headed by Sherlock Lilith and Pauline Count, third. No.
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106645. He has exhibited his herds at various fairs and twice has been the winner of prizes on them.
Mr. Russell was married to Anna B. Flicks, of Greenville, Michigan, who was born in Canada in June, 1873. To this union have been born four children, Hazel, Sol Smith, Marie and Louise.
Politically, Mr. Russell is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker. Fraternally, he is a member of Pearl Lake Lodge, No. 324, Free and Accepted Masons, and Lodge 548. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, at Ionia. Mr. Russell is what may be correctly termed a self-made man, having started with practically nothing and accumulated by his own efforts all which he now possesses. He is well known throughout Montcalm county and has a large number of friends, by whom he is held in the highest esteem.
SID V. BULLOCK.
Sid V. Bullock, a successful business man and citizen who has been prominent in the public affairs and official life of Howard City, Montcalm county, Michigan, was born in New York state, on September 25, 1859, the son of John W. and Harriett ( Underhill ) Bullock, both of whom were born, reared and married in New York state.
John W. Bullock, who was a descendant of a well-known Vermont family, after his marriage moved to Rockford, Kent county, Michigan, where he lived for a short time and then came to Howard City, Montcalm county, and, in this locality, engaged in his occupation as a wagon-maker for three years. Later. in partnership with Solomon Lisk, the elder Bullock opened a new and larger shop at Howard City, which they operated for a number of years, after which John W. Bullock retired. and lived quietly until his death in 1907. Harriett. the wife of John W. Bullock, died in 1005. They were the parents of two children : Sid V., of this sketch, and Emma. of Sand Lake. Michigan, who is the widow of Henry Blackburn.
Sid V. Bullock received his early education in the common schools of Howard City, after which he completed the course of study at the Howard City high school and then became clerk in the local postoffice, at the same time being a salesman and student of pharmacy in the drug store of A. R. Mather. After four years, Mr. Bullock became a druggist for John B. Quick, with whom he remained about three years and then he entered the drug business for himself in partnership with J. R. Hathaway in the firm
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known as Hathaway & Bullock, until a disastrous fire deprived them of their business. Mr. Bullock again associated himself with John B. Quick, where Sid V. Bullock was engaged for two years. Later, after being with Fleury Henkle for three months, Mr. Bullock became identified with S. C. Scott, a Howard City business man, with whom he remained about three years and then went to the town of Trufant. where Mr. Bullock engaged in the drug business for five years, after which he returned to Howard City and opened a drug store, which he conducted until 1907, when the stock of W. F. Nagler was purchased by Mr. Bullock and H. M. Gibbs. This stock was divided. Mr. Bullock moving his share to his present location, where he owns his own building.
On February 19. 1882, Sid V. Bullock was married to Carrie Tyler, and to this marriage have been born two children: John, who is engaged in business with his father, and Sydney, the wife of Blaine Henkle, of Howard City.
Sid V. Bullock has taken an important place in the official life of Howard City, having served as postmaster from 1903 to 1912, and he has served as town clerk, he also having been a valued member of the village board for some years. In politics. Mr. Bullock is a Republican.
Fraternally. Mr. Bullock is a member of Howard City Lodge, No. 329, Free and Accepted Masons, a member of Howard City Lodge. No. 260, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. Sid V. Bullock is one of the highly respected and esteemed citizens of Howard City, his part in the business life of this community having been an important factor in local develop- ment.
ALLEN E. STEBBINS.
Postmaster Stebbins of Sheridan, this county, has been a resident of that place since 1904, in which year he located there as an undertaker and dealer in furniture and has done very well, being recognized widely as one of the leading merchants of the place, while his undertaking establishment is looked upon as one of the leading establishments of that sort in Mont- calm county.
Allen E. Stebbins was born on a farm in Easton township. Ionia coun- ty, this state, on December 8, 1872, son of Albert B. and Emmaline C. ( Jepson) Stebbins, the former of whom was born in the same county,
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November 22, 1846, and the latter, in Bennington county, Vermont. Feb- ruary 7, 1844. Emmaline C. Jepson received an academic education in her home state and fitted herself for the high calling of a teacher, after which she came to Michigan, when she was twenty-one years of age, to teach in the schools of lonia county, and it was there she was married. Her husband died on May 1, 1909, and she is still living at her home in lonia county, enjoying many evidences of the high regard in which she is held throughout that community. Albert B. . Stebbins and wife were the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Allen E .. the subject of this sketch; Runette M., wife of George Hulliberger, who lives in Ionia county, and Belle, widow of Frank Thomas, who lives in . Ionia.
Reared on the paternal farm in Ionia county. Allen E. Stebbins received his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood and in Saran- ac high school. As a young man he learned the undertaking business, which he followed for a time. after which he returned to farming and was thus engaged for eight years, at the end of which time he sold his farm, took a course in the Barnes School of Embalming and in 1904 located at Sheridan. this county, where he opened a modern undertaking establishment, in con- nection with which he opened a first-class furniture store, in both depart- ments of which he has been quite successful, his store being looked upon as one of the best equipped in Sheridan, while he is regarded as one of the best funeral directors in this part of the state. In 1913 Mr. Stebbins received the appointment as postmaster of Sheridan and entered upon the Inties of that important office on December I of that year and there is pretty general agreement that he is one of the most efficient postmasters Sheridan over had.
In December. 1894. Allen E. Stebbins was united in marriage to Myrtle A. Ellison, who was born in Ionia county, this state, on April 3. 1875. Her father was a native of New York state and came to Michigan when he was two years of age with his parents, who settled in Tonia county. Her moth- er was born in Dillingham, England, and came to the United States with her mother when fifteen years of age. locating also in Tonia county. When quite a young girl, Myrtle Ellison was bereft of her mother by death and her father married again. she therefore having been reared by a stepmother, who reared her as tenderly as a mother could have done. To Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins seven children have been born, namely: Adelbert L., a graduate of the Ferris Commercial School. married Lucelle Holland and is assistant
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postmaster at Sheridan; Hyland W., who also is a graduate of the above mentioned school, is assisting his father in the furniture store, and Gerald B., Leland W., Maxwell J., Blanche E. and Melbourne A. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and their children have been reared in that faith. the family occupying a high position in the social and cultural life of the Sheridan neighborhood.
Mr. Stebbins is a Democrat and ever since coming to Montcalm coun- ty has given his earnest attention to the politics of the county. He is par- ticularly interested in local school affairs and is now serving the public as president of the Sheridan school board. As postmaster, he is administering the affairs of that office with the same care which marks the management of his own private business and is looked upon as one of the substantial men of the county. His fraternal affiliations are with Pearl Lake Lodge No. 324. Free and Accepted Masons, and with the Sheridan tent of the Knights of the Maccabees, in both of which orders he is held in high esteem.
BERT C. CRAWFORD.
Bert C. Crawford, cashier of the Bank of Sheridan, was born in Montcalm county, Michigan, August 8, 1874, the son of Jacob and Louisa (Slight ) Crawford. Jacob Crawford was a native of Pemisylvania and his wife of Ohio. After their marriage, they came to Michigan, settling in Montcalm county southwest of Greenville. In 1876 they came to Sheridan, where they farmed and Mr. Crawford worked as a teamster. He died in 1899 and his wife four years later in 1903. They were the parents of seven children, five boys and two girls, six of whom are now living, Alonzo. William, Harry. Oliver. Bert C. and Lippie M., the wife of J. E. McMullen.
Bert C. Crawford was reared in the village of Sheridan and attended the public schools, later working for some time on a farin. For sixteen years he was assistant postmaster of Sheridan, filling this office with entire satisfaction, which is proved by the long term he served. In March, 1914, he was appointed assistant cashier of the Bank of Sheridan and has been connected with this institution since that time.
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