USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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well fitted up, opening it in September. He enlisted in 1862 in the 5th Michigan Rifle Corps, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865.
E. O. PHILLIPS, Cooperville, came here in November, 1856, from Allegan County, Mich. He was born in Cass County, Mich., in- 1845, and has by his own efforts succeeded in acquiring quite a competence. He was married in 1867 to Emma S. Ellis, of Cooper- ville. Mr. Phillips is largely interested in pine lands and real estate, and is a good type of the successful American business man.
ROBERT GRAHAM, of Cooperville, was born in Ontario, in 1840. He came to Ottawa County in 1858, enlisted in 1861 in the 3d Michigan Infantry, was wounded in the first day's battle of the Wil- derness, and was taken with his regiment to Cold Harbor, when he was discharged. In nine months he enlisted in the Hancock Vet- eran Corps, remaining in the service one year. He is proprietor of the only billiard and sample room in Cooperville. Was married in 1873 to Margaret Malone, of Polkton.
J. V. B. GOODRICH, attorney at law, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1839. In 1851 he removed to Homer and attended the Courtland Academy. In 1858 he settled in Lenawee County, Mich., and from there, in 1861, he enlisted in the 4th Michigan In- fantry, serving bravely until the close of the war, with the exception of one year from being disabled by a severe wound received at Mal- vern Hill July 1, 1862. In 1865 he went to Oakland, California, and there practiced law for ten years, also carrying on business as builder, being County Clerk for four years. He was elected in 1878 President of the village, which office he still retains, and also that of Justice of the Peace, to which he was elected in 1880. He mar- ried in 1860 Miss Carrie, of Oakland, Cal, and their children are: Herman, born Nov. 6, 1865; Miner, Nov. 5, 1875; Verna A,, April 29, 1878.
THEOPHILUS M. REED, of Cooperville, was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 13, 1838. In 1852 he removed to Branch County, in this State, and two years after removed to Cascade, Kent County. After a stay of another year he went to Paris, and in January, 1874, came to his present place of residence, Cooperville, where he has ever since been actively engaged in the livery business. He keeps the only hearse in town, and makes a specialty of the com- mercial livery trade. In 1880 he was elected Township Treasurer, and has been re-elected in 1881, when he was also appointed Deputy Sheriff. April 14, 1861, he married Miss Rosa A. Roath, and has two children: Elroy M., born March 22, 1862, and Rose Iva, Sept. 26, 1863.
B. F. TREAT, photographer and dentist, was born in Alleghany County, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1828. At eighteen years of age he went to Ashtabula County, Ohio, engaging in the profession of dentistry. In ten years he removed to Pontiac, Mich., engaging in the same business until the breaking out of the war, when in 1862 he enlisted in the 1st Michigan Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. In February, 1865 he was promoted to be second lieutenant. He then went to Oil City, and then to Whitehall, Mich., and finally settled in Cooperville in 1875, and opened an art gallery, where he takes photographs in fine style, and also practices dentistry, being the only dentist and photographer in the village. He has just re- fitted and enlarged his gallery, which is 16 x 34 feet. He was mar- ried in 1875, and has six children.
EZRA WALLING, M. D., Cooperville, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1824, educated there and at Delhi Academy, studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Wm. Knapp, of Waverly, N. Y., and attended Long Island College Hospital in 1854-5-6, practiced for a short time in his native place, thence to Plainfield, Mich., in 1856, and did the whole range of practice there; seven years after moved to Berlin, in Wright Township, and in March, 1881, came to
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Cooperville, where he was already known from his practice extend- ing there. He takes a leading part in surgical operations, having a natural aptitude for that branch of medicine.
WM. H. BLANCHARD, carpenter and builder, Cooperville, was *born at Albany, N. Y., in 1814, left when young, and resided in Lockport, where he married April 18, 1841, Miss Maria Connit, who died in 1871. Mr. Blanchard removed to St. Joseph County, Mich., 1861, coming to Talmadge in 1863, and was so honored with the confidence of the people that he was elected Treasurer for six terms. He married in October, 1873, Miss Mary Weatherwax, by whom he has one son, Elmer H., born Feb. 16, 1875. He removed to Coop- erville in 1873, and has been engaged in the erection of many of the best buildings.
J. J. AUSTIN, M. D., settled in Cooperville in 1873, and was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1843, and lived in Oswego County fifteen years previous to coming to Cooperville. He studied medicine with his father, a skillful physician, in 1867-8, and gradu- at the medical college in 1872. The doctor has secured an exten- sive practice which success is well deserved. Was married in 1874 to Miss Ellen Allen, of this county, and has one daughter.
GEO. H. WOODWARD, grain merchant, was born in Ottawa County in 1849, removed to Kent County in 1866, and engaged with his father in the purchase of grain and produce. He then removed his sphere of operations to Oceana County, where the father still re- mains, the son retaining an interest in the business. In 1879 they purchased the Cooperville elevator, and to this part of the business the son devotes special attention. He was married in 1871 to Viola Vorhees, of this county.
The father, George W., settled in Ottawa County in 1847, coming from Chautauqua County, N. Y., and in 1862 enlisted in the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, but in about eighteen months was discharged for disability. He then assisted in organ- izing a company in the 21st Michigan Infantry, and received com- mission as second lieutenant, remaining with the regiment until the close of the war, when he held the commission of major. Soon after he was elected County Treasurer, showing the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
WILLIAM SHERMAN, was born in Canada in 1840, came to this State in 1860, engaging in farming and many other enterprises, and is at present lessee of the National Hotel, Cooperville.
ROSWELL LILLIE, attorney at law, was born in Wright Town- ship in 1847, and has always resided in Ottawa County. He gradu- ated from the State Agricultural College, and at Michigan Univer- sity, in 1872, and after engaging a few months in teaching, entered into the practice of law in Cooperville, dealing extensively in real estate and money loaning, and doing the leading business in fire insurance. He is also a partner with Mr. McNaughton in the agri- cultural implement business.
HERBERT RUSSELL, barber and band-master, was born in Eaton County, Mich., in 1852, and learned the carriage painting trade, working at it until 1879, when he learned barbering, opening a shop in Cooperville. He has organized and leads the village cornet band of eight pieces, it being the first and only band in the place.
J. N. CLOUD, jeweller, Cooperville, was born in Norwich, Vt., in 1844, and at eighteen years of age moved to Chicago, where he was four years learning his trade. In 1866 he moved to Grand Haven, opening a jewelry establishment there, and in 1871 came to Cooper- ville, where he has the best establishment in the village. He mar- ried, in 1871, Miss Helen F. Fisk. He has been very enterprising in the erection of numerous buildings, and has helped to build up the village.
W. H. TAYLOR, wagon-maker, was born at Detroit in 1840, and settled at Oakland, Mich., in 1853, learning the carpenter trade.
He married in 1862, and in 1881 came to Cooperville, working in Mr. Trealor's wagon shop, and in August went into business for himself, manufacturing and doing a general repairing business, in which he gives general satisfaction.
CHARLES HOSMER, carpenter and builder, Cooperville, was born in Vermont in 1814, thence removed to New York, remaining there many years, and in 1865 settled in Cooperville, engaging in con- tracting and building. He is the principal contractor in the village.
JOHN JOHNSON, lumberman and farmer, was born in Ireland in 1820, came to New York State in 1827, and shortly after went to Ohio, where he was interested in several mills. He came to Cooper- ville in 1858, settling on Section 13, taking charge of the "Cooper mill," which he subsequently purchased, as well as the mill at Den- nison Postoffice, and now owns a portable mill on Section 2. He married, in 1850, Miss Nancy Marshall, and has four sons and three daughters. He is a prominent and successful citizen.
COL. S. RANDALL, retired farmer, was born in Clinton County, N. Y., in 1807, and in 1822 enlisted in the 253d New York Militia, and in 1857 was elected Colonel of the same. In 1852 he came to Polkton, and in 1871 retired from his farm and opened a blacksmith shop in Cooperville, selling out in June, 1881. He was married in 1839, and is an old and respected citizen.
JAMES HIGGINS was born in Ireland in 1846, came to Cooper- ville in 1874, married Miss Maggie Welch in the same year, and four years after engaged in the restaurant business at Nunica, and in 1881 went into business here. Has four children.
ADELMER WELLS is patentee of a new process of graining and painting on wood, Cooperville, which he invented in the spring of 1881, and in June received a patent, and has sold already, at remunera- tive rates, several States, and many counties in Michigan. It an- swers the purpose of paint and varnish at one-fourth the cost. He is a skillful painter of many years' standing. In 1874 he was mar- ried to Miss Louisa H. Covey, of this county.
POLKTON TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEERT W. HORLINGS was born in Holland in 1825, and came to Polkton with his father in 1849, who was killed by the fall of a tree in 1850. They settled on a farm in Section 25, where he resided until his death, which occurred November 7, 1881, from the kick of a horse, to the rearing of which animals he devoted special attention, as well as to the culture of bees, in which he was very skillful and successful. His sudden demise was a shock to the community, as he was held in universal esteem. His mourning widow and family, consisting of four sons and one daughter, live on the farm.
DANIEL REALEY, farmer, was born in Germany in 1818, and came to Eastern Michigan in 1832, and in 1837 settled on what is now the County Poor Farm, selling it in 1866 and moving to the Dr. Eastman place, adjoining Eastmanville. He is one of the three voters who voted at the first town meeting. He married, in 1843, Miss Sarah Hatch, and has four children. He is an old and re- spected citizen.
GEERT RANKANS, farmer and dealer in musical and agricultural implements, was born in Holland in 1841; came to America in 1843, settling in this county in 1861, and in 1870 commenced han- dling musical instruments, with headquarters at Holland and Grand Rapids. He married, in 1861, Cordelia Whitkup. Mr. R. has an agricultural warehouse in Cooperville, and is a man of great energy and enterprise.
H. C. DURPHY is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1816, and was connected with a woolen manufactory there. He settled on a farm in Section 22, Polkton, in 1849, and has three
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sons, Lyman E., W. H. and D. A., who still live on the same beau- tiful farm, while he now resides in Northern Michigan. His son Lyman went to work as night operator for the D. & M. road at Nunica, and was afterwards station master at Cooperville, but re- signed on account of ill-health, and returned to the paternal farm.
JOEL A. WALTER, retired farmer, came to Cooperville in 1855 from Tioga County, N. Y., where he was born in 1820. Has worked for many years as carpenter. He was married in 1841 to Louisa A. Durphy. He is one of the early pioneers of this place, and helped to erect the first frame building here. Was Town Clerk for seven years, and afterwards Supervisor for nine years. In 1881 he was elected Highway Commissioner, all of which goes to show the estimation in which he is held by his neighbors. He has one daughter and one son, who occupies the homestead about two miles northwest of Cooperville.
ALEX A. NOBLE, farmer, was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1831, and came to Polkton in 1863, settling on Section 11, where he has remained ever since, being highly successful in his operations. In 1859 he was married to Almona J. Hayden, of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., by whom he has two sons, Willis J., and Joseph, and two daughters, Lucy and Ellen.
W. J. CONKLING, farmer, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in 1830, and came to Ottawa in 1854, settling on his present farm in Polkton in 1859. He married, in 1855, Miss Louisa Marshall, by whom he has two sons and one daughter. He has taken a keen interest in agriculture, being President of the County Society for four years.
ALEX A. SALIERS, farmer and lumberman, was born in Vermont in 1833, came to Ottawa in 1853 and worked at his trade of car- penter until 1855, first settling at Lamont, where he improved a farm, but now resides on Section 10 Polkton. Enlisted August 16, 1862, and served three years in the late war. He was married in 1853 and has three children. Has had a portable saw mill on his place since 1871, with an Atlas engine of twenty-five horse-power and cutting about 10,000 feet per day.
R. B. HANCHETT, farmer, on Section 20, was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., in 1825, and died in 1872. His widow still resides on the estate of 240 acres, and manages the farm, which is in excellent condition. She has two daughters and one son.
JOHN VINE, farmer in Section 34, was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1836, and came to Polkton in 1864, purchasing his present farm. He married, in 1862, Miss Clara J. Sylvester, and although they have no family of their own, such is their benevolence and love of children that they have adopted five children, of whom the oldest is only thirteen years of age.
J. MCCARTHY, farmer on Sec. 17, was born in Ireland in 1841; in 1851 came to New York, and in three years moved to Grand Haven, engaging in lumbering. He settled on his farm in 1869, and has been successful in business. He was married in 1868 and has five children.
CARL SCHAFER, farmer, born in Prussia 1825, came to America in 1852, with his wife and family. Settled on his present farm in 1868, and has ever since been engaged in farming and stump ex- tracting. He has a fine family of nine children.
JOHN SPENCE, born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 1842, came to Ot- tawa Co., in 1867, and cleared up a farm in section 34, Polkton. He had the misfortune to lose his first wife shortly after his marriage in 1870, and in 1871 married Miss Jane A. Northrup, by whom he has six children. He enlisted Aug. 1862, in 103rd Ohio Infantry, and was discharged April 1865, was wounded at Chattanooga. He is now engaged in tubular well business in connection with L. Parker & Son.
L. R. LULL, lumberman and farmer, on section 2, township 7, born in northeastern Pennsylvania in 1847, settling in Eastman- ville in 1865. At the age of 18 he commenced business for himself, and has now a finely improved estate, and does logging business for Senator Ferry, putting in about seven million feet each winter. He was married in 1867 to Miss Lucy Hymes, of Oswego, N. Y., and has three children. He is one of the enterprising men of this county.
JAMES FITZPATRICK, farmer, on section 18, born in Ireland 1838, came to New York in 1851, and thirteen years after came to Spring Lake, working at lumbering for ten years, also dealing in real estate, and still owns considerable village property in Spring Lake and Grand Haven. He settled on his present farm in 1873. He was married in 1872, to Miss Julia Glenn, and has five children. He is a man highly respected and has held many minor offices in the town- ship.
CROCKERY TOWNSHIP.
The word Crockery in the Ottawa language is Nunica, which is said to be a corruption of menonica, which signifies the clay used by the Indians in the manufacture of their earthenware. Others de- rive the name of the township from a large amount of Indian pot- tery found on the banks of Crockery Creek.
This township has not the regulation breadth owing to its south- ern side being bounded by the river, which leaves a breadth of but five and one half miles. It is on the northern tier of towns and lies between Spring Lake and Polkton. It is well watered, the main drainage being into the Grand River, and the chief stream Crockery Creek, which traverses the eastern portion. Most of the township has been pine and hemlock land, with here and there oak openings, and heavy timber. The lumbering interest is now giving way to farming and fruit raising.
In 1874 the township had 3,883 acres improved, and produced 3,000 bushels of wheat, 8,368 bushels of corn, 10,000 bushels of other grain, 10,000 bushels of potatoes, 2,000 tons hay, 4,000 lbs wool, 24,000 pounds of butter, 7,000 pounds of maple sugar, aud $5,500 worth of fruit. Population, 1,124, real and personal prop- erty $248,231.
In 1880 there was a population of 1,240, of which Nunica had 297 and Spoonville 56.
NUNICA
is the principal township center, has about 400 inhabitants and was platted by Henry Ernst in 1865. Until a few months ago it was at the junction of the D. & M. R. R., with the railway from Holland to Muskegon, but the track of the latter is now removed. It has a good school house and several good church edifices, also two dry goods, one hardware, one drug and three jewelry stores; three wagon, three blacksmith, two shoe and one harness shops, two hotels, and a grist mill is being erected.
SETTLEMENT.
The first white settler was Manly Patchin, in '1836, next came Wm. Hathaway, Jr., and Josephus Hathaway in 1839, Chas. T. Gibbs, from Grand Haven, came into Crockery in 1844.
Col. Amos Norton, a prominent and early lumberman of Spring Lake, was the first supervisor of the township of Norton, which in- cluded Spring Lake, Crockery, Norton and Fruitport in 1845. Dr. Timothy Eastman, Surveyor, Richard M. Mason, Richard Hatha- way, and C. T. Gibbs, Commissioners of Highways. The road from Spring Lake through Nunica to the east line of Crockery was laid out in 1845-6.
Crockery became a separate township in 1849, and the first meeting was held at Wm. Hathaway's, who became the first super- visor.
The supervisors of late years are, S. Lawrence, 1877 and 1880, Benjamin Murray, 1878, Henry W. Cleveland, 1879, and in 1881-2.
The town was principally covered with pine and hemlock, inter- spersed with beech and maple. For many years lumbering was the principal business, but as that interest declined, farming has taken its place, and the township has commenced to prosper.
The soil is mostly a light sand, and sandy loam, interspersed here and there with clay and clay loam. There are now many rich farms in the township, and many valuable fruit orchards.
SPOONVILLE
is a neat little village on the north bank of the Grand River, to the west of the mouth of Crockery Creek, and two and a half miles south of Nunica. The railway from Nnnica to Holland formerly crossed by a fine bridge at Spoonville, which was a flag station, but owing to amalgamation with other lines this line was found to be superfluous and the track was taken up iu the beginning of 1882.
The principal feature of the place is the saw mill of Mr. John Spoon built in 1856, at which time there was but one log house in the village. The mill has a large circular, a gang edger, and a lath and picket machine, cuts 40,000 a day and has all modern improve- ments, cut in 1881, 7,500,000 feet. The engine is 75 horse power. Daniel Spoon, foreman.
Mr. Spoon's barn is the largest in the county, being 100 feet by 40 feet, with 24 foot posts, and 60 feet to the top of the cupola, and costing $2,000.
On Mr. Spoon's farm were found some remarkable mounds con- taining a large number of skeletons, stone and copper implements, and elaborately ornamented earthern vases.
JOHN SPOON, lumberman and farmer, Spoonville, is a gentleman of energy and tact, to whom the township is deeply indebted for its present prosperity. He was born) in Seneca Co., N. Y., in 1820, resided there until 1856, working until of age on his father's farm, and afterwards as a carpenter. In 1850 he married in Janesville, Wis., Miss AnnieM. Bennett, and came to Spoonville in 1856. At that time it had but one log house, but there was abundance of pine, and he immediately proceeded to erect a mill, and three years after his elegant residence, which externally and internally would do no discredit to a city mansion. Mr. Spoon farms in the vicinity of 840 acres, has also land in Muskegon and Illinois, and is one of the solid and suc- cessful men, who well deserves prosperity.
He has been almost perpetual treasurer of his township, but declines all other honors. Is Republican in politics, has three chil- dren living, and has lost two.
DANIEL SPOON, foreman of J. Spoon's mill, and manager of farm, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1824, and stayed on his father's farm until thirty years of age, and came to Spoonville a few weeks before his brother John in 1856, the mill being built by Spoon & Becker. He married April 14, 1859, Miss Helen Lauten- schlager, and has four sons and two daughters.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
HENRY W. CLEVELAND was born in the township of Rutland, Jefferson County, N. Y., June 17, 1835, and was married to Phebe M. Perhan, at S. Rutland, N. Y., Feb. 16, 1852. The following May he removed to Ottawa,' LaSalle County, Ill., and in 1856
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
moved to Spring Lake, Ottawa County, Mich., where he worked as a millwright, and constructed the first steam cant hoister ever used in Spring Lake, in the Hopkins mill, now the Mineral Spring House. He afterwards learned the drug business, which he carried on for a number of years with marked success. He held the office of Justice of the Peace" for twelve years and Township Clerk for several years. He was the first Recorder of the village of Spring Lake under the village charter. He moved to Nunica and bought the drug stock of A. C. Adsit & Co., in 1874, and in the same year was appointed post master. He was elected Supervisor of the town- ship in 1878 and 1880, and Township Clerk in 1879.
J. H. EASTERLY was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1831, and in 1838 moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., where he resided until 1865, when he came to Crockery. He was married first in 1854 to Miss Louisa Taylor, of Jefferson County, N. Y., who died in 1865. His second marriage was with Miss Sarah A. Williams, and they have eight children. The father of Mr. Easterly, now in his eighty-second year, came to Crockery with him and has been with him ever since. Notwithstanding his great age he is active and enjoys good health.
T. F. HUNTER was born in Brownsville, Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1815, and in 1846 moved to Marshall, Mich., and to Crockery in the following year. He married the 13th of January, 1842, Miss Priscilla Becker. The parents and elder brother of Mr. H. lived with him until their death, as did also the parents and grandmother of Mrs. Hunter.
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HUGH MCLEAN was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1826, and came to Livingston County, N. Y., in 1829. In 1846 he came to Saginaw, and six years after he went to Lake Superior, where he was married to Miss Harriet Kocher in 1854, by whom he has four children. In 1860 he came to Spring Lake, where he has been en- gaged in lumbering.
JOHN T. M'MANN was born in the city of Oswego, N. Y., in 1841. He went with his parents to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1845, and thence to the town of Crockery in May, 1847, and stayed on the farm till 1858. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and worked at that till 1862, when he enlisted in the 21st Michigan In- fantry for three years. He was a non commissioned officer till June, 1864, when he was promoted to 2d lieutenant United -States Engineers, and again to 1st lieutenant in 1865. He was mustered out of service in November of that year (1865.) He was in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Oct, 8, 1862, and Stone River January 1, 2 and 3, in 1863, and was Pontooneer laying bridges for the army moving from Murfreesborough to Chattanooga, fought that battle, and laid a bridge across the Tennessee 1,447 feet long in seven hours. He was in the battle of Mission Ridge Nov. 24, 1863, after that was building block houses until 1864, then was assistant topographical engineer until July, 1864, then was appointed Inspec- tor of Fortifications at Chattanooga. In Oct. 1864, he was ordered. to report to General John E. Smith with the Pontoon train, at the Etowah river. He found General Smith at Resaca, reported, and was ordered to remain at Resaca with the train till further orders. In Nov. 14, 1864, the post was attacked by General Hood's entire army. The railroad and Pike river bridges being gone, he laid a Pontoon bridge, and on the 16th General Sherman's entire army crossed on his return from Atlanta. Mr. M'Mann was in the siege and though it took six days to cross, he was on duty the whole time. He asked to be relieved that he might get a chance to sleep, but was refused. He went back to Chattanooga and remained on various engineering duties till mustered out in 1864. In 1867 he was appointed second lieutenant of the regular army, and was on special duties in the territories distributing recruits in 1867 and 1868, and joined his regiment at New Orleans in December,
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