USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume II > Part 25
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is a woman of considerable literary talent, and has always written for publication since her youth. She is a contributor to the Mich- igan Christian Advocate, and has recently written a series of articles for a San Francisco paper, entitled "Amusement for the Young," and "The Home." She is a woman of culture and refine- ment, and widely known and esteemed.
Willis A. Carpenter has been a printer since boyhood, and began working on his own account at the age of thirteen years. He spent five years working at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, and has worked in various positions since, at the same time, however, carry- ing on his printing business until 1900. At the age of nine years he edited and printed, on his own press, the "Carlton Kicker." Au- gust 16, 1900, Mr. Carpenter married Lulu, daughter of James and Anna Clark, of Ionia. Her father was a railroad conductor and died some years ago; her mother lives at Fruitport, Michigan. Mrs. Carpenter was born January 6, 1883.
Mr. Carpenter and his wife have two children, Helen Aline, born June 21, 1903, and Maxine Adell, born January 15, 1907.
In the fall of 1905 Mr. Carpenter and his wife purchased a one-half interest in the Burr Oak Acorn, going into partnership with L. H. Mallory. The paper is widely circulated, and the in- vestment proved successful Mr. Carpenter is a man of literary ability and conducted the paper in a manner that assured him a large number of subscribers. He sold his interest to L. H. Mal- lory and purchased the Mendon Leader, which he intends to make the best paper in St. Joseph county and will boost Mendon until it is the most talked of town in the county. Mr. Carpenter is a Republican and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America; he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
LUCIUS F. FILLMORE .- Possibly there is not a family in St. Joseph county, Michigan, which has the prestige, genealogically and historically, of the Fillmores. Mr. Fillmore is a relative of President Millard Fillmore, his own father being a nephew of the president. It is true, in the words of Emerson, that the true his- tory and progress of a nation is recounted in the history of the peo- ple. The Fillmores of St. Joseph county are so well known as pio- neer agriculturists that they need no introduction to the people of the county.
Lucius F. Fillmore is a scion of one of the families that have long been founded in America. The first progenitor was Capt. John Fillmore-but the name, which is of English origin, was
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variously spelled, as "Filmer," "Filmore," "Fillamore," "Phill- more," and Fillmore, and the rising generation have adopted the present spelling. The original English name is traced to Robert Filmore, living in time of Edward II. A descendant, in time of Queen Elizabeth, had a coat of arms conferred upon him, this coat of arms being-sable, three bars, three cinquefoils in chief-the date of conferring being 1570.
The first of the name found in the United States was John Fillmore or Phillmore, mariner of Ipswich, Massachusetts, who pur- chased an estate at Beverly, Massachusetts, on November 24, 1704, and this Fillmore was the common ancestor of all the Fillmores of America. The Fillmores of this sketch trace their lineage back to the Revolutionary war, since President Millard Fillmore's grand- father was a soldier in the battle of Bennington, where General Stark made the memorable expression that "We will whip the Britishers or Molly Stark will be a widow tonight." This makes the Fillmores eligible to membership in the Sons and Daughters of the Revolution.
Mr. Fillmore of this sketch has one of the most costly bibles in the county, which was the property of President Fillmore, and on the clasp of the bible is inscribed, Millard Fillmore, Buffalo, N. Y., 1846. This is a valuable relic and besides this bible Mr. Fill- more has a gold headed cane with his name and the date, 1852, and a thorn cane, cut on the Tippecanoe Battle Ground, and pre- sented by the Whigs of Indiana in 1841. And it was given to his father, Nathaniel Fillmore, and passed on down to the present de- scendant of the Fillmore family. They also have a gold-plated clock under a glass cover, which was the property of President Fillmore, and Lucius Fillmore also has two steel plates of the president. There is no family possibly in St. Joseph county who can furnish such historical data as the Fillmores. Lucius Fill- more is a native of La Grange county, Indiana, and was born Jan- uary 28, 1852. He is the oldest of three children, two sons and one daughter born to Benjamin F. and Mary (Baker) Fillmore and all are still living. They are as follows: Lucius F .; Leonard M., who is one of the prosperous agriculturists and stockmen of the county ; he was reared to manhood in La Grange and politically is a Democrat ; Ella V., wife of B. F. Crandall, a farmer, residing in La Grange township, and they have two daughters. Benjamin F. Fillmore, the father of this family, was born in Erie, New York, December 29, 1825. He was but a small boy when his par- ents located in Northern Ohio near Fremont in 1830, in the
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Black Swamp, and there they lived until 1837, when they located in La Grange county, Indiana, when the country was almost an unbroken wilderness. They rented for awhile and then pur- chased a farm, the father adding to his possessions time and again till he owned over four hundred acres in that county. Benjamin F. Fillmore grew to manhood in his adopted county and there was educated in the pioneer schools. He became an agriculturist and also a thresher. He was a successful man in his business and re- sided in Indiana till 1891, when he sold his estate and came to Not- tawa township, Michigan, and resided with his son till his death, which occurred January 12, 1895. He was a Mason of high rank, being a member of the lodge and chapter and he was always a true Mason and was interred by Masonic rites. He was first a Whig, but later became a Jackson Democrat.
Both he and his wife are interred in Brighton, Indiana, and beautiful stones have been erected to their memory. Mother Fill- more was a native of New Hampshire and she was born in Camp- ton, New Hampshire, March 19, 1826. She died June 17, 1883. She was twelve years of age when she came with her parents to New York and was reared there till her marriage.
Lucius F. Fillmore of this sketch was reared in his native state of Indiana till manhood. He has been an active man as an agriculturist, teacher and has been a solicitor. His education was received in the common schools and also at the high school at Orland, Indiana. He became one of the successful teachers in Branch county, Michigan, and then taught six terms in La Grange and Steuben county, Indiana. Mr. Fillmore has been twice mar- ried, first to Miss Nettie Paxson, in Springfield township, December 25, 1877, and one daughter was born, May, now the wife of Chester Bucknell, a resident of Nottawa township, where he is a prosperous farmer ; they have two children, Arthur F. and Pearl. Mrs. Buck- ner was educated in the common schools. Her mother died March 11, 1887. For his second wife Mr. Fillmore chose Miss Charlotte C. Crandall, to whom he was married January 31, 1890, at La Grange county, Indiana, and four children, two sons and two daughters, have been born to them: Viva A., who received her diploma from the common schools in 1908, and at the present time is a student in the Centerville high school; Verne Z. is in the sev- enth grade in the public schools; Marian B. is in the second grade, and Clara L. is also in school.
Mrs. Fillmore is a native of Constantia, New York, and was born March 2, 1869, being a daughter of Andrew and Sophia
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(Hoyt) Crandall. There were three children, two sons and one daughter in her parents' family: Charles Crandall, a resident of near Coldwater, Michigan; Adelbert D., a resident of Orland, Indi- ana, and Mrs. Fillmore. The father, Andrew Crandall, was a native of New York born in 1840. He was reared as an agricul- turist and educated in the common schools. He came to Indiana when Mrs. Fillmore was but an infant, and Angola was but a wilderness. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Company F. 189th New York Volunteer Infantry, September 5, 1864, at Oswego, New York, and was in many battles, including Hatcher's Run, Nelson's Farm, Boylston, Plank Road, Gravelly Run and Five Forks. His regiment was under the com- mand of General Grant, and in the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Crandall was honorably discharged May 30, 1865. In 1901 he came to Michigan and purchased land in Nottawa village. He is a Republican. Mrs. Crandall was a native of New York and was born April 25, 1843, and she died November 8, 1907. She was born in Hastings, Oswego county, New York. She was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was converted when she was sixteen years of age. Mrs. Fillmore was educated in Orland, Indiana.
It was on "Thanksgiving Day," 1891, when Mr. Fillmore came to Michigan and took possession of his present estate. He has a beautiful estate of ninety-four acres of good land in Nottawa township and this pretty place is known as "Ingleside." In poli- tics he is a Democrat, but in local affairs he casts his vote for the man, not the party. He has acted on the board of directors of public charities for several years, and he has also been on the board of review. Fraternally Mr. Fillmore is a member of Mt. Hermon Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 24, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Eastern Star. No. 225, at Centerville, Michigan. He is sentinel and Mrs. Fillmore is Ruth of the Eastern Star and has held the office for three years. The county organization of the Eastern Star was held at Centerville, May 11, 1910.
GEORGE T. WOLF .- There is every reason for St. Joseph county to be proud of those of her native sons who are lending their in- fluence and co-operation in forwarding her industrial, commercial and civic advancement, and one of this number is George T. Wolf, who is cashier of the First State Savings Bank of Three Rivers and who is a scion of one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families now represented in the county. On other pages of this Vol. II-16
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work appears a brief review of the life history of his father, Amos C. Wolf, one of the county's most venerable and honored pioneers, and to that article reference may be made for further data con- cerning the family record.
George T. Wolf was born on the old homestead farm, in sec- tion 27, Lockport township, this county, on the 8th of September, 1854, and the place of his nativity was the property secured from the government by his paternal grandfather more than seventy- five years ago. To the public schools of his native township Mr. Wolf is indebted for his early educational discipline, which was effectively supplemented by a course in the Parson's Business College at Kalamazoo, Michigan. He learned the lessons of in- dustry in connection with the work of the home farm, and he has ever maintained a deep appreciation of earnest and honorable toil, no matter in what field. In 1878 he became deputy county treas- urer, under the regime of his father, and he continued incumbent of this position for two years. In 1881 he became associated with his father in the organization of the A. C. Wolf and Brothers' Bank, at Centerville, the judicial center of St. Joseph county, and he served as cashier of the institution from its inception until 1888 when he came to Three Rivers, Michigan, as assistant cashier of the First National Bank and remained as such until 1891 when he became associated with his father and others in the organization and incorporation of the First State Savings Bank of Three Rivers, of which he has since served as cashier and of which his father has been president from the beginning. The bank is incorporated with a capital stock of $60,000 and is one of the substantial and ably managed financial institutions of the county. It receives a repre- sentative support and its business is handled along duly conserv- ative lines.
Mr. Wolf has at all times shown a public-spirited interest in all that has touched the welfare of his native county, and as a citizen he is essentially liberal and progressive. He accords an unwavering allegiance to the cause of the Republican party; is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. His wife is enrolled as member of the Presbyterian church in Three Rivers, where Mr. Wolf is recognized as a representative business man and where he has a secure place in popular confidence and regard.
On the 29th of November, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wolf to Miss Amanda Mckinley, who was born and reared in St. Joseph county and who is a daughter of Robert Mckinley, a representative citizen of that place at that time. Mr. and Mrs.
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Wolf have one son, George M., who was born on the 24th of Sep- tember, 1886, and who is now assistant cashier of the First State Savings Bank of Three Rivers. He is one of the representative young business men of the city and is popular in the social circles of the community.
WALTER J. HOSHAL .- In the matter of definite accomplishment and high personal integrity St. Joseph county has every reason to be proud of those of her native sons who are lending their influ- ence and co-operation in the forwarding of her industrial, commer- cial and civic enterprises. Among such progressive and highly esteemed representatives of the industrial interests of the county is numbered Walter J. Hoshal, who has shown marked initiative and administrative ability in the various lines of activity to which he has directed his attention and who is now general manager of the Beard Skirt Company, whose manufactory and general business headquarters are established in the attractive little city of Burr Oak, where he maintains his home and where he is a valued factor not only in business circles but also in social, public and church work. He has secure vantage ground in the confidence and regard of the people of his native county and is well entitled to represen- tation in this publication.
Walter J. Hoshal was born in White Pigeon township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, on the 13th of December, 1879, this county having also been the birthplace of his mother, though the family home was in Newago county at the time of the birth of him whose name initiates this review. Mr. Hoshal is the second in order of birth of the three children of Walter J. and Rosella (Rob- inson) Hoshal. Of the children Walter J. is the elder of the two surviving, and his brother, William F., is now foreman in one of the departments of the Sheffield Car Works, in Three Rivers, this county. William F. is a Republican in his political proclivities, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife have two children. Walter J. Hoshal, Sr., was born near the city of Toronto, Canada, on the 16th of November, 1852, and his death occurred, in Newago county, Michigan, on the 25th of January, 1885. He was reared and educated in the province of Ontario and during the greater part of his active career he was identified with the lumbering industry, in which connection he passed many years in the forests of Michigan. He was loyal to old England so long as he remained a resident of the Dominion of Canada, but after coming to the United States he manifested equal loyalty to the
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institutions and interests of the great American Republic, in which he became a naturalized citizen.
In the year 1873 Walter J. Hoshal, Sr., removed from Onta- rio, Canada, to Newago county, Michigan, where he remained until 1875, when he came to St. Joseph county and located near White Pigeon, where he found employment in connection with farming operations. Here it was that he formed the acquaintance of Miss Rosella Robinson, a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Pigeon prairie, this county, and here their marriage was solemnized on the 9th of August, 1876. Mr. Hoshal remained in that locality about one year after his marriage and then returned to Newago county, where he established his permanent home and where he continued to be identified with lumbering enterprises until his death. He was distinctively successful in his independent business activities, was a man of sterling character and strong men- tality, and he ever held the high regard of those with whom he came in contact in the various relations of life. He was a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and was loyal to all civic duties. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and under its auspices his funeral was held. One of his ancestors, loyal to the British crown, served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mrs. Rosella (Robinson) Hoshal was born in St. Joseph county, on the 5th of April, 1857, and is a daughter of Peter Robinson, who was numbered among the sterling pioneers of this county, where he reclaimed a farm and where he continued to reside until his death. Mrs. Hoshal married J. E. Weeks in 1890 and now resides in the city of Three Rivers. She is a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Walter J. Hoshal, the immediate subject of this review, has had a varied experience in the battle of life, and the brief data of this sketch adequately indicate that he has been the artificer of his own fortunes. His course has been characterized by industry, am- bition and inflexible integrity of purpose, and he has won his own way to a position of definite success, the while he has not been de- nied the fullest measure of popular confidence and esteem.
The boyhood and youth of Mr. Hoshal were passed in four dif- ferent states-Michigan, South Dakota, Iowa, and Washington. His rudimentary education was secured in Newago county, Michi- gan, after which he passed two years in Brown county, South Da- kota; one year in the state of Washington; and eight years in Iowa. Through his own efforts principally he secured an excellent practical education, thus admirably fitting himself for the business
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responsibilities which he later assumed. He was graduated in the Washington township high school, in Greene county, Iowa, and he recalls with appreciation that the first wages he received was twen- ty-five cents a day for pulling weeds, which dignified occupation enlisted his attention when he was a lad of twelve years. The dis- tinctive elements that have characterized his career and that have led to definite success have been perseverance and honesty of pur- pose. After his graduation in the high school Mr. Hoshal put his scholastic acquirements to practical test and utilization by engaging as a teacher in the country schools of Greene county, Iowa, where he successfully followed the pedagogic profession for a period of four years.
After remaining in the Hawkeye state for eight years he re- turned to Michigan and assumed the position of general manager of the sale of the "Reference Library" in this state. In this field of endeavor he made a most excellent record and developed marked executive ability. He devoted his attention to this line of educa- tional work for six years, within which he placed the valuable ref- erence library in countless schools, libraries and private homes. He continued in this line of effort until the autumn of 1909, when he resigned his position to accept that of general manager of the Beard Skirt Company, of Burr Oak. This company was incor- porated under the laws of the state in October, 1909, with a capital stock of $3,500, and its executive corps is as here noted : Clinton A. Boyer, president; Robert B. Ferris, vice president; Ansell R. Fer- ris, secretary and treasurer; and Walter J. Hoshal, general mana- ger. The company has established a well equipped plant in Burr Oak and its products are sold through agents in all sections of the Union. The concern has thus proved a valuable acquisition to the industrial and commercial enterprises of St. Joseph county. Through his previous experience in the securing and directing the work of agents Mr. Hoshal is specially well qualified for his pres- ent administrative office, and it is largely due to his efficient super- vision of its affairs that the company's business is so rapidly ex- panding in scope and importance.
In politics Mr. Hoshal is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands spon- sor, and he cast his first presidential vote for the late and lamented President Mckinley. The high esteem in which he is held in his home city is shown in the fact that in 1909 he was elected mayor of Burr Oak. As chief executive of the municipal government he gave a most able and progressive administration, and he retired
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from office in March, 1910. Mr. Hoshal is affiliated with Burr Oak Lodge, No. 123, Free & Accepted Masons, and with the Sturgis chapter of Royal Arch Masons, besides which he holds membership in the Burr Oak Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is president of the Burr Oak Public Library Association, and it is largely due to his earnest efforts that this organization has been brought to its present prosperous condition, involving the collect- ing and maintaining of an excellent public library. Both Mr. Hoshal and his wife are zealous and valued members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church in their home village, and he is a member of its board of trustees, as well as superintendent of its Sunday school. He is active in all departments of the church work and is at the present time president of the Niles District Epworth League, a position of which he has been incumbent since August, 1908. He has also shown deep interest in the work of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association and is a member of its executive committee for St. Joseph county. He does all in his power to further educational, moral and social advancement and has ever shown a high sense of his stewardship, thus striving to aid and uplift his fellow men and to prove worthy as one of the world's sterling army of productive workers. The following estimate, given by one familiar with the career of Mr. Hoshal, is worthy of reproduction in this article: "Mr. Hoshal is one of the alert young business men of St. Joseph county, and both he and his wife have the unqualified esteem of all who know them. Their attractive home, at the corner of Fourth and Eagle streets, in Burr Oak, is known for its gracious hospi- tality, and among its attractions is a fine library of more than five hundred volumes of choice literature. Mr. Hoshal is a close student at all times when his business cares are laid aside, and thus he does not permit himself to retrograde along intellectual lines, striving to keep in touch with the march of progress in this line as well as in that of practical business."
On the 29th of November, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hoshal to Miss Janie Lancaster, and they have two fine lit- tle sons-Walter J., Jr., and LaVerne. Mrs. Hoshal, a young woman of much charm of personality, was born in Burr Oak, on the 23d of May, 1884, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Ferris) Lancaster, who still reside in this place. Mrs. Hoshal was reared and educated in Burr Oak, and after her graduation in the high school she was a successful and popular teacher in her native county, besides which she held for some time the position of deputy postmaster of Burr Oak, She is active in the work of the
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Methodist Episcopal church, is a valued member of the Women's Club, a social and literary organization, and is a popular factor in the best social activities of the community.
DAVID W. EMBLEY .- One of Mendon's most highly esteemed and prominent citizens and one whose interests have long been identified with those of the community in which he now makes his home is David W. Embley. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine land and also a desirable home in the village. He and his wife have always led quiet lives, but their influence has been none the less potent, and has always been exerted in the right direction. Mr. Embley was born May 25, 1839, his parents being William and Margaret (Hill) Embley. The father was a native of New Jersey, where he was born in 1810, being either of English or of Scotch descent. The mother was born in New York in 1812, her father having come to America from Ireland at the age of sixteen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Embley came to Michigan with their parents when quite young, and after their marriage bought a farm of eighty acres, which they operated for a number of years, finally selling it and retiring. They were good church members, the mother be- ing a communicant of the Covenant church in New York, and the father belonging to the Methodist church. He voted the Republi- can ticket and previous to its organization was a Whig. They were the parents of the following children: James, born May 17, 1837, and now lives in Mendon; he married Aseneth Olney and has no children; David W., the subject of this sketch; a twin to David W. died in infancy, unnamed; Margaret E., born January 18, 1843, is the wife of Franklin Woodard and lives in Hershey, Michigan ; she was the mother of seven children, six of whom sur- vive; Nancy J., born January 6, 1846, is the wife of Elisha Wood- ard, a retired farmer, residing at Guide Rock, Nebraska, and they have six children. William Embley died in 1861, and his wife in 1856.
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