USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph county, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
A fiasco in the manufacturing line occurred in the history of the village a few years ago, which it may not be amiss to mention, lest posterity may think that the business road of Sturgis has been a "royal" one, covered with roses, and redolent with the bloom of continuous success. One Jean H. Broadus, an energetic, active man, came into the village and contracted for the fine farm of John S. Newhall, and erected a fine foundry on the railroad for the manufacture of a patent heat-multiplier. He laid off the farm into a handsome addition to the town ; advertised an auction sale of the lots, gave a barbecue, and with plenty of music and feasting the sale began, and amounted to nine thousand dollars the first day. He procured a charter for a street railroad from his works through the principal street of the town, the council granting permission for the laying of the tracks ; but just before his visions became realities, his airy castles, which in time might have be- come solid stone, brick and mortar, were dissipated by the sheriff, who had an unromantic attachment for Broadus and his iron, and the whole fabric faded away, except the very completely built and equipped foundry, which has never been soiled with a single blast. Broadus retired and began opera- tions elsewhere, and is said to have been more successful. Sturgis derived some benefit from the matter by being most extensively advertised.
CONFLAGRATIONS.
There have been several destructive fires in Sturgis since its beginning three of which, more noted than others, we mention. In 1859 a fire broke out which swept off all of the business portion of the village on the south side of Chicago street, from Nottawa to North street.
80
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In 1867, the Herbert block and Sturgis hotel were burned ; and January 1, 1876, the Exchange hotel was destroyed.
CITY ORGANIZATION.
The village was first incorporated as Sturgis February 12, 1855, by act of the legislature. William K. Haynes was elected the first president, and William L. Stoughton the first recorder.
The first code of ordinances was adopted by the common council-whose names we cannot obtain, the earliest records being destroyed in the fire of 1859. The code under which the village is at present governed was revised and adopted August 16, 1876, and is very complete and stringent for the protection of the morals of the people and the preservance of order, inflicting severe penalties for the breach and violation of the same.
The general act of incorporation passed by the legislature, March 15, 1865, was adopted by the council in April following ; and in March, 1875, the people voted to re-incorporate, under the general act of 1873, and are now so governed.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On June 20, 1859, the council passed an order to buy a fire-engine, and one was accordingly bought, with a hose-cart and two hundred feet of hose ; and a fire-company organized, called the "Watchword Fire-Company," with William Hammond as foreman ; Daniel Flynn, first assistant ; Henry McAfee, secretary ; C. B. Peck, treasurer ; John P. Gilmer, company engi- neer, and forty-three other members. David Page was the second foreman.
This machine is familiarly known as the " Old Tub," and has been under the ban of the council, they having ordered its sale several times, but not- withstanding it has done some effective "washings " of more modern en- gines at firemen's tournaments in different parts of the State. The last order concerning it was to put it in order for emergencies, and the " Old Tub " is still officered and manned by the " Deluge Fire-Company," Charles Fair- banks foreman, and forty men.
In 1863, December 14, Extinguisher Fire-Engine No. 2, with hose-cart and hose, was purchased for three hundred and fifty dollars, and soon after- wards additional hose to the amount of one hundred and thirty-seven dollars was purchased.
In 1864 the council bought a site for an engine-house and erected the present firemen's hall, at an expense of seventeen hundred dollars, Wil- liam Allman and W. A. Kent being the building committee.
In 1865 the fire-company was re-organized and uniformed at the expense of the corporation.
In 1873 the council dug the public well and built the water-tank at a cost of seven hundred dollars ; and the next year enlarged the tank to eighteen feet diameter and twelve feet high and twelve feet from the ground, at a cost of four hundred and ninety-six dollars. The Extinguisher Fire-Company has forty men ; A. A. Wilbur, foreman.
The receipts into the corporation treasury in 1857 amounted to three hundred and fifty-nine dollars and sixty-four cents ; in 1866, they were two thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight dollars ; in 1876, three thousand four hundred and seventy-eight dollars. The expenses of the year ending March 1, 1876, were as follows : fire department, seven hundred and twenty- seven dollars and eighteen cents ; streets, one thousand and thirty-one dollars and eighteen cents ; old indebtedness, seven hundred and fifty-one dollars and thirty-two cents ; salaries, four hundred and seventy-six dollars and twenty cents ; miscellaneous, two hundred and sixty-four dollars.
CITY OFFICIALS.
Presidents-Hiram Jacobs, 1859; P. H. Buck, 1860-2; S. B. Follette, 1865-7; L. E. White, 1868-76.
Recorders-Edward Dawes, 1859; Henry McAfee, 1860-2; Ira F. Pack- ard, 1863-5; William MeLaughlin, 1866-7; Bracey Tobey, 1868; J. B. Foley, 1869; M. D. Kirk, 1870; S. B. Follette, 1871; M. R. Lester, 1872; Ed. S. Amidon, 1873-4 ; H. L. Anthony, 1875-6.
Treasurers-C. B. Peck, 1859; Z. H. Wallace, 1860-1; E. Dawes, 1862; William Allman, 1863-4; Joel A. Fox, 1865-7; J. J. Beck, 1868-76.
Marshals-Samuel Valentine, 1864; William L. Race, 1865; Joseph T. Graham, 1866; S. S. Phelps, 1867; J. S. Swan, 1868; James Sprague, 1869-74; Horace Hinkley, 1875-6.
PRESENT CITY GOVERNMENT, 1876.
Levant E. White, president; trustees, Ambrose M. Littlefield, John G. Seeb, T. Franklin Thornton, Marcus D. Kirk, Frank S. Packard, R. H. Morrison ; J. J. Beck, treasurer; Harry L. Anthony, clerk; C. Jacobs, street commissioner ; Horace Hinkley, marshal ; Samuel B. Follette, as- sessor ; chief engineer, William McLaughlin ; fire wardens, Thomas Keats, John Wallace, James Kennedy, Daniel Burger ; pound-master, David Fitch.
OAK LAWN CEMETERY,
containing twelve acres, and lying just south of the village, on the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section twelve, is a beautiful and eligible location, bought by the board of health of the township of Sturgis in 1867, which board proceeded to lay it out and order a sale of the lots the same year. One-half of the receipts from the sales were invested in a vault, and for the grading and adornment of the grounds, and the other half of the receipts were invested, and the interest accumulated thereon to be expended in the future adornment of the naturally beautiful place. The present building was put up in 1876. The ornamentation is principally private work, though the grading is all done by the board of health. The selection of the location, and the evident care bestowed upon its preparation and preservation, reflect great credit upon the board, which cannot fail to be appreciated by the people and all who visit the beautiful city of the dead so liberally provided from the public purse. There are some beautiful and elegant monuments and marbles in the grounds, among which the massive Scotch granite shaft placed on Judge Sturgis' lot first at- tracts the attention, and detains the passer-by.
Jacob Laurick has erected a most beautiful fluted and draped column to the memory of an only daughter, a most lovely girl. The McKerlie, White, Anthony, Pendleton and Wallace marbles are elegant and massive.
THE SOLDIERS' CEMETERY occupies a little rounded summit to the south of the main grounds, and is decorated with a flag-staff, with a howitzer (the gift of the State in 1875) mounted at the base of the staff. Four soldiers are there buried, and on decoration-day services are usually held there.
PATRIOTISM OF STURGIS.
The patriotism of Sturgis prairie was severely tested in 1832, when the messengers from Fort Dearborn brought the news of Black Hawk's advance on the outlying settlements in Illinois, and their appeal for help to stay the anticipated tide of devastation was not unheeded by the hardy pioneer of the infant settlement, itself in the midst of what they might well deem, under the circumstance, implacable and blood-thirsty foes; and though the very next messenger which arrived from General Atkinson brought news of the capture of the leader of the hostile array, yet it did not militate against the feelings inspired in the breasts of the settler of giving aid to their distressed brethren in the west, as well as protection for their firesides.
An independent rifle-company was raised and sent to White Pigeon, and thence to Niles, and a few of the Sturgis men went to Door prairie. They were a jolly lot, and had, as Hiram Jacobs, who was one of the volunteers, says, "a big time." Besides Mr. Jacobs there were Asa W. Miller, P. H. Buck, Captain Hunter, who commanded the company, John Parker, Moses Roberts, Edward Mortimore, Baumgartner, and several others, who volun- teered to serve out a sixteen days' campaign, making their principal raid on the commissary supplies, there being no other enemy on whom to forage.
The records of the township in the war of the rebellion is a glorious one, not only for the numbers of its citizens who volunteered in the defense of the old flag, but for the distinguished part they held in upholding the integrity of the Union, and making it in deed and in truth the "land of the free" as it has ever been " the home of the brave."
The following are the names of those citizens, as far as we have been able to designate them from the records and by the memories of the citizens of the town. If any names do not appear in this list, they may possibly be found in the other township lists, as it was impossible that some errors should not occur with the means we had by which to locate them by township.
FOURTH REGIMENT MICHIGAN INFANTRY.
Company C.
Captain Abraham R. Wood; shot on picket near Yorktown, April 18, 1862.
First Lieutenant Ebenezer French ; wounded at Gettysburg ; promoted to
captain September 1, 1862, and mustered out at end of service. Sergeant Gordon Bates; discharged for disability. Sergeant John McAfee; discharged at expiration of service. Private George A. Chandler; discharged at expiration of service.
Private David F. Dudley ; discharged at expiration of service.
Private Nelson Field ; discharged for disability, June 1, 1861. Private Fayette Howk ; discharged for disability.
Private Joseph Thompkins; discharged for disability.
Private Thomas B. Whittlesy ; discharged at expiration of service.
Sergeant James W. Vesey ; second-lieutenant, November 1862; died of wounds near Richmond, June 30, 1864.
.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
SEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY. Company K. Private Orson D. Lampson ; killed at Cold Harbor, Va., May 31, 1864. Musician James M. Vesey ; re-enlisted and mustered-out at end of war. Private Cornelius Bixby ; killed at Antietam.
Private Alonzo Chambers; discharged for disability.
Private Thomas Crampton ; re-enlisted ; sergeant, January 1, 1863; first sergeant, September 1, 1864; wounded at Petersburg, June 18 and October 13, 1864; second lieutenant, and mustered-out at end of war.
Private John B. Denny; transferred veteran reserve corps and mus- tered-out.
Private John A. Hooker; wounded ; discharged November, 1862.
Private George Pedler ; re-enlisted and mustered-out at end of war.
Private Oscar Wilson ; discharged for disability, 1862.
ELEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Colonel William L. Stoughton ; lost a leg before Atlanta; entered service as lieutenant-colonel, and promoted to brigadier-general on the field and mustered out.
Major Benjamin F. Doughty ; resigned August, 1862.
Assistant-Surgeon N. I. Packard ; mustered out with regiment.
Quartermaster A. T. Drake; mustered out with regiment.
Company A.
Second Lieutenant Aaron B. Sturgis ; resigned.
Private John D. Billings; discharged for disability. Company C.
Captain Calvin C. Hood ; resigned.
First Lieutenant Matthias M. Faulkner; promoted to captain and resigned. Sergeant Charles W. Bishop; died of typhoid fever, January 30, 1862.
Sergeant Enos M. Twichell ; discharged at expiration of service.
Sergeant Nelson B. Engle; discharged at expiration of service.
Corporal Jasper D. Ladow ; discharged for disability.
Corporal Courtland W. Doughty ; discharged for disability.
Private Ira M. B. Gillaspie; discharged at expiration of service.
Private Enoch I. Gillaspie; deserted at Bardstown, Ky., December 26, 1861.
Private Martin V. Gillaspie; discharged at expiration of service. Private Charles Leonard ; died at Sturgis.
Private Henry V. Russell; discharged.
Private Matthew H. Warren ; discharged at expiration of service.
Private John C. Drake; mustered out at end of war.
Private Ezrom J. Weigle; mustered out at end of war. Company E.
Private Henry J. Booth ; mustered out at end of war.
Private Perry Sprague ; mustered out at end of war.
Private George H. Schimps; mustered out at end of war.
Private John R. Tyler; mustered out at end of war.
Private Frank H. Church ; mustered out at end of war.
Company F.
Private Sidney A. Munger ; mustered out at end of war.
Company G.
Private James Curns ; discharged at expiration of service. Company I.
Second Lieutenant Henry S. Platt; promoted to first lieutenant and mus- tered-out.
TWELFTH INFANTRY. Company F.
Private Daniel J. Tompkins ; drowned in Arkansas river, at Little Rock.
THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.
Company B.
Captain William McLaughlin ; resigned.
SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. Company K.
Private George Rommel; mustered out at end of war.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY. Company A.
Private Martin Stuckman ; mustered out at end of war. Private George Stuckman ; mustered out at end of war. Private Peter Nash ; discharged at expiration of service.
Company D.
Peter Dyer; mustered out at end of war. William Poppins; mustered out at end of war.
Company E.
Captain John J. Baker; major, June 27, 1864; lieutenant-colonel, Octo- ber 28, 1864; wounded at Lookout Mountain, and discharged.
First Lieutenant David J. Easton ; captain, May 2, 1864 ; major and mus- tered-out.
Second Lieutenant John F. Clarke; first lieutenant, May 1, 1863 ; captain and mustered-out.
Sergeant Edmund S. Amidon ; discharged for disability.
Sergeant John J. Coblentz; second lieutenant and resigned.
Sergeant William J. Smith ; killed at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864.
Sergeant Wesley Locke; second lieutenant and mustered out.
Sergeant Andrew J. Lamb; mustered-out.
Corporal C. B. Rodabaugh ; mustered-out.
Corporal George Dawes ; died at Annapolis, April 20, 1863.
Corporal John H. Popino ; mustered-out.
Corporal Isaac B. Turner ; mustered-out.
Musician John W. Howk ; mustered-out.
Wagoner John C. Davis; mustered-out.
Private William H. Allen ; discharged.
Private Thomas Adams; mustered-out.
Private Lyman S. Allen ; discharged.
Private Alonzo I. Bacon ; killed at Thompson's station, Tenn., March 5, 1863.
Private Thomas W. Barr ; killed at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864.
Private Pulaski C. Crapo; mustered-out.
Private William A. Culver ; mustered-out.
Private George C. Cole; wounded at Thompson's station, Tenn., March 5, 1863, and discharged.
Private Clinton S. Compton ; mustered-out.
Private George H. Chandler ; discharged, disabled.
Private William H. Ashley ; died at Annapolis, April 11, 1863.
Private Frederick Doss ; veteran reserve corps and mustered-out.
Private Robert Fox ; discharged.
Private Charles B. Ford ; mustered-out.
Private De Witt C. Greenman ; killed at Thompson's station, Tenn., March 5, 1863.
Private Elon C. Greenman ; mustered-out.
Private Charles S. Harper ; mustered-out Private Franklin Hause ; mustered-out.
Private Henry D. Lester ; mustered-out.
Private Valentine Musteck ; died at Nashville, February 25, 1863.
Private Charles B. McAboy; deserted at Dowagiac.
Private Daniel H. Morrison; mustered-out.
Private Aaron D. McConnell; wounded and discharged.
Private Franklin G. Rice; mustered-out.
Private Edmund S. Smith; discharged.
Private Charles E. Stowe; mustered-out.
Private Thomas A. Shirtz; wounded in hand; mustered-out.
Private Daniel Thurston; mustered-out.
Private John Walker; died at Annapolis, May 8, 1863.
Private William G. Mugg; died of wounds, May 30, 1864.
Private John W. Anderson; died at McMinnville.
Private John Thurston; transferred to 10th regiment, and mustered-out.
Private Elial J. Mugg; mustered-out.
Private Hamilton A. Coe; mustered-out.
Private John R. Miller; mustered-out.
Private Oliver P. Hanks; mustered-out.
Private Delos Lake; mustered-out.
Private Henry H. Pullman; mustered-out.
Private Ephraim Warner; mustered-out.
Private James Hoffstader; died at Annapolis, April 24, 1863.
TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY. Company G.
Private Byron Greenman ; mustered-out.
FIRST MECHANICS AND ENGINEERS.
Company E.
Private Albert Allen; discharged at expiration of service.
81
82
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
FIRST CAVALRY.
Private Romaine Emmons; mustered-out.
EIGHTH CAVALRY. Company A.
Private Harrison Hutchinson; mustered-out.
Private Jacob A. Martin; mustered-out.
Private Charles E. Rogers; mustered-out. Private Chauncey Rogers; mustered-out. Company H. Private George Kline; mustered-out.
FIRST LIGHT ARTILLERY. Battery D.
Corporal Silas W. Allen ; discharged at expiration of service. Private Charles A. Bates; mustered-out.
.
Private Asahel B. Hill; mustered-out.
Private James D. Ridge; mustered-out.
Battery G.
Private John Allen; mustered-out. Private Eugene S. Munger; mustered-out.
UNITED STATES NAVY.
Private A. Dart; mustered-out. Private William Savery ; mustered-out.
The publishers are pleased to acknowledge their obligations for informa- tion given whereby the foregoing history of Sturgis has been compiled, to Hon. J. G. Wait and his estimable wife, Mrs. Judge Sturgis, John S. New- hall, Hiram Jacobs, George Thurston, Dr. Ira F. Packard, Levant E. White, J. W. Flanders, Esq., E. W. Pendleton, Z. H. Wallace, R. H. Mor- rison, H. L. Anthony, Dr. W. G. Cummins, Hon. William Allman and Dr. T. Franklin Thornton.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LONCAORE-CO
HON. J. G. WAIT, STURGIS.
MRS. J. G. WAIT, STURGIS.
HON. JONATHAN G. WAIT.
Jonathan G. Wait was born in the town of York, Livingston county, New York, November 11, 1811. His parents, Josiah and Martha Ann (Graham) Wait, were natives of the town of Alstead, State of New Hampshire, but in early life moved to the town of Ovid, New York, and from thence to York, before named, and thence to Perry, Lake county, Ohio. The family name has been variously spelled at different periods, as follows : Waite, Wayte, Wayght, Waight, Wait, Waitt, Wate, Weight and Waiet. It has been traced back as far as A.D. 1075. William the Conqueror gave the earl- dom, city and castle of Norwich in England, to Rolf De Waiet, son of Rolf, an Englishman by a Welsh woman, who married Emma, sister to Roger, earl of Hereford, cousin of the conqueror. Records show that Wayte, of county Warwick, A.D. 1315, was escheator of the counties of Wilts, Oxford, Berkshire, Bedford and Bucks. Thomas Wayte was a member of parlia- ment, and one of the judges who signed a warrant in 1649 for the execution of King Charles the First. Their descendants, Richard, John and Thomas, were among the earliest settlers of New England. Thomas Wait was the father of Josiah Wait, the father of Jonathan G. Wait, the subject of our sketch. Josiah Waite, the father of Jonathan G. Wait, was a farmer, and
the son was instructed in that business until the age of fourteen years, at which time the family removed to Lake county, Ohio. At the age of sev- enteen Jonathan G. Wait commenced teaching district schools, which occu- pation, for portions of the time, he followed for several years. In the fall of 1834 Mr. Wait left Ohio for the State or Territory of Michigan, traveling through the southern part of the same, and as far west as Laporte, Indiana, and thence returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1835 removed to St. Jo- seph county, Michigan, and made a permanent location on Sturgis prairie, in what was then known as the village of Sherman, but now is the city of Sturgis. Here he has remained to the present time. For two win- ters, succeeding his first location on the prairie, he taught the village school in the old log school-house that was first erected in the place for that purpose.
In the year 1836 he began to build in the village, and that season erected four dwelling-houses. He also began the manufacture of boots and shoes, and cabinet and chair-making, employing from ten to fifteen men, the work being all done by hand. In 1841 Mr. Wait commenced business in the mercantile line, and was engaged therein fifteen years, and was also
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
83
engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber in Bronson, Branch county, where he owned and operated two saw-mills during the same period. In 1849 and 1850 he was the agent of the Michigan Southern Railroad Com- pany, to procure the right of way and otherwise aid in the construction of the road. He also had heavy contracts on the road for building depots and fences, culverts and bridges, and furnishing ties. He built all of the build- ings from Bronson to Sturgis on the road, furnished the ties from the former place to White Pigeon, and fenced the road the same distance. In the fall of 1850 he was elected to the legislature of Michigan as a Whig, during Governor Barry's administration. Hon. T. W. Ferry, now United States senator, was a member of the house that same session, and Hon. I. P. Chris- tiancy, also United States senator, was in the senate. At this session occur- red the greatest and last struggle between the Michigan Central and Mich- igan Southern railroads, in which the Southern came off victorious.
In 1857 Mr. Wait assisted to organize the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company, and was elected a director thereof, which position he has held continuously to the present. During this year he graded and bridged twelve miles of the road between Sturgis and La Grange. In 1860 he was elected to the State senate, and re-elected for two succeeding terms-six years consecutively. During this time he had charge in the senate of the bills providing for an extension of time limited for the construction of the Grand Rapids and Indiana road, by which the land-grant was to be saved to the road, the bills being successfully passed through both houses, and be- coming laws. This action was the foundation of the final success of the road, as, if the land-grant had lapsed, the road would never have been built. Mr. Wait was for several years engaged in the location and construction of the road, and was amply rewarded by meeting with full success.
In all things pertaining to the prosperity of Sturgis, Mr. Wait has ever taken and still does take the liveliest interest, and is among the foremost to secure advantages for the town that seem to prophesy or promise well for its advancement in material wealth, or social improvement, or educational progress. In the early days of his residence in the township, then called Sherman, and including Sherman, Burr Oak, Fawn River and Sturgis, he was the town clerk, supervisor, and justice of the peace for several years.
In politics he is a staunch and uncompromising Republican, being elected to the house of representatives of Michigan in 1850 as a Whig, and to the senate in 1860, 1862 and 1864 as a Republican. In 1860 he commenced the publication of the Sturgis Journal, a radical Republican paper, in which he discussed the political issues of the day with marked ability and vigor. He continued to edit and publish the Journal for fourteen years, when he disposed of it to his son, who succeeded to the editorial tripod for a time. In 1872, as an acknowledgment of the faithful service rendered by the Journal to the Republican cause, Mr. Wait received the appointment of postmaster of Sturgis, which position he holds at the present time.
On the 20th day of October, 1839, Mr. Wait was united in marriage to Miss Susan S. Buck, a daughter of George Buck, of Erie county, New York, and the second family to settle on Sturgis prairie in 1828. Mrs. Wait was born in Erie county, New York, June 8, 1821, and removed with her father and his family to Michigan, as before stated, where she has ever since resided. Twelve children have gathered around the family hearth- stone of Mr. and Mrs. Wait-nine sons and three daughters, of whom five sons remain, the others having passed beyond this present state of existence. One son, Arthur, is the agent of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at Sturgis.
LONGACRE~Co.
LONGACRE-CO
DR. IRA F. PACKARD, STURGIS.
MRS. IRA F. PACKARD, STURGIS.
DR. IRA F. PACKARD.
Among the citizens of Sturgis, none have a more creditable position in its society than has Dr. Ira Fobes Packard. By his own endeavors and integ- rity he has made himself a place among his fellows, honorable to himself and the community in which he lives. He comes, too, of a sterling ances- try, who have made a record for themselves upon which their descendants may reflect with just and commendable pride. His grandfather, Elijah Packard, was a native of England, where he followed the profession of a dissenting clergyman, provoking thereby such fierce persecution from the State church authorities, that he was forced to flee to America, and leave a fine estate, which was confiscated to the British crown. On his arrival in America in the earlier part of the eighteenth century, he adopted the busi- ness of a civil engineer, and entered the service of the Bristol Company of the Massachusetts colony, for whom he surveyed large tracts of the country, receiving, in 1765, as part payment for his labors, a fine tract of land cover-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.