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 61
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Private Morris C. Benham, Company C; mustered-out.
NINETEENTH INFANTRY. Corporal Anthony C. Miles, Company D; mustered-out. TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
First Lieutenant Henry Mccrary, Company D; captain April 7, 1863, and mustered-out.
. Sergeant William L. Thomas, Company D; veteran reserve corps.
Corporal Jubal Thomas, Company D; mustered-out.
Corporal Charles Clement, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Darius Gilbert, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Anson Lamport, Company D; discharged for disability.
Private Henry Lemm, Company D; discharged.
Private William Miers, Company D; veteran reserve corps.
Private Sylvester McDonald, Company D ; mustered-out.
Private Andrew L. Pringle, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Thaddeus Rulinson, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Morgan Wallace, Company D; killed at Tibb's Bend, Kentucky, July 4, 1863.
Private Bruce C. Wilcox, Company D; mustered-out.
Private William Hoag, Company E; died September 17, 1864.
Private Nathan Schoefield, Company E; mustered-out. TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY. Private William H. Jones, Company A; mustered-out. FIFTH CAVALRY.
Private John E. Davis, Company L ; mustered-out. Private Edson E. Gould, Company M ; mustered-out. Private Richard Watkins, Company M; died at Annapolis, Maryland, August 21, 1864. EIGHTH CAVALRY.
Private Albert Wilcox, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private Ezra R. Harding, Company K; mustered-out.
Private George A. Collins, Company I; mustered-out. NINTH CAVALRY.
Private Charles Harding, Company K; mustered-out. Private Henry Miller, Company E; died at Coldwater, Michigan, April 6, 1863. ELEVENTH CAVALRY.
Private James McDowell, Company A; mustered-out. Private Emmett Elwell, Company F; mustered-out.
Private Benjamin Wilcox, Company I; discharged for disability.
FIRST ARTILLERY.
Private Wilbur F. Studley, Battery D; mustered-out.
Private Lewis E. Jacobs, Battery D; discharged for disability.
Private Freedom Randall, Battery F; mustered-out.
Private Benjamin F. Wilcox, Battery F; mustered-out.
Private Moses B. Baker, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Charles H. Haines, Battery 14; mustered-out.
PROVOST-GUARD. Horace C. Hoag; discharged for disability.
THIRTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS.
Private W. W. Ford, Company C; re-enlisted and mustered-out. UNITED STATES NAVY. Jacob Barron, mustered out; died in 1870 of disease contracted while in service.
We hereby tender our heartiest acknowledgments to W. M. Watkins, Esq., for valuable assistance rendered in the compilation of the history of Leonidas. We also acknowledge the receipt of information therefor from E. K. Wilcox, Esq., Addison Harvey, John Foreman, Esq., John A. Purdy, Mr. Millard, R. Coddington and Jairus Peirce.
178
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SOLOMON PIER.
Solomon Pier, of Leonidas township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, was born in Chenango county, New York, October 16, 1814. When he was but two years of age his father, Ethan Pier, moved with his family to Steuben county, where they remained until 1831, when they removed to Ontario county, and subsequently, in 1832, to Orleans county, New York, and finally, in 1838, to Washtenaw county, Michigan.
The facilities for education, as offered in early times, were few, so that Mr. Pier never enjoyed the advantages of extensive knowledge. Up to 1840 he worked on his father's farm, and then learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked for the next sixteen years.
On the 3d of December, 1855, he married Frances, daughter of John and Frances Bird, of Morristown, New Jersey, by whom he had two sons, Nirum J. and Ethan B., who reside with their parents. In 1856 Mr. Pier went to farm- ing on his own account, and, by industry and frugality, has become possessed of a well-cultivated farm of eight hundred acres, on which are neat and com- modious buildings. He bought and paid for his place with his own savings, and feels proud of the fact that he owes no man anything, and has besides had to pay about one thousand dollars in endorsements for other people.
In politics he has always supported the Democratic party ; in religion he believes in the grand old precept " do unto others as you would they should do unto you." A portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Pier grace our pages elsewhere in this work.
JAMES BISHOP.
The name of James Bishop will be recognized as among those promi- nently identified with the history of Leonidas township, where a large por- tion of his life and energies were spent. Coming into that township in 1837, he was necessarily intimately connected with its growth, development and prosperity, and was always esteemed as one of its most substantial citizens.
James Bishop was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, New York, October 29, 1815. His parents, William and Sybil Bishop, were much-respected citizens of York State for many years, and retained in their new western home the character for industry and integrity which they formerly enjoyed in the place of their birth and early life.
In 1841 the subject of our sketch married Clara, daughter of David R. and Sarah Cooley, an old and respected citizen of Sherwood, Branch county, Michigan, by whom he had four children,-two sons and two daughters,- all of whom are living. They were married by L. C. Hobart, Esq., at the residence of the bride's parents, and subsequently removed to the pleasant little hamlet of Factoryville, Leonidas township, and from there to Albion, Calhoun county, Michigan, and thence to Leonidas township, where they permanently settled.
In 1849, during the gold furore, Mr. Bishop went to California, the jour- ney thither occupying a year less five days. He had a desperate encounter with the Indians, in which he received a ball in his leg below the knee, which he carried with him to his grave. He remained in the land of gold and beautiful climate for one year and five months, and then returned to his farm in Leonidas, where he died on the 20th of January, 1867.
By industry and careful management he accumulated a fine property, consisting of two hundred and ninety acres of land, mostly under excellent cultivation.
As showing his general character we quote the following from an obituary which appeared in the Spiritual Republic :
"His was a grand triumph of the spirit over disorganized matter. Disease had long been insidiously undermining the system, and had preyed upon it until it had become a mere skeleton, seeming inadequate to hold a human spirit with all the force of former character teeming out through the senses which were retained perfect to the last. As his light became dim to mate- rial objects, his spiritual sight opened and he saw a father and brother ; the father had been an inhabitant of the spirit realm twenty-one, and the brother four years.
" He leaves many sincere mourners, who will sadly miss him in the physi- cal and material sense ; but they do not mourn as those without hope, for they have a knowledge that answers that oft-repeated question, 'What good does Spiritualism do?' that man is immortal, and his future home is not far removed from this, nor dissimilar and disconnected."
In politics Mr. Bishop was a Republican; in religious belief a Spiritualist; in character he was genial, kind and honest, and in his habits temperate; a good citizen, a fond husband, and an affectionate father.
MRS. CLARA BISHOP,
the widow of the above, and at present the wife of Mr. B. B. Gardner, of Sturgis, was born at Batavia, Genesee county, New York, March 10, 1818. She removed with her parents to Michigan in the spring of 1837, and set- tled in Sherwood, Branch county.
As above stated, she was a daughter of David R. and Sybil Cooley, the former of whom died in Sherwood, in 1850, at the age of seventy-five, and the latter six years later, aged seventy-four.
Soon after the death of her first husband, Mrs. Bishop removed to Sturgis, where she became acquinted with, and subsequently, on the the 27th day of May, 1869, married Mr. B. B. Gardner ; she now resides on Nottawa street in that city. She is a woman of very positive character, has always been a good wife and loving mother, and enjoys the respect of the community in which she lives.
At the dawn of modern Spiritualism, in 1848, she became a firm believer in it, and has since adhered to that belief. She possesses more than ordi- nary business tact, and transacts the affairs of her somewhat extensive prop- erty personally, and with creditable success.
B. B. GARDNER,
one of the oldest and most prominent pioneers of Sturgis, was born in Mont- gomery county, Virginia, March 4, 1809. His parents were also natives of old Virginia, and were among its most reputable citizens.
In 1818 he accompanied them to Gallia county, Ohio, where he assisted in opening up and cultivating a large farm ; thus at an early age acquiring those habits of industry which have been so beneficial to him in after life.
After remaining in Gallia county twelve years, they removed to Williams county, Ohio, and in January, 1831, we find Mr. Gardner emigrating to Michigan and settling in Sturgis, where he has ever since remained. When he arrived his possessions consisted of a span of horses, an old wagon, a cow, a wife and child, a mother-in-law and seventy-five cents in money. He en- tered eighty acres of land, which by subsequent purchases he increased to two hundred and forty-seven acres of finely improved land, in Sturgis town- ship, which he has since divided among his children.
On the 22d of January, 1828, he married Miss Nancy Thompson, a native of the same county as himself, which resulted in a family of eight children, of whom six survive, namely :
PHEBE B., born September 11, 1830.
PETER J. B., born July 5, 1832.
SARAH J. B., born October 26, 1838 ; died April 8, 1872.
MARIA E. B., born September 26, 1841 ; died January 12, 1871.
ADELINE B., born May 31, 1844.
LORETTA B., born October 16, 1846.
CALVIN B., born November 30, 1848.
SEPHRINIA B., born December 15, 1850.
Those remaining are all comfortably married and settled, enjoying the fruits of their father's munificence ; and are dutiful children, and respected members of society.
On the 15th of February, 1868, he sustained the loss of his wife, whose spirit took its flight to the "beauteous beyond," but still, he believes, hovers near him as of yore, holding sweet communion with his spirit, and awaiting the final reunion in the spirit-land.
In politics Mr. Gardner is a Republican; in religious belief a Spiritualist, having, like his wife, embraced that belief at its birth, twenty-nine years ago. He possesses many marked characteristics, one being an aversion to all kinds of litigation. It is a fact worthy of note that he never sued nor was ever sued in his life, nor never defalcated in any business engagement, but while using all judicious economy, and priding himself on his powers of acquisi- tion, he has never become parsimonious, but believing that charity ought to begin at home, he has lived up to that maxim, and having made his children comfortable, uses the proceedsof a neat competence, living in his quiet home surrounded by the comforts and pleasures of domestic life, and enjoying the fruits of his thrift and providence.
LONCACRE-CO
B. B. GARDNER. (STURGIS.)
LONGACRE-CO
MRS. B. B. GARDNER. (STURGIS.)
LONGACHE-CO
JAMES BISHOP. (STURGIS.)
LONGACRE-CO
MRS. CLARA BISHOP. (STURGIS.)
1
LEVI WATKINS
WM. M. WATKINS.
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM M. WATKINS, LEONIDAS TP., ST JOSEPH CO., MICH.
179
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
CAPTAIN LEVI WATKINS.
Among the staunch pioneers of St. Joseph county, who, in the burden and heat of the olden days bore their full share of labor, fearless in trial, un- daunted in defeat, and modest and unassuming in final victory, stood Levi Watkins, one of the earliest settlers of Leonidas.
Captain Watkins came of sterling stock, his grandfather, Captain Nathan Watkins, commanded a company of soldiers in the Revolutionary war, his son, Mark Watkins, father of the subject of our sketch, entering the same company as a drummer boy at the age of fourteen years. The father and son were taken prisoners at the battle of Bennington, but the boy was soon released by General Burgoyne, and sent home to his mother as a present from that gallant officer. The father, Captain Nathan Watkins, was held, but re-captured by the colonial troops a few days afterwards.
When Boston was evacuated by the British troops, the small-pox was rag- ing in the city, and Captain Watkins being the only officer of sufficient grade for the purpose, who had had the disease, was assigned to the command of the city.
The boy Mark went back into the service after his release by General Burgoyne, and served until he was honorably discharged.
Captain Levi Watkins also had the blood of Revolutionary ancestry on his mother's side. Her name was Esther Legg, and her father was also in the war for independence, serving with distinction.
He, of whom we write, was born in Partridgefield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 5, 1785, and when eight years of age removed with his parents, who settled on a royal grant in Herkimer county, New York, near Little Falls, where they lived until Levi was sixteen years old, when the family removed to Naples, Ontario county, in the same State.
While living in Herkimer a hurricane passed over the house and pros- trated a tree across the same, in such a manner as to imprison Levi until the tree was cut away. He fortunately escaped any serious injury.
He was the youngest of three sons, Elijah and Orrin being the other two besides himself. His father was a farmer, and Levi had no opportunity to attend school except for a single month, but gained his education in the hard school of experience. He always occupied the same farm with his father, but dwelt in a separate house, having everything produced on the farm in common.
He followed farming and cattle-droving for a business, driving to Phila- delphia and Buffalo large herds.
He entered the army during the war of 1812, and was stationed on picket between Lewiston and Buffalo in command of a company, which gave him his rank and title of captain.
In 1820 he took contracts on the Erie canal, then in process of construc- tion, which business he followed until 1824, but by the defalcation of the canal commissioner, and the fraudulent practices of a party for whom he was surety, he lost heavily, and was stripped of nearly all his property.
In the early part of the autumn of 1832, Captain Watkins came to Leon- idas,-then known as Flowerfield-and selected a location on the Nottawa creek, near Dunkin's (now Climie's) mill, and built a log-house and put in nine acres of wheat. He brought in a horse with him, which he exchanged for a yoke of oxen, and bought some wheat and corn and had it ground for supplies for his family when they should arrive, and went to work for the Cowen brothers, who were building their mill. He had purchased another yoke of oxen of Judge Meek, of Constantine, and engaged to work two months for the Cowens for sixty dollars, just the price he had agreed to pay for his last yoke of cattle. When his time was up he took the Cowens' note for the amount due, and exchanged it for his own note, which he had given for his team, and so "squared " the account.
On the 20th day of February, 1833, the family arrived, bringing with them a span of horses and a wagon, which was an important addition to the pioneer's outfit. The location of Captain Watkins proving to be seminary lands, he relinquished it, and bought lands contiguous thereto, on what was afterwards known as the territorial road, in the summer and fall of 1836, and built another house thereon. This location he transferred to his son, William M., with whom he continued to reside until his death. Captain Watkins' father, Captain Mark Watkins, and his wife removed from Naples, in February, 1835, and resided with his son, as formerly, until his death, which occurred in June, 1836-his wife Captain Levi's mother, surviving till October 24, 1847, when she too passed to her rest.
On the anniversary of the National Independence, in the year 1805, Cap. tain Levi Watkins was united in marriage to Miss Silence Clark, a daughter of Major Clark, of Naples, New York, by whom there were born to him two children, Polly and Alexander H. The latter was born February 1,
1808, and his mother died on the 8th day of the following July. On the 29th day of April, 1809, Captain Watkins sought another companion in the person of Lucina D., daughter of Edward and Mary Kibbee, of Naples. The children of this marriage were Martin C., Orrin M., William M., Esther S., now the widow of William Orcutt, late of Leonidas, now deceased, and Lucina S., now Mrs. James Colwell. Of the seven children of Captain Watkins, but three survive, they being the last ones named above.
In politics Captain Watkins was in his early days a Democrat, but being possessed of strong anti-slavery instincts, he joined the Free-Soil movement in 1848, and died a thorough and absolute Abolitionist. He helped many a poor fugitive to freedom, when the underground railroad was in operation, even when a Democrat. He never held any superior position in official life, from choice. In his youth he united with the Presbyterian church, and was one of the founders of the first society of that denomination in Naples, New York, and was also the chief support of the society in Leonidas. His first wife was also a member of that church in Naples, and his second one was a member of both that society and the one in Leonidas.
Captain Watkins, after a life of untiring activity, passed to his final rest, October 12, 1851. His partner survived him a little more than ten years, when she fell asleep and was laid beside him, February 19, 1862. And thus passed from the sight of men one of the most active and energetic citizens of his day. His executive ability was remarkable, and the enterprises in which he was engaged while a resident of New York were monuments to his en- ergy and determination, and had the State fulfilled its obligations, and its servants faithfully discharged their trusts, Captain Watkins would have been, notwithstanding his generosity, a wealthy man, living at his ease, long before his death. As it was, death found him with the harness on, every trace taut, and muscles strained for effective work, and he laid down "like a strong man taking his rest."
The second Mrs. Watkins was a pioneer of Ontario county, and set out the first apple-tree in Naples, which is still known as Mother Watkins' apple-tree.
WILLIAM M. WATKINS.
The subject of our sketch is the foremost man of Leonidas, and one whom the people of his township have and still do delight to honor. Hospitable and generous, the ample dwelling of William M. Watkins is seldom without guests, who gather around his table to partake of his abundant cheer, freely set forth, and fill his rooms with laughter and merriment, that drives the demons of care and foreboding from every nook and cranny of the old homestead.
Mr. Watkins was born in Naples, Ontario county, New York, August 17, 1816, where he assisted his father, Captain Levi Watkins, and attended the district-school until he was sixteen years of age, attending the select school of Rev. John Morgan one year. In February, 1833, he came with his father's family to Leonidas, where he has ever since resided. In 1844 he bought his present location, and removed to it with his father and mother, with whom he has always resided. The father and son have ever been one in their aims and purposes, and held their farm in common, and had a common interest. The homestead now includes two hundred and seventy acres, and is one of the most beautifully situated farms in the county.
We present our readers a view of this rare landscape on another page, together with portraits of Captain Levi and William M. Watkins.
On the 26th day of October, 1841, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage to Barbara E., daughter of George and Amelia Hill, of Manchester, New York, and who was born in Manchester, Ontario county, New York. She came to St. Joseph county in 1839.
The fruits of this union were Edward W., Marcia A., Marcus L., Levi H., Emory O., Ida May, Eva and Sarah F., all of whom are living except Ida and Sarah. The sons are all married and living on farms of their own except Emory, who remains with his father on the old homestead. Edward entered the military service in the rebellion, in December, 1862, and served till the war was over. He was a member of the eleventh regiment of Mich- igan volunteer infantry. Mr. Watkins was active and untiring in his efforts in aid of the government to put down the rebellion, and gave time and money without stint to the enlistment of volunteers to fill the quotasof his township during the war.
In politics Mr. Watkins was originally a Whig, but joined the Republican party at its organization, and has been a staunch member thereof ever since. He has held the position of supervisor of his township for several years, and
180
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
the position of sheriff of the county for two terms, from 1866 to 1870, inclusive.
Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are members of the Methodist church, of Leonidas, of which Mr. Watkins has been a trustee for many years.
ADDISON HARVEY.
The subject of the present sketch, Addison Harvey, was the son of Thomas and Sabra Harvey, and was born in Oneida county, New York, August 21, 1814. He was one of a family of ten children, of whom he alone survives. He left Oneida county when but eight years old, in company with his father's family, removing to Cattaraugus county in the same State, where he resided until 1837, when he immigrated to Michigan in the month of Sep- tember of that year, making the journey with an ox-team, and being twenty- seven days on the road. He purchased his present location on his arrival in Leonidas, St. Joseph county, on which there was a small log-house and about one acre enclosed. Mr. Harvey began life as a poor boy, but by in- dustry and frugality is now, in his old age, the owner of one of the best farms in Leonidas, containing four hundred and thirty-six acres. The homestead of one hundred and fifty-six acres is finely improved, with large barns and a comfortable dwelling thereon, a view of which we present on another page of our work. In the spring of 1835 Mr. Harvey was united in marriage with Miss Anna Beadle, by whom two sons were born to him-James and Addison, Jr., the latter dying when about a year old. Mrs. Harvey died in the fall of 1837, and now sleeps in the cemetery near Leonidas village. In November, 1842, Mr. Harvey took to himself another companion-Miss Amer E. Hall, of Ashtabula, Ohio. Three children were the fruits of this union-Sophia, Elizabeth A. and Porter S., of whom Elizabeth only sur- vives. On the 3d day of April Mrs. Harvey passed to her rest, leaving the husband once more alone. On the 8th day of September Mr. Harvey, find- ing a lonely life unendurable, brought a companion to share and brighten his desolate home. She was Miss Maria Teller, a daughter of Tobias Teller, of Saratoga county, New York, with whom she came to Michigan, November 10, 1843. Mr. Harvey was originally a member of the Whig party, and joined the Republican cause when that party was organized. He has been a prominent man in his younger days, and has held the offices of supervisor and justice of the peace for several years. Not having in his youth had very good advantages for an education, he has given his children all the advan- tages he was able to for a good one. Mr. Harvey's father was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and lived to a good old age.
MR. ELIJAH PURDY,
son of Elijah, Sr., and Lovenia Purdy, was born in Bedford county, New York, November 26, 1805. At the age of nine he was put out as an apprentice at the shoemaking trade till he was twenty-one, which trade he followed for several years afterwards. He married Miss Martha Barker, January 7, 1830. Miss Barker, now Mrs. Purdy, was born in Scurldale, Westchester county, New York, March 20, 1805. To bless this union five children were born,- Sarah L., died at the age of four ; John A., now on the old homestead; Mary C., in Indiana ; Martha A., died at the age of two years and a half; David B., owns the farm south of the old homestead. May 3, 1836, Mr. Purdy and family emigrated to Leonidas, St. Joseph county, Michigan, and settled where his sons John A. and David B. now reside. Mr. Purdy began life poor, but by industry and frugality, assisted by his faithful wife and family, became the owner of four hundred acres of good land. He was a worthy and con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church for more than forty-six years, and did his part in building up society. In politics he affiliated with the Whigs and Republicans. As Mr. Purdy was unable to attend to his own affairs for several years before his death, he gave to his son John A. the charge, and John A. is a successful financier. Mr. Purdy died August 12, 1876. He lived respected by all, and died regretted by many.
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