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 72
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Private August M. Wellman, Company A ; mustered-out.
Sergeant Wallace W. Hoisington, Company E; died at Nashville, August 11, 1862.
Sergeant Borden M. Hicks, Company E; captain and mustered-out.
Private Henry Close, Company E; discharged at expiration of service.
Private Jason W. Manley, Company E; died at Nashville, September 21,1861.
Private Reuben Manley, Company E; died at White Pigeon, December, 1862.
Private John Salter, Company E; discharged at expiration of service.
Private David Reish, Company E; mustered-out.
Private Nathan H. Legg, Company E; discharged.
TWELFTH INFANTRY.
Private Jay Whitaker, Company H; mustered-out.
Private B. W. Blodgett, Company E; mustered-out.
THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.
Private William Mabus, Company A; mustered-out.
Private George Phertanbaugh, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Jasper Eddy, Jr., Company E; died at Savannah, Georgia.
Private Edward R. Hutson, Company E; mustered-out. Private Thomas P. Carr, Company E; mustered-out. Private Josiah M. Hopkins, Company E; mustered-out. Private John Harvey, Company E; mustered-out. Private Solomon Keiser, Company E; mustered-out. Private George Jackson, Company E; mustered-out. Private Stephen P. Manley, Company E; mustered-out. Private Miles A. Pulver, Company E; mustered-out. Private George Shultice, Company E; discharged for disability. Private Isaac W. Steininger, Company E; mustered-out. Private William H. Tando, Company E; mustered-out. Private James Avery, Company E; mustered-out. Private John W. Blodgett, Company E; mustered-out. Private William B. Eddy, Company E; mustered-out. Private Solomon Reish, Company E; mustered-out. Private Isaac E. Wing, Company E; mustered-out.
212
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Private John Yager, Company E; mustered-out. Private Peter Yager, Company E; mustered-out. Private Omar W Hunt, Company H ; mustered-out. Captain Norman E. Hoisington, Company E; mustered-out. Private Albert F. Keiser, Company E; mustered-out. FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. Private Byron Churchill, Company A; re-enlisted, and mustered-out. Private Joseph W. Weatherbee, Company C; mustered-out. Private John Houts, Company C; mustered-out. Private John Nieman, Company E : mustered-out. Private Samuel Cibben, Company G ; mustered-out.
SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY.
Private John Arney, Company C; mustered-out. NINETEENTH INFANTRY.
Private Alfred Clark, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Daniel P. Doty, Company D; mustered-out.
Private John S. Doty, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Henry E. Walls, Company G ; discharged for disability.
TWENTY-FIFTH INFANTRY.
Sergeant Henry C. Lambert, Company D; promoted to second and first lieutenant, and mustered-out.
Corporal Orson Nelson, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Alonzo Burnett, Company D; mustered-out.
Private Benjamin J. Burnett, Company D; died at Bowling Green, March 28, 1863.
Private George J. Heckleman, Company G; discharged.
Private Eli Hartman, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private Eli Houts, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private Charles H. Howe, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private Augustus Keiser, Company G ; died at Bowling Green, March 12, 1863.
Private Augustavius Keiser, Company G; veteran reserve corps; mus- tered-out.
Private George H. Mohney, Company G; mustered-out.
Private Charles S. Newells, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private James M. Walton, Company G ; discharged.
Private Amos Dean, Company G ; mustered-out.
Private John Bigle, Company G; mustered-out.
Private Peter Bigle, Company G ; mustered-out. TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.
Private And. L. Garrison, Company H; mustered-out. FIRST MECHANICS AND ENGINEERS.
Private Duane Parsons, Company D; discharged at expiration of service. Private Joseph Eggleston, Company H ; discharged at expiration of service. FOURTH CAVALRY.
Private Daniel E. Krumm, Company I; at the capture of Jeff. Davis. ELEVENTH CAVALRY.
Private Stephen Corwin, Company K; discharged for disability.
FIRST MICHIGAN LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Sergeant Ira J. Beadle, Battery F; discharged for disability. Sergeant David Beadle, Battery F; blind while in service-sight totally lost. Private William Poe, Battery F; discharged for disability.
Private James M. Weatherbee, Battery M ; mustered-out.
Private Charles W. Arney, Battery M; died at Cumberland Gap.
Private Joseph P. Deane, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Nathan Harwood, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Isaac Kimball, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Joseph W. McKee, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Daniel P. McKee, Battery 14; mustered-out.
Private Essington McKee, Battery 14; mustered-out. FIRST MICHIGAN SHARP-SHOOTERS. Thomas Crossman, Company G ; mustered-out.
FIRST UNITED STATES SHARP-SHOOTERS. William E. Close, Company I.
We tender our acknowledgments for information received and assistance rendered in the compilation of the history of Fabius, to William Arney, David and Ira Beadle, Solomon Hartman, Captain Hoisington and William F. Arnold.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
DAVID BEADLE,
son of Mishael and Ruth Beadle, old and respected citizens of St. Joseph county, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, December 18, 1823. Moved with his parents to Michigan, in October, 1827, and settled at Mottville. His father was connected with the early development of Mottville, Flower- field, Three Rivers, and Fabius, in all of which places he erected mills at different times. He died on April 10, 1839, and the support of the family partially devolved upon the youthful David. He remained at home with his mother for the ensuing three years, and then purchased eighty acres of land from his sister, Catherine Stowell, and commenced paying for the same by work at the rate of ten dollars per month. Finding this method too slow for his ambition, at the commencement of the third summer he tried breaking-up land with six yoke of oxen, and found that by this means he could pay as much in ten days as he formerly did in as many months.
On the 10th day of April, 1847, he married Miss Lucy A. Wing, of Washtenaw county, Michigan, and settled on his farm in Fabius. In the spring of 1848 he was elected to the office of treasurer of the township, and served for two or three terms. On the 21st day of August, 1849, a son, Francis Marion, was born to him, who died at the age of twenty-three years from an accident caused by a threshing-machine.
On November 23, 1861, the subject of this sketch enlisted, and after serv- ing the full term of three years, was honorably discharged January 11, 1865. From severe illness contracted in the army, he lost his eyesight, and has since drawn a full pension. After his discharge from the army he again took up his abode in his old home, where in his youth he hunted the wild deer and tilled the soil.
Here in 1872 he lost his wife, who had been to him a faithful partner in his early toils and cares. He was thus left with a family of six children, of whom three were quite small and dependent on their father for support.
Mr. Beadle is a gentleman very highly respected by all who know him, as a man of sterling integrity and great patriotism. (See illustration.)
ABISHAI HOISINGTON.
Abishai Hoisington was born at Campton, East Canada, December 9, 1803, and is a man now seventy-four years of age, and the father of ten children, six sons and four daughters :
FREDERICK A., born March 13, 1830. NORMAN H., born October 18, 1831.
JOHN M., born July 25, 1833. LUCIAN J., born April 16, 1835.
WILLIAM, born December 12, 1837.
SUSAN M., born May 8, 1840. EMILY A., born April 28, 1842.
. MARY J., born August 23, 1844.
EDWARD A., born December 30, 1848. FLORA M., born May 28, 1850.
His earlier ancestors were of English descent, his father being a native of Vermont, and his mother of New Hampshire. Two years after his birth his parents removed to Windsor, Vermont. Here he remained until the age of eighteen, attending school during the winter, and assisting at farming during the summer. He then, in company with his mother, returned to his former home in Canada, where he remained for a period of four years and then re- turned to Windsor, and served an apprenticeship in the office of the Ver- mont Republican. Here he remained until the age of twenty-five.
October 30, 1828, he was married to Miss Nancy Mason.
He was engaged in business at different periods at Castleton, Vermont ; Fort Ann, New York, and Queensbury.
In 1843 he came to Jackson, Michigan, in company with his family, and engaged in manufacturing and building, laying the foundation for the first railroad depot in Jackson. Subsequent to this time he was seriously injured by the falling of rock in a well in which he was at work, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered.
N Ho Hoisington
J. Cto. Joising ton
Mishu Hoisington
Mice Hoisington
I f Hoisington
ANoising Ton
H. C. Lambert
Daniel Forumin
BET. nello
213
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In May, 1844, he removed to Three Rivers, and later purchased a farm in Fabius township, and subsequently removed to the one on which he now resides in Flowerfield township.
The first gun fired upon Fort Sumter roused his patriotism, and, like the Spartans of old, he resolved to defend a liberty dearer to him than life itself. No bounty or office prompted him to forsake his home and friends at the first call of his country, but leaving the plow in the field, like the noble Putnam of old, he seized his drum and offered his services in any capacity that might be required.
He came to Three Rivers with his drum, being one of the best snare-drum- mers in the country, and volunteered to assist in raising troops to put down the rebellion in its incipient state, and avenge the outrage upon his country's honor. A company was raised by 'Squire Chadwick for the Twelfth, and also one for the Second regiment of volunteers, Hoisington assisting in fur- nishing the music.
On the 24th day of August, 1861, he volunteered in company G, of the Eleventh regiment, organized in St. Joseph county. After arriving in Kentucky he was appointed by the colonel, drum-major of the regiment, in which capacity he served until the next fall, when, on account of the extreme fatigue endured by the regiment, he was attacked by rheumatism, which as- sumed a chronic form. He was discharged on the surgeon's certificate, August 27, 1862.
No man evinced stronger devotion to his country than this aged patriarch, and no man deserves more credit than Abishai Hoisington, who tendered his time, his life, if necessary, and that of a family trained as he himself had been, to regard his freedom and liberty above all price.
Lucian J .. his fourth son, was married March 3, 1859, to Susan Mohney, and now has a family of seven children, and resides at Marcellus Centre, Cass county, Michigan.
He enlisted in company C., of the 6th regiment, at Kalamazoo, on the 12th day of August, 1861, soon after the battle of Bull Run. This regiment went on board of transports at Baltimore for New Orleans. He was attacked with typhoid fever on the ocean, and, arriving at New Orleans, was sent to the hospital. The disease finally settled in his eyes and rendered him unfit for duty. He was discharged on surgeon's certificate at Baton Rouge, August 12, 1862, one year from his enlistment, with the loss of one eye by the disease, and is now drawing a pension,-small compensation for a shattered constitution and a life having no hope of recovery from pain and suffering.
William W. Hoisington, the fifth son, enlisted in company E, of the 11th regiment, Michigan Volunteers, the 24th day of August, 1861. He was made sergeant of the company. A kinder, more devoted officer never vol- unteered. He possessed the confidence and esteem of all his officers and men, and his death, which occurred in Nashville, August 15, 1862, from typhoid fever, then prevalent in the regiment, created a loss felt by all. He left a wife and one child to mourn the loss of a kind, indulgent husband and father.
Captain Norman H. Hoisington, the second son, was born in Windsor, Vermont, and educated at Three Rivers, Michigan. He was married, March 10, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Caul, who died February 8, 1866. He was again married, on the 25th of November, 1868, in Wayne county, New York, to Miss Mary Hamilton, daughter of David Hamilton. She was educated at the Oswego training-school, and in later years had charge as a critic-teacher of the Fort Wayne training-schools. Their family consists of two children, a son and daughter. He enlisted, on 15th of November, 1861, in Company G, of the Thirteenth Michigan infantry, and was immediately appointed orderly sergeant of the company. His company-books and papers were models for all other officers of the regiment. Kind to a fault with his men, he soon rose to the rank of second lieutenant, and was in the command of the com- pany.
He was in the battle of Shiloh, and for his bravery was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and promoted to captain, and discharged at Savannah on account of expira- tion of time of service.
He also served as engineer for a period of one year, detailed at Chatta- nooga. He served in battles and skirmishes without number, and received his commissions, not through favoritism, but because his courage, bravery and ability fully entitled him to the positions he was called to fill.
John M. Hoisington, third son, was married on the 2d of February, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Haitmeux, daughter of one of the pioneers of St. Joseph county.
He merits the confidence of the community in which he lives, esteemed by all, and holds offices of trust for the people, accorded to him by his
chosen Republican party. He enlisted, August 17, 1864, in Company C, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics ; joined the regiment at Catersville, Georgia, some time in October, and was then attacked with diarrhoea, then prevailing among new recruits, and was sent to St. Mary's hospital at Detroit, and discharged in February, 1865. While fit for duty he was always ready and willing to obey orders, and strongly devoted to his country and the cause for which so many of his family had taken up arms.
Benjamin F. Wells, son-in-law, was born May 1, 1835, married August 27, 1861. He has a family of three children, and is pleasantly located in Fabius township. Three brothers manifested their patriotism by volunteering in the army at an early date. He enlisted in Company A, Eleventh Michi- gan volunteers, August 24, 1861, and was in all the battles from Stone River to Atlanta, and finally discharged as sergeant, with his regiment, on account of expiration of term of service. His record is that of a brave soldier, always ready for duty.
H. C. Lambert, son-in-law, was married February 16, 1861, and has a family of six children. He resides at Marcellus Centre, Cass county, Michi- gan. His father was killed in the army at an early date in the rebellion. He enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, August 11, 1862, and was in the celebrated battle between General Morgan and Colonel Moore's forces, at Tibbs' Bend, in Kentucky, and was wounded in the arm. Was promoted to second lieutenant, February 23, 1864; again promoted to first lieutenant, January 1, 1865; was appointed orderly at enlistment. His record is that of a brave soldier, and merits the honor given him for his patriotism and bravery.
Daniel E. Krumm, son-in-law, was married April 24, 1862. It was his wish to volunteer at an early date in the rebellion, but was compelled to remain at home to care for his family and that of his brother, who had previously enlisted.
He joined Company I, Fifth Cavalry, and was one of the party who per- sonally captured the leader of the rebellion, Jefferson Davis, in petticoats, and was discharged at the close of the war,-a brave and gallant soldier, holding rank as sergeant.
Frederick Hoisington, the eldest son, offered to enlist among the first, but on account of a stiff arm was rejected by the surgeon. He was drafted at the last draft, and was rejected when presented for muster, for the same reason.
The youngest son was only twelve years old when the war broke out, and the mustering-officer thought him too small or he would have gone with his father, Abishai.
A better army-record cannot be presented by any family in the country, and we take great pleasure in referring our readers to their portraits in a group, where will be seen father, mother, and the different members of the family, who so well merit the gratitude of their fellow-citizens for their loy- alty and patriotism.
JOHN WATKINS,
the subject of this sketch, was born in Kent county, England, March 10, 1814. His parents, John and Sarah Watkins, afforded him the advantages such an education as limited means and the primitive schools of that period would permit. He experienced the privations and hardships that were com- mon to youths at that period, and early learned the lessons of industry, economy, and self-dependence which have been instrumental in making the successful man.
At the age of seventeen, in company with his brother William, he emi- grated to America, and landed at New York, in 1832. He then served an apprenticeship of three years in learning a trade, and after fully mastering the details of his chosen avocation, embarked in business for himself at Albany, New York.
In September, 1836, he was married to Miss Maria Smith, and, after a brief residence at Albany, in 1846 removed to Three Rivers, St. Joseph county, then a town of but few houses. He entered a tract of eighty acres of land in Fabius township, which he cleared and improved, and subse- quently removed to the farm on which he now resides.
In 1852, in company with friends, Mr. Watkins left to go to California via the Isthmus route; but owing to the want of steamers on the Pacific coast, his trip occupied a period of six months, it usually requiring but one month. He then engaged in mining at Coon Hollow, and after an experi- ence of fifteen months, returned home, well repaid for the hardships of his mining experience.
214
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Mr. Watkins has raised a family of six children, five of whom are now living in the State of Michigan. In politics Mr. Watkins is a Republican, casting his first vote for William H. Seward for governor of New York. For twenty years he has been a member of the Methodist church, and has always taken an active part in supporting the church of his chosen profession.
Faithful, true, and willing, a noble wife has shared his hardships, and always assisted in lessening the trying experiences of pioneer life. Together they have labored, and the result is a pleasant home and a fine farm of two hundred and ninety-four acres, free from encumbrance.
Upright and honorable in all business relations, an active supporter of every public measure that tends to better the condition of his fellow-men, kind and true to his family and friends, we have in the experience and life of Mr. Watkins a practical illustration of a successful man whose business and maturer life, commenced under adverse circumstances and unassisted, presents a copy worthy to be imitated and followed. We take pleasure in presenting the portrait of the subject of this sketch to our readers, in con- nection with this brief history of his life.
A. R. HUNT.
Mr. A. R. Hunt, whose portrait appears in connection with this brief his- tory, was born at Castleton, Vermont, July 16, 1810. A few years subse- quent to his birth his parents removed to Montgomery county, New York, and two years later, removed to Clarkstown township, western New York. Here the subject of our sketch was educated in the common-schools of the county.
He remained at home, assisting his parents, until he was nineteen years of age; he then purchased his time from his father and commenced the battle
of life for himself. Selecting a trade, he made himself master of it by serv- ing an apprenticeship with Mr. Webster, of Brockport.
In 1834 he moved to St. Joseph county and entered a tract of eighty acres in Florence township. He here remained for a period of four years, and then removed to the farm on which he now resides, in Fabius township. Previous to his removal to Michigan, he was married to Miss Emma Beach, who shared with him the early experiences of a pioneer life.
A number of years elapsed, and with its changes the loss of his wife. In June, 1864, he was again married to Mrs. Bayn, of Three Rivers, the former wife of a pioneer minister of Jackson county.
Mr. Hunt has raised a family of six children. Two sons, in response to their country's call, nobly resolved to defend this Union, and enlisted as privates and served with distinction during the rebellion, and at its close were honorably discharged ; one of them, on being mustered-out, held the commission and rank of captain.
The church, in Mr. Hunt, has an active, earnest member. During his twenty years in that relation he has held many offices of trust, being selected trustee and conference-steward ; in all cases doing honor to the trust re- posed in him. As a further mark of the esteem in which he is held and the confidence reposed in him, we need only to state that the people have at different times entrusted him with various township offices, all of which he has acceptably filled. He is Republican in politics.
Mr. Hunt has a pleasant home, and is the owner of a fine farm. He is evidently a self-made man. Beginning life with nothing but strong hands and a willing heart, he has by his own efforts made it a grand success. The pleasure of retrospection with him is the memory of time well spent.
In his declining years he proposes to earnestly continue to labor for the good of his fellow man, believing that in the near future he will realize large returns for his worthy and commendable efforts.
PARK.
THE township of Park was so named from its park-like appearance, when it was first visited by the settlers. The surface was originally covered with burr and white oak, the openings of which, being free from under-brush and small trees, gave the prospect an appearance of some lordly manor of the old world,-Nature herself being the exquisite landscape artist, and the Indians the means of keeping the forest free from obstruction by their annual fires.
THE AREA
of the township is that of a full government township, and contains twenty- two thousand three hundred and ten acres of land and three hundred and thirteen acres of water-surface. Its surface is a general level, and the soil a gravelly, sandy loam, susceptible of high cultivation, and is admirably adapted to the production of the cereals, corn, clover and all kinds of fruit, the latter being an abundant crop.
THE DRAINAGE
of the township is effected by the Portage river and Fisher's lake. The former enters the township on the east line of section nineteen, and runs southwest through that section and twenty-six, twenty-seven and thirty-one, passing out on the south line of the latter.
Fisher's lake lies on section thirty-three.
THE FIRST LAND ENTRIES
were made in the years 1830 and 1831, and were as follows: The northwest fractional quarter of section six, by Henry Garver, in 1830; the north half of the northeast quarter of section six, by Russell Peck, of Kalamazoo county, June 27, 1831 ; and the east half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, by Daniel Linn, Jr., the same day. There was one other entry in 1831 only.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
On the east bank of that beautiful sheet of water now designated by the name of Lake Fisher, (from Jonas and Leonard Fisher, the first settlers on its banks), partially located on the Pottawatomie reservation, in the fall of 1834 was erected a small log-cabin, which then constituted the grandest architectural monument of the township. It was built by Harvey Kinney, assisted by Jonas and Leonard Fisher and George Leland. It was then known by the settlers that the Indians were to yield up their possessions within two years, which put the land under squatter sovereignty. Under the treaty of Chicago the Indians agreed to surrender up their possessions within the time above stated. This treaty was made and confirmed in September, 1833; squatters commenced to locate claims in the eastern part of the reservation, but no claim was located on the western portion of it, especially on the two tiers of sections located in Park township, till late in the fall of 1834. Then Harvey Kinney located a claim on the southeast quarter of section twenty-four, upon which he erected the log-cabin above described, which he did not occupy until the spring following.
This conduct on the part of the settlers was regarded by the Indians as a violation of the treaty of Chicago. They argued that if the United States government was faithless, and allowed settlers to locate on the reservation before the time stipulated for them to give possession to the United States, that it was not only a trespass but a violation, and that they were not bound to fulfil their part of the contract, and had a right with physical force to resist any attempt on the part of the squatters. This view of the case by the aborigines caused deep apprehension of danger, and well might it be seriously entertained under the circumstances by those who were considered as trespassing upon the Indians' rights by locating pre-emptions. But these adventurous settlers-at least most of them-at all hazards continued on their claims, and others still located. Among the former was I. F. Ulrich,
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