USA > Michigan > Wexford County > History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions > Part 50
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During her fatal illness, a disease of the heart. with which she was attacked on the 14th of Decem- ber last, Jennie was patient and cheerful, though undergoing the most intense suffering. and her thoughts and talks have been high and noble in the extreme. Her remains were laid at rest in our hill- side cemetery on last Sabbath afternoon. The fun- eral at the family residence was attended by a large number of her young acquaintances from the city who deeply mourn her loss
HENRY B. HUFF.
The conditions which prevailed through- unit the state of Michigan fifty or more years ago were by no means what they are today. The face of the entire country has undergone wonderful changes since then. The state. having been admitted in 1837. was only about thirteen years old and the population was small, with settlements widely scattered. The states of the Union in 1850 numbered thirty and Michigan was the twentieth in population, but most of the people resided in the southern and eastern counties. Kent county, where Henry B. Huff, the subject of this review, was born. was then practi- cally an unbroken wilderness. His par- ents had settled there some years previous and were among the early pioneers of the locality. There they endured all of the hard- ships of the early settler and there their chil- dren were born and reared and learned their first industrial lessons.
Ilenry B. Iluff, now a resident of Cedar Creek township, was born on his father's farm in Kent county, Michigan, April 28, 1850. His parents were James S. and Phoebe ( Blackall) Iluff, the father being a native of the state of New Jersey and the mother of New York. They had come to Michigan, where homes were cheap and where the expense of existence was less bur- densome than in their native commonwealths. It is doubtful if they realized the trials, in- conveniences and privations that always are to be encountered in every new country, but having once crossed the Rubicon return was not to be thought of. They were the par- ents of eight children, six sons and two daughters, and these they reared and in-
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structed to lives of usefulness. About 1870 the family moved to Cedar Creek township and there the latter years of the lives of the sturdy okl couple were passed. Both were in the seventy-third year of their age at the time of their death. Of their eight children, HIenry B. Huff was the second. His youth was spent in the woods, the clearing and in the fields when the forest had been trans- formed into tracts of land which permitted of cultivation. He was about five years in Wexford county before the removal of the family from Kent county, and with that exception the first twenty years of his life were spent at the place of his birth. In Sep- tember, 1870, he located on a tract of eighty acres of land in section 6, Cedar Creek town- ship, and there he has remained ever since. clearing the land, improving the farm and cultivating the soil. Farming has been the business of his life and although he has not accumulated a great amount of money he has made a comfortable living and laid by something for his declining years. He is the owner of eighty acres, on part of which he originally settled, and fifty-five acres of it are cleared and the place well improved.
May 15. 1872, Henry B. Huff was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Ohio, who, when a little girl, accompanied her parents to Michigan when they decided to settle in the wilderness. They located in Kent county and there the little girl was reared to womanhood. She and Henry B. Huff had known each other many years and when he established a home in Cedar Creek township made it comfortable and had lived there some two years, he sought out the girl of his boyhood's love and hastened to make her his wife. Since then they have lived modestly. but comfortably, upon their little
farm and there are thousands of rich and opulent people throughout the land who have lived less happily, less usefully and less worthily than they have. Both are active members of the Freewill Baptist church, of which he is deacon and a trustee.
WILLIAM P. WESTBROOK.
Most men past the meridian of life who have devoted all their years to agricultural pursuits and have been successful therein, have too much timidity to venture into a different calling, one new and wholly un- tried. When such a venture is made, in a majority of cases it proves disastrous. While men possessed of the requisite versatility to make a success under such circumstances are not numerous, there are instances of the kind where success has been remarkable. The subject of this review, William P. West- brook, has displayed most creditable versa- tility in this respect. Farming has been the labor of his life, but in the spring of 1902 he decided to embark in the mercantile business at Manton. . Associating with him his kins- man by marriage, O. E. Burns, he embarked in the retail mercantile trade and from the very first the enterprise has been a gratify- ing success. Location and conditions were right, two very important features, and ju- dicions management did the rest.
William P. Westbrook, who resides on a part of section 13, Greenwood township, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 14. 1859. His father was Ethan .1. West- brook, a native of New York, and his mother. Mary ( Lockwood) Westbrook, a native of Michigan. He died in Newaygo county.
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IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
Michigan, the latter part of April. 1902. while she is still living at the family home in Newaygo county. The subject of this re- view is the only child born to his parents. When he was about six years old his par- ents moved to Newaygo county, Michigan. and settled in Dayton township. There he attended the public schools, received a good common school education and grew to man- hood. His father's farm and the labors thereon supplied him with all the advantages of an industrial school. Hard work devel- oped his muscles and his strength and, hav- ing profited by the time he spent in the school room, it quickened the intellect, so that by the time he attained his majority he was physically and intellectually a well developed man.
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July 4. 1883, in Newaygo county, Michi- gan, William P. Westbrook was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Burns, a native of Clinton county, Michigan, born January 2, 1859. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Burns, residents of Newaygo county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Westbrook, two of whom died when about two years old. The other children are Frank. Ethel. Winnie, Leslie and Wilber.
In Tune, 1885, about two years after marriage, Mr. Westbrook moved his family to Wexford county and located on the farm where he now lives and where he has since resided. Ile is a thorough farmer, having devoted nearly all the years of his life to the business. He owns one hundred and twenty- four acres of good, fertile land, one hundrekl acres of which is clear and well improved. He is a prudent, careful business man and guards his interests more zealously than the average farmer. His talent for business cansed his neighbors to elect him to the po-
sition of supervisor of Greenwood town- ship and held him in the position a number of years. Ile also served as justice of the peace of the township. He is a Republican in politics and does not confine his political activity to local affairs, the affairs of the county and state receiving a good deal of attention from him, particularly during cam- paigns. He never aspired to or held any public office outside of the township of his residence. In the spring of 1902 his busi- ness tact and keen observation of conditions pointed out to him an opening for a pros- perous mercantile business in the little town of Manton. Associating with O. E. Burns, they purchased a good stock of merchan- «lise and opened it up in one of the business rooms of the little town. Within a short time patrons became numerous and at the present writing the proprietors of the estab- lishment are enjoying a most flourishing trade. There need be little doubt that the business will grow and flourish. There is a wide scope of rich agricultural country to draw from and the business tact already demonstrated in the management of the new enterprise is the surest guarantee of suc- cess.
JAMES HANTHORN.
Wexford county, Michigan, has been or- ganized only about thirty years. At the time of its organization the population was not large, but there were a number of fam- ilies within the borders of what is now the county who had lived there many years and who are still living on the farms where they located a generation or more ago. Prominent among these, James Hanthorn
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and his worthy wife deserve special men- tion. They were married only about three months when, in June, 1871, they came to this county and located on the farm still owned and occupied by them, which they received from the government as a home- stead. It is here the most enjoyable part of their lives have been spent, here their chil- dren were born and reared and here doubt- less the remaining years of their career will be passed.
James Hanthorn is a native of Ireland. born in the county of Armaugh, December 24, 1841, but spent only the first nine years of his life in his native land. In 1850 the family moved to Canada, located in North- umberland county, Ontario, and there our subject grew to manhood. His years of la- bor while doing so being devoted to farm- ing, his opportunities for acquiring an edu- cation were by no means all that could be de- sired. Yet his learning is not deficient. In starting out into the world to do for him- self, after he had attained his majority, he had reasons for beleiving that there were better opportunities for a young man in the United States than in Canada. Accordingly he came to Michigan and stopped at Grand Rapids a number of months, where he was employed at the lime kilns. From there he went to Big Rapids and on the 8th day of March, 1871, was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Cochran, a native of New York, born September 5. 1851. Three months later they came to Wexford county and located upon their present farm. It com- prised but eighty acres then, but now in- cludes one hundred acres, twenty acres hav- ing been added to it by purchase. The place is supplied with good, substantial buildings and it is otherwise well improved and quite
productive. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanthorn have been born seven children, two of whom died in early life and Ella May passed away May 27, 1903. The others are John. Ada V., George A. and William T .- Ada being the wife of AArthur Langdon. At present the parents of this interesting family are enjoying that quiet, peaceful life which is the invariable reward of prudence, industry and good management. To say that they are worthy citizens, deserving of the high esteem in which they are held, is only to express a fact of which the general public in the vicinity of their home is cognizant. Mr. Hanthorn's aim has ever been to do that which is right, and rarely indeed has he tailed in the attainment of his worthy aim. It is to such as he that our country is in- debted for the stability of its institutions and for the large measure of prosperity which it enjoys.
ALVAH PECK.
Among the sturdy sons of the Empire state to secure congenial homes in Wexford county, Michigan, and achieve success in var- ious avenues of endeavor is the representa- tive citizen of Hanover township whose name appears at the head of this article. Alvah Peck is a native of Niagara county, New York, where his birth occurred on the 5th day of May, 1834, being the son of Al- vah and Lovica ( Ketch) Peck, both born, reared and married in Vermont, and both now sleeping the sleep that knows no wak- ing, near the old family home where their son first saw the light of day. By reason of the death of his parents, which occurred when he was quite young, the subject was
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reared by friends who took him to Steuben county and it was there he spent his child- hood and youth on a farm and received his educational training in the public schools. Early thrown upon his own resources, he learned to rely upon himself and to make the most of his opportunities, and he grew to full stature of manhood with a proper ap- preciation of the dignity and responsibility of life. On the 27th of May, 1855. in On- tario county, New York, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Cronk, daughter of John and Margaret ( Wilson) Cronk. and from that time until 1882 lived princi- pally in the county of Steuben, devoting his attention chiefly to agricultural pursuits, which he prosecuted with fair success and profit. Mrs. Peck was born at Naples, On- tario county, March 30, 1838, grew to ma- turity and received her education in that town and it was there that her parents died and were buried.
In the spring of 1882 Mr. Peck disposed of his interests in his native state and moved to Wexford county, Michigan, selecting for his location a tract of land in section 6, Han- over township, which he has since developed and improved, converting it into one of the best and mest vahrible farms in that part of the county. Of the one hundred acres constituting his place seventy-four are in a high state of cultivation, and on this he raises abundantly all crops grown in the lat- itude, devoting especial attention to horti- culture, which he has found not only a pleas- ant and agreeable pursuit, but a far more re- liable source of income than any other branch of husbandry. In the material develop- ment of his township and the advancement of its local interests Mr. Peck has mani- fested a commendable spirit. in recognition
of which fact he has been honored at differ- ent times with official positions, proving under all circumstances a capable, painstak- ing and popular public servant. Keeping in close touch with the trend of modern prog- ress, and having faith in the future growth and prosperity of his adopted county, he has labored earnestly to promote the general welfare of the community, lending his aid to all worthy enterprises for its material improvement and using his best endeavors to bring about better social conditions and dis- seminate a stronger and more steadfast mor- al sentiment. His position in the esteem and friendship of those with whom he mingles has long been assured; he does honor to the community which is proud to recognize his citizenship and, being essentially a man of the people, with their interests at heart, his influence has always been on the right side of every question or issue affecting the pub- lic welfare. Politically Mr. Peck is a Repub- lican and as such has been a factor of con- siderable weight in local affairs, laboring zealously for his party and contributing not a little to its success since becoming a resi- (lent of this county. Religiously he belongs, with his wife, to the Disciple church in Wex- ford township, both being zealous members and active workers, also liberal supporters in spreading the gospel both at home and abroad. Personally Mr. Peck is a most af- fable gentleman, possessing a pleasing pres- ence and genial manners, which, with other amiable qualities and characteristics, have won him the respect of neighbors and friends and a worthy prestige in the community which all recognize and appreciate. To the subject and wife have been born four chil- dren. namely: hugene; Belle, now Mrs. William Mohler: Elwood, late prominent
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attorney of Cadillac, whose sketch and por- trait appear elsewhere, and Nellie, who mar- ried Roy Simmons, of Woodland, Michigan.
Of the home life and social relations of Mr. and Mrs. Peck it is unnecessary to speak except in a general way, as both are widely and favorably known, all having the pleas- ure of their acquaintance bearing cheerful testimony to their high standing and ster- ling worth. A courteous gentleman of the old school, the subject possesses the happy faculty of winning friends and binding them to him with bonds which time or circum- stances rarely sever, the same qualities be- ing characteristic of his amiable and loving companion, whose gentle disposition, kindly words and helpful influence, like benedic- tions, have lightened the burdens and bright- ened the pathway of many of earth's tired, careworn sons and daughters and whose whole life has been a simple, though grand, poem of rugged, toilsome duty faithfully and uncomplainingly done. Those who have met Mr. and Mrs. Peck within the inner circle of their domestic fireside, where they can be seen at their best, are most profuse in their praise, and it is the prayer of all such as well as the universal wish of others that their lives may be spared many years in which to be a continued blessing to the work] as they have been in time gone by.
JOHN A. HASKIN.
Practical industry, wisely and vigor- ously applied, never fails of success. It car- ries ? man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a power- ful stimulus to the efforts of others. The
greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordi- nary qualities of common sense and perse- verance. The every-day life, with its cares, necessities and duties, affords ample oppor- tunities for acquiring experience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and self improvement. The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this arti- cle has throughout his entire lifetime pur- sued a straightforward and consistent course and the success he has achieved has been due solely to his own earnest efforts and the wise judgment and discrimination which he has exercised in the affairs of life.
John A. Haskin, the subject of this re- view, and a resident of Selma township, was born in Lower Canada, June 17, 1845. His parents were Ithimar and Sarah (Coyle) Haskin, the former of whom died in Janu- ary, 1898, and the latter died in January, 1872. The father was a United Brethren minister when he died, his field of work hay- ing been in Ohio and Canada. He was a soldier in the Sixth Ohio Cavalry and after- wards joined the Second Ohio Artillery. He was a Republican in politics.
The first twelve years of the life of John A. Haskin were spent in his native place in Canada. In 1857 the family moved to Ohio and located on a farm in Ashtabula county, where the subject continued to reside during the next five years. August 17, 1863, he en- listed in Company M. Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, in which he served, seeing con- sidlerable service and some hot fighting. until the close of the war. The regiment was mmistered out in August, 1865. On leaving the service he returned to Ashtabula county, where he sojourned for a short time, when
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he moved to Kalamazoo county, Michigan. where for the next seven years he was em- ployed as a farm laborer.
In November, 1868, in Kalamazoo coun- ty. Michigan, John .\. Haskin was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Layton, a na- tive of New York, born in Genesee county. in December. 1844, and whose parents are ‹lead.
Mrs. Haskin was reared in New York till she was twelve years old and then in Kalamazoo county. She was a teacher in Kalamazoo county and taught the first school in Selma township. From Kalamazoo coun- ty, in 1869. the family moved to Allegan county, where the subject purchased a farm, nine miles from South Haven, in the town- ship of Casco. There they remained for three years, when an opportunity offered for selling the farm at a nice figure and it was accordingly disposed of. From .Allegan the family moved to Wexford county, in April. 1871, and entered on a homestead of eighty acres, part of section 8. Selma township, the same on which the family still resides. Forty-five acres of this place is now cleared and in cultivation, with all necessary im- provements, including good, substantial buiklings. Ilere the family has lived in comfort and contentment for nearly thirty- two years, their income yearly increasing and each year seeing an increase in their material wealth.
The voters of Selma township have shown their appreciation of the abilities and integrity of John .A. Haskin by electing him to various township offices. He has served them a number of years as treasurer and clerk and for nineteen he was justice of the peace, having been recently re-electexl again for four years. He is a charter mem-
ber of Cadillac Lodge No. 331, Free and .Ac- cepted Masons, and also of Pleasant Lake Grange. Patrons of Husbandry. In him the truth of the saying that "merit wins." is well exemplified. His success is attrib- utable to the many good qualities he has brought to bear upon his life work and he can now enjoy the reward which steady and persistent application invariably brings to those who exercise those desirable traits of character.
Mr. and Mrs. Haskin have had no chil- dren born to them, but in the goodness of their hearts have adopted and are carefully rearing two, a boy and a girl, namely : Ed- win, who is attending the common schools. and Ina, who is a successful and popular teacher.
ANDREW B. DENIKE.
While there may be some dispute as to who was the first settler of Wexford county. there is no question whatever as to who was the first white man to establish a home and maintain it from that time to the present in Boon township. He is not a native of the state, nor of the United States, but no na- tive-born citizen can claim superiority over him for pure, loyal, patriotic feelings toward the land of his adoption. Ilis name is An- drew B. Denike, whose home is in section 36, Boon township.
Andrew B. Denike is a native of On- tario. Canada, born in Hastings county, Ap- ril 16, 1846. His parents were Anthony and Elizabeth Denike, natives of Canada, but both are now dead. he dying in Canada, at the age of forty-five years, while she died also in Canada when she was forty-one years
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of age. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom Andrew B. was the eighth in order of birth.
The subject of this review was reared in his native county and there grew to man- hood. He secured a fair common school education, but most of the years of his min- ority were devoted to hard labor on the farm. In 1869, when twenty-three years of age, he came to Wexford county, Michigan, and decided to make it his permanent home. He looked over the land during the autumn, winter and spring, finally taking up a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres, a part of section 36. Boon township. The records in the land office show that he was the first settler in that township and his was the first modest home erected within its borders. It was a log structure, chinked and plastered, and although by no means handsome, it was quite comfortable, even during the severest weather. One other structure, in the way of a habitation for white people, ante-dates the first home of Mr. Denike in Boon township. but that was not erected by a settler nor for the purposes of settlement. It was a build- ing erected on the Traverse City state road for a way station and was known as the Sum- mit place. Half of the land for which the subject received a patent from the govern- ment he has since sold. He retains eighty acres of the original one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has added by purchase two forty-acre tracts, making his farm one hundred and sixty acres. Seventy-two of those are cleared. improved and well culti- vated. All necessary buildings, large. com- fortable and substantial, have been erected upon the place, making it one of the most desirable farms in the township.
In Henderson township, Wexford coun-
ty, on the 17th day of May, 1875, Andrew B. Denike was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Henderson, a native of Indiana, born in Huntington county, December 18, 1856. Her parents were Thomas S. and Sophia ( Harris) Henderson, of Henderson township. They were among the first white settlers and early pioneers of Wexford coun- ty. The mother is living in Mason county, Michigan, aged about sixty-seven years. The father died a number of years ago in Hen- derson township, almost eighty years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew B. Denike thir- teen children were born, eight of whom are still living, viz: Dollie E., Charles H., Flossie M., Sophia Ernest, Clyde, Albert Allen, Thomas S. and Orlando H. Four of the other five children all died in early childhood. Charles and Flossie are twins and Flossie is now the wife of Noyes Bainbridge; Dollie, the oldest daughter, is the wife of Orange Sprague; one daugh- ter. Sylvia, attained the age of thirteen years, when she met with an accident while at play in the school .she was attend- ing, whereby she received a fall that resulted in her death.
What could be more natural than that the first and original settler of Boon town- ship should be deeply interested in its wel- fare and that he should be untiring in his efforts to push forward its growth and de- velopment. He often inconvenienced him- self for the public good, but never more so than when he consented to discharge the cluties of various local offices. He has served as justice of the peace, overseer of highways and in a number of other capaci- ties. While acknowledging allegiance to no particular sect or religious denomination, he is, nevertheless, a Christian and a moral man,
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