USA > Michigan > Wexford County > History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions > Part 57
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447
WL'EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
D. Westover is a native of Michigan, born in the town of Nunica, Ottawa county, on the 26th day of April, 1865. His father, the late Charles D. Westover, was for many years a prominent business man of this state and at the time of his death. March 27. 1887, was the leading lumber dealer of Cadillac. | also one of the city's most enterprising and publie-spirited citizens. The maiden name of the subject's mother was Ruth Lowe: she was born in Michigan, bore her husband four children and departed this life at Fruit- port, Muskegon county. February 20, 1900.
George D. Westover, the youngest chil 1 of the above parents, spent his childhoo.1 and youth in his native county and received his educational training in the public schools. his mind early taking bent towards the more practical affairs of life. While a mere lad he became familiar with the underlying prin- ciples of business and shortly after the fam- ily's removal to Cadillac, in 1881. he engaged in lumbering as his father's partner, the rela- tionship continuing about three years. At the expiration of that time he accepted a po- sition with the Waterhouse Electric Com- pany of Hartford, Connecticut, subsequently absorbed by the Westinghouse Company, where he soon acquired efficiency as an elec- trical engineer, and it was while thus en- gaged that he superintended the construction of the first electric light plant at Cadillac. After installing the works in this city, Mr. Westover, as constructing engineer for the Westinghouse Company, then entered the employ of the Edison Light Company, of Grand Rapids, and while there rose to an important position, continually adding to his already well-established reputation as a skill- ful electrician and able mechanical engineer. Severing his connection with the above com-
pany, he became interested in electric rail- road construction and in 1890 built the first electric railway line in the city of Grand Rapids, which enterprise brought his name prominently before the public throughout the state. After completing the work, he con- tinted about one year in the capacity of erecting engineer, at the end of which time he again accepted a position with the Edison Company, remaining with the same until 1893, when he resigned for the purpose of taking charge, as manager of the city water works and the Cummer Electric Light Com- pany of Cadillac. As superintendent of these important public enterprises Mr. West- over displays abilities of a high order, both mechanical and executive, and his functions have been discharged in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to the people of the city. An accomplished electrician and thoroughly familiar with every detail of me- chanical engineering, his manifold duties are so systematically arranged as to cause him no inconvenience, while as custodian of one of the leading interests of the city, his record has been honorable and upright, never swerving from the strict path of rectitude. but always proving able to discharge worth- ily the responsibilities resting upon him as chief factor in a station demanding the high- est order of business talent. He has labored earnestly to promote the efficiency of the work in hand, subordinating every other con- sideration to this one object, and it is con- ceded that the continued success of both en- terprises is directly attributable to his energy and systematic business methods.
Aside from his connection with Cad- illac's public works, Mr. Westover has been an influential factor in its general business and industrial interests, every enterprise cal-
448
IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
culated to advance the city, materially or otherwise, receiving his hearty co-operation and support. He is unwavering in his ad- vocacy of what he believes to be for the pub- lic good, upholds his honest convictions at the sacrifice of every other interest, and is ever ready to lend his influence and, if need be, his financial assistance to further all movements having for their object the social and moral improvement of the community. As a citizen he is deservedly popular with the people of his adopted city. standing high in the esteem of all classes and conditions and to the poor and needy he is ever ready to lend a helping hand, charity and benevolence be- ing among his most marked characteristics. Mr. Westover is in the prime of vigorous physical and mental manhood, a "hustler" in all the term implies, and the series of con- tinned successes that have attended his ca- reer thus far bespeak a still wider and more promising field of endeavor in years to come. Politically he gives his support to the Demo- cratic party, but the wiles and chicanery of the professional partisan meet no favor at his hands and he is by no means an aspirant for public distinction or a seeker after the honors or emoluments of office. While earnest in the support of his principles and al- ways ready to assign an intelligent reason for his opinions, he is, first of all, a man of business, making everything else secondary to his public obligations. Mr .. Westover is a married man and has a beautiful home. which was presided over with grace and dig- nity by an intelligent and refined lady to whom he was united in the bonds of wed- lock on the 5th day of April, 1893. Mrs. Westover was formerly Miss Eugenia E. Camp, daughter of John Camp, of Grand Rapids, in which city she was reared and ed-
ucated. This union, a most fortunate and happy one, was blessed with one child, a daughter by the name of Marion E., in whom are centered many fond hopes for the future. Mrs. Westover passed from this earth on December 24. 1902. and was in- terred in Oak Hill cemetery, Grand Rapids.
In closing this brief sketch of one of Cadillac's most energetic and progressive young men of affairs, suffice it to state in brief that Mr. Westover's duties as a citizen have been discharged with the same fidelity that has characterized his career as a public servant ; he is a valuable member of the body politic and his main object has always been to shape his life and conduct according to the highest standing of excellence. He en- tertains noble aims and high ideals and the consensus of opinion is that he stands before the world a model of the successful business man and a true type of the courteous, broad- minded gentleman.
ELON CORNELL.
The gentleman whose name appears above is one of the brave,'indomitable spirits to whom the present generation is so largely indebted for the transformation of the wil- (lerness of Wexford county into a dominion of civilization and enlightenment. Endowed by nature with strong bodily power and marked characteristics that have made him efficient in the mission he was born to ful- fill. he has labored hard and done much to confer the blessing of progress upon this part of the state, being now one of the oklest as well as one of the best known and ifost highly respected citizens of the township in
449
IT'ENFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
which he resides and with the development of which he has so long been identified.
Elon Cornell is a native of Steuben county, New York, where he was born on the 6th day of July, 1836, the son of Elisha and Myrtle Cornell, the latter before her marriage having been a Chrissler. These pa- rents reared a family of eleven children and (lied a number of years ago in their native state, honored and respected by all who knew them. Of the large family that once gathered around their hearthstone the sub- ject of this sketeh is next to the youngest. His father being a tiller of the soil. Elon was reared on the farm, early became familiar with its varied duties and when old enough to begin life for himself wisely decided to devote his time to husbandry. After re- maining on the old homestead until his mar- riage, which was solemnized February 22. 1859. with Miss Phoebe Masters he set- tled on a farm in his native county and there lived until 1863, in October of which year he sold out and moved his family to the new and sparsely populated country of northern Michigan, taking possession of a homestead in Wexford county which he had entered the previous summer.
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Mr. Cornell's elaim was in what is now Wexford township and, the country being wild and no neighbor nearer than several miles, a more uninviting prospeet than the new home in the wilderness presented would be difficult to imagine. Dense forests eoy- cred the land, amid the sombre recesses of which but few white people had penetrated. wild animals, numerous and some of them fierce. were everywhere in evidence, and the future outlook was anything but bright and encouraging. After hastily constructing a rude log shanty for his family. Mr. Cornell.
with the lively hope which has always char- aeterized him, began the work of clearing his place and it was not long until he sue- ceeded in removing the timber from two acres and geting the soil under cultivation. He continued to prosecute his labors with diligence until his area of tillable land amounted to one hundred and twenty acres, the meanwhile making other improvements in the way of buildings, ete., one of which was the erection of a residence of enlarged proportions to take the place of the little cabin, within the humble walls of which the family experienced many vieissitudes and hardships of pioneer life.
Mr. Cornell took an active interest in the growth and development of the country, as- sisted the new comers by every means with- in his power, and as years went by became one of the leading men and influential citi- zens of his community. By industry and well regulated thrift he succeeded in placing him- self in comfortable circumstances, besides laying by a competeney for old age. after which he divided his land among his sons, reserving for his own and his wife's use the homestead and about fifty aeres surrounding. He is now practically retired, finding it no longer necessary to labor, as his livelihood is assured, and in a pleasant home. sur- rounded by many conveniences, with de- voted sons and daughters to minister to his comfort, he is spending his deelining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his toil.
While at all times devoting attention to his own interests and laboring hard to pro- vide for those dependent upon him. Mr. i Cornell has never failed in his duties as a citizen or neglected his obligation to the pub- lic. For many years he was an active fac- tor in township and county affairs, served
450
L'EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
as township trustee and highway commis- soner and worked zealously for the success of the political party with which he affiliated : but with advancing age he gradually with- ยท drew from participation in such matters, though he still keeps in touch with the work of thought and the trend of current events. In his religious belief he is a Methodist, as is also his good wife, both being zealous members of the church, dignifying their profession by word and deed and duly ap- preciating their high privileges as disciples of the meek and lowly Nazarene. Mrs. Cornell was born May 13. 1843. in Steuben county, New York, her ancestors having been early settlers of that section of the Em- pire state. She is the mother of four chil- dren. whose names are William. Edwin. Eliza and Lucy, Eliza being the wife of Ed- ward Millman and Lucy marrying Martin Stoack, both gentlemen residents of Wi'ex- ford county.
HENRY CLAY MONITT.
If it be true-and there is good authority for the statement-that one's environment has much to do in influencing his character. then the men who have had the good fortune to pass their lives in the midst of movements which have brought about the rapid devel- opment and remarkable advancement of northern Michigan may well be expected to exhibit independence, self-reliance, enterprise and practical sagacity. In the life of the subject of this review, Henry Clay McNitt, may be found those qualities in a marked degree. His success is based upon a prompt and judicious use of opportunity.
Henry Clay McNitt is a native of the
state of Michigan, having been born in Sparta, Kent county. March 19. 1849. His parents were Horace and Sarah ( Whitney ) McNitt, natives of Ohio and early pioncers of Wexford county. They settled first in Boon township, where they remained a few years, then moved to Haring township, and resided there until their death. They were the parents of five children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch was the second.
In his native county of Kent Henry C. McNitt was reared and educated. He at- tended school at Grand Rapids, the county seat, and improved his time and the opportu- nities offered so well that today he is not only a well informed man, but in many re- gards may be considered learned. . All of the hours of the day outside of the school- room were devoted to farming, in which vocation he became quite successful. He moved from Kent county to Fayette county, Illinois, where he lived for six years, then returned to Kent county and became inter- ested in the mercantile business. Though never schooled in that line of business, he readily grasped all the details of the vocation and took more kindly to the calling than many who were specially prepared for the work by education and training. In 1880. discovering that Wexford county had sever- al places where a nice mercantile business might be successfully conducted, he came here and opened stores in Haring. Round Lake and Jennings. During the eight years he was in business at those points he pros- pered even beyond his brightest hopes. Later he opened a store at Cadillac, the coun- ty seat, and continued in business there until 1802, when he purchased a farm of two hun- dred and forty acres in section 15, flaring township. He has spent quite an amount
H. C. McNITT GROUP.
451
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of money in making improvements. One : hundred and thirty acres arc cleared and un- der cultivation and the place is supplied with good substantial buildings of all kinds. He las erected upon it a large. comfortable home and will furnish it in a style befitting the home of a man in his comfortable finan- cial condition.
On the 17th day of March, 1886, at Jen- nings, Missaukee county, Michigan, Henry C. McNitt was united in marriage to Miss Carrie B. Anderson, a native of Indiana, born in Michigan City, Feb. 9. 1865. Her parents were George A. and Carrie (Cong- don) Anderson, of Harrietta, Wexford county. Mrs. McNitt is a lady of tact and ability who by her good judgment and dis- cretion has been a valuable assistant to her husband in all of his business ventures. They are the parents of three children, bright, intelligent boys, who not only reflect credit upon the family but upon the rearing and training they have received. The chil- dren are : Henry Clyde, a student at Farris Institute. Earl and Clarence.
Busy as his life has been, Henry C. Mc- Nitt has found time to interest himself in every public enterprise set on foot to promote the welfare, growth and development of the township in which he lives and of the county at large. He has served as an official in some of the local offices of Haring township, but his election to those positions was not of his seeking. He has always felt that he could be of more service to his people and the local- ity of his residence as a private citizen than he could in any official position. He is a true, distinctive and representative American -- one of those whose genius for business is a constant source of astonishment to the natives of other countries.
CYRIL H. TYLER.
A single county of a great common- wealth may be considered a very inconsid- erable part of it. It is. nevertheless, true that this whole nation is made up of just such humble municipalities, and cach one . deserves its portion of honor and renown for what it contributes to the wealth and power of the state and the nation. Under those circumstances Wexford county has a claim to considerable attention, and the men who had the work of moulding its infancy and di- recting its organization in such lines as have led to its present importance and position (leserve much honor and everlasting remem- brance, particularly by those who call its territory their home, and have, therefore, a pardonable pride in its institutions. One of those who took an important part in mak- ing this portion of northern Michigan what it is today is the subject of this review, Cyril Il. Tyler, lumberman and farmer, of Man- ton. For more than fifty years he has been a resident of Michigan and each one of those years has witnessed something done by him which added to the material wealth and prosperity of the state and the county in which he lived.
Cyril H. Tyler is a native of New York. born in Yates county, February TI, 1841. His parents were Rufus and Amy ( Farn- ham) Tyler, he born in Madison county. New York, in 1816, she in Genesee county. New York, in 1818. They were married in 1840 and twelve years thereafter, in 1852. the family moved to Kalamazoo county. Michigan, where they resided for twenty years. In 1872 they moved to Wexford county. and about a year later they set- tled in Grand Traverse county, where they
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452
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
lived until 1893, when they returned to Wextord county and settled in Manton. Rufus Tyler died in Manton, August 27. 1804. in the seventy-ninth year of his age. Amy Tyler is still living, at the age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. The subject of this sketch was the oldest child of the family.
In Kalamazoo county the subject grew to manhood and secured the benefits of a fair common school education. He then took up the calling of a farmer and followed it until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion called him to a different and more hazard- ous line of employment. August 14. 1861. he enlisted in Company 1, Seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He participated in some of the most important battles of that deadly conflict, among them Fair Oaks, May 31 and June 1, 1862; Malvern Hill, July, 1862: Savage Station, Virginia, June 29, 1862; Fredericksburg. Virginia, August 4 to 8. 1862; Gettysburg, June 26 and July 1 to 3. 1863: Wilderness, May 5 to 7. 1864: Spott- sylvania Court House, May 8 and 21, 1864: Cold Harbor, May 31 and June 12, 186.4: Petersburg, Virginia. July 31, 1864, besides many engagements of less magnitude. He was discharged with some thirty of his com- rades, on the field, just at the opening of the battle at Reams Station, Virginia, by reason of the expiration of their term of en- listment. His discharge came very oppor- timely to save him from capture and a long sojourn in a rebel prison. In about two hours from the time he was given his dis- charge the entire regiment to which he he- longed was in the hands of the Confederates. It was months before some of them were
exchanged and release came to many of them only through death.
Returning after his discharge to Kala- mazoo county, Mr. Tyler again again re- sumed his ocupation of farming, meeting with gratifying success each successive year. In August, 1871, he moved to Manton, Wexford county, and engaged in buying and selling timber lands. spending much of his time in the woods logging. This he fol- lowed for twenty years, prosperity attend- ing all of his efforts. In 1891 he returned to the farm and has followed agriculture since. devoting all of his time, when not actively engaged on the farm, to lumbering. He is the owner of two hundred aeres of splendid land in Greenwood township on the Manistee river." Only forty acres are as yet under cultivation. When cleared and properly improved it will make as fine a farm as could be desired. Upward of one thousand fruit trees have been set out upon the place recently.
August 14, 1861, just eight days before lic became a soldier in the army of his eoun- try, Cyril H. Tyler was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Foote, in Kalamazoo county. She is a native of the state of New York. born April 9. 1839. The young wife was mich rejoiced at the return of her young soldier husband. They immediately set up housekeeping and proceeded to enjoy the honeymoon that had been interrupted rudely by the call of the youthful husband to the front. They are the parents of three daughters, intelligent, educated and accom- plished. They are Carrie E .. Laura .1. and Bessie E. Carrie is the wife of .A. W. Peck, who is a salesman. and they reside at Traverse City, Michigan.
Cyril H. Tyler is something of a politi-
453
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
cian and is an active and zealous worker on behalf of his party, being a Prohibitionist. sincere, consistent and devoted to the cause. He has served as chairman of the county central committee a number of years and al- though defeat has stared them in the face each successive campaign, the adherents of the cause never surrender. He has unbounded faith in the success of the prohibition princi- ple eventually. He is a member of Oliver P. Morton Post No. 54, Grand Army of the Republic, at Manton. Both he and his wife are devout members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, regular attendants upon its service and have always been earnest work- ers in the cause of religion and charity. He is a man who is admired and respected by his neighbors for his sincerity. Many of those who are most diametrically opposed to his views on politics and religion admire the man, even though they dislike the opinions which he entertains.
LUCIUS A. DUNTON.
Cedar Creek township finds a worthy representative of its agricultural interests in Lucius A. Dunton, who resides on a good farm on section 23, which is his property and represents his life of industry, for all that he has has been acquired through his own efforts. His farm is eighty acres in extent and more than half of this is richly culti- vated, while good buildings have been erected and the home is very pleasant and hos - pitable.
Mr. Dunton is one of the native sons of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Holly township. Oakland county, on the 27th of
August, 1857. He is a son of John W. and Mary Ann ( Cook) Dunton, both of whom are now deceased. The mother died in Holly township, Oakland county, when only thirty-five years of age, and the father, sur- viving her for some time, departed this life in Eaton county, Michigan, in the sixty- sixth year of his age. The subject of this review is the fifth of their six children. He remained in the place of his nativity until he reached the age of ten years, when he accompanied his father on his removal to Genesec county, Michigan, and there Lu- citis A. Dunton grew to manhood. He is indebted to the public schools of the state for the educational privileges which he re- ceived and which fitted him for life's practi- cal duties. AAfter puting aside his text books he began earning his own livelihood and was employed as a farm laborer for ten years in Livingston county, Michigan.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Dunton chose Miss Carrie E. Perry, their wedding being celebrated in Ty- rone township. Livingston county, on the 9th of December, 1885. It was in that township that the lady was born on the 23d of May, 1867, a daughter of George G. and Mary .\. ( Petty) Perry, who are residents of Livingston county. Their family num- ber twelve children, of whom Mrs. Dunton was the sixth. In March, 1886, the sub- ject arrived in Wexford county, accompan- ied by his wife, and they began their domes- tic life here upon the farm which has now been their home for seventeen consecutive years. During this period Mr. Dunton has wrought many changes in the appearance of the land which came into his possession at the time of his arrival. He owns eighty acres and of this forty-five acres is contained
454
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
within fields which are annually plowed. planted and produce good crops. Ile also has rich pasture lands and a good grade of stock. He uses the latest improved ma- chinery in the cultivation of his farm and his property is now valuable and is an indication of his active. energetic career.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Dunton was blessed with four children, but they lost one son in infancy, while Grace died at the age of nineteen months. The living sons are John E. and Harold J., both at home with their parents. Mr. Dunton is an active party worker and is a man whose influence has ever been on the side of progress and of the right. He is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the moral, social, intellectual and material welfare of his com- munity. Both he and his wife occupy an enviable position in the regard of their many friends and the hospitality of the best homes of this section of the country is freely ac- corded them. They are popular people be- cause of their cordial manner and many ex- cellent characteristics and it is with pleasure that the record of their lives is here pre- sented.
ARTHUR H. WEBBER.
being the son of Charles and Henrietta Web- ber. When he was about three years old his parents moved to Linden. Genesee county. Michigan, in which town he spent his child- hood and youth and in the public schools of which he received his preliminary education. Actuated by a landable desire for a more thorough mental training than the common schools could impart he subsequently became a student of the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business College at Valparaiso. where he pursued for some time the higher branches of learning. meanwhile re- ceiving his initiation into more practical at- fairs of life by serving a two and a half years apprenticeship in pharmacy, under the di- rection of Charles Brown, who kept a drug store in the town of Linden.
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