USA > Michigan > Wexford County > History of Wexford County, Michigan, embracing a concise review of its early settlement, industrial development and present conditions > Part 62
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WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
genial disposition and cordial manner marked him at once as the courteous and re- fined gentleman. Every trust reposed in him was faithfully guarded and religiously dis- charged, his duties, professional, official and social, were most carefully observed and made co-ordinate to every other considera- tion and he always did the right as he saw and understood the right and endeavored to realize within himself his highest and noblest ideals of manhood.
Mr. Peck died on the 19th day of De- cember, 1901, being in the prime of manhood and in the maturity of his powers when he passed away. In his death his family suffered the loss of a dutiful son and brother, the city and county one of their most effi- cient and popular public servants, the legal profession one of its ablest and most prom- ising members, and the state a representative citizen who honored and adorned every sta- tion to which he had been called. Human life is like the waves of the ocean that flash for a few brief moments in the sunlight. marvels of power and beauty and then, dashed upon the remorseless shore of death. they are broken and disappear forever. As the sea has rolled for unnumbered ages in the past and will continued to roll and chant its sublime dirge for ages to come, so will the waves of human life follow each other in countless succession to the one common goal until time shall be no more.
RICHARD W. MASSEY.
During the progress of the Civil war. 1861-65, it is well known that English sympathy was almost entirely with the Confederacy. Different historians seek to account for this in various ways, but all
of them, even those of English origin, ad- mit the fact, while seeking to give excuses for it. The people of English origin residing in America at that time, however, were not controlled in their sympathies by the views entertained by their countrymen across the water. Thousands of them not only advo- cated the cause of the Union, but entered the service as soldiers and sailors and served their adopted country with distinc- tion until the close of the war. While the subject of this review, Richard W. Massey. is a native-born American, his parents are both natives of England, and his father was one of those Englishmen who heartily en- dorsed the position taken by the North in that most sanguinary civil conflict. Indeed, he did not confine his endorsement to words, but proved his loyalty by deeds, as a private soldier, on many of the battle fields of the south. He was a member of Company C. Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.
Richard W. Massey is a native of Wis- consin, born at Kenosha. November 14. 1851. His parents were John and Emma ( Hamer) Massey, both natives of England, who immigrated to America soon after their marriage and located at Kenosha, Wisconsin, where John Massey followed ship building very profitably until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Fighth Wisconsin Regiment, and served until peace was declared. He was a lover of the country of his adoption and true and loyal to her cause. He died in Racine, Wiscon- sin. some time after his return from the army, at the age of forty-seven years, his good wife having died three years before in the same city, when she was forty years oldl. They were the parents of eight children. four sons and four daughters, of whom
486
IT'EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Richard W., the subject of this article, was the seventh in order of birth.
The first years of the life of the sub- ject were spent in Kenosha, where he was born, and in Racine, to which place the fam- ily moved while the subject was still quite voung. He attended school a few years. but, like most boys who are reared near large bodies of water, he yearned for ad- venture upon the great lakes. When he was eleven years old he secured a position on one of the vessels plying between Racine and other points in the lake region and for the next eight years he saw more of the water than he did of the land. Wearying of the monotony of life on ships, he longed for a little more intimate relation with green woods, verdant pastures and fields of war- ing grain. Returning to land, he secured a place in a barber shop, became skilled in the trade and followed it much of the time for eighteen years, principally in Chicago, Manistee and Cadillac. In the fall of 1876 he came to Cadillac, was employed as a barber and for the next eleven years fol- lowed that vocation.
On the 3d day of July, 1877. in Cadillac. Wexford county, Richard W. Massey was united in marriage to Miss Emma Cobbs, a native of Indiana, born in Butlerville, Jen- nings county, May 3. 1859. Her parents were Jonathan W. and Nancy J. ( Preble ) Cobbs. He a native of Ohio, born in Col- umbiana county, July 25. 1828, while she was born in Ripley county, Indiana, March 21. 1833. The father was a skilled me- chanic, a cabinet-maker, carpenter and wagon-maker, but devoted the greater por- tion of his life to the manufacture of lum- ber, in which he amassed a comfortable for- tune. The family moved from Indiana to
Michigan in 1874, and he was one of the first persons to engage in the manufacture of lumber in Cadillac. He died in 1898. and a sketch of his interesting career will be found in another part of this volume. Mrs. Cobbs is still living, a genial, matronly lady. who has yet many years of usefulness be- fore her. Mrs. Richard W. Massey is a lady of taste, refinement and many accom- plishments. To her and her husband four children have been born, viz .: Wynter. Mabel. Dick and a little daughter who died in infancy.
In the fall of 1876 Richard W. Massey came to the city of Cadillac, and engaged in his chosen vocation , that of a barber. This he followed for eleven years, when he opened up a wholesale and retail tobacco store. In this business he was quite suc- cessful and followed it for six years. He then retired from active business and, being quite comfortably situated financially, has not considered it necessary to pursue any particular business or calling since.
Having the time and means to devote to the social side of life, Mr. Massey is inter- ested in many fraternal societies. He is a member of Cadillac Lodge No. 331. Free & Accepted Masons, Cadillac Chapter No. 103. Traverse City Commandery No. 41, and De- Witt Clinton Consistory at Grand Rapids. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, with a membership in the local lodge at Cadillac, and is also a member of Cadillac Lodge No. 680. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Massey residence is a bemtiful, commodious structure, delight- fully situated and furnished in palatial style. Its occupants are generous, hospitable peo- ple who merit and receive the highest re- gard of their fellow citizens.
MRS. H. I. DEVOE.
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H. I. DEVOE.
487
IFEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
NELS NEILSON.
Nels Neilson, who has been engaged in lumbering and farming during the greater part of his residence in Wexford county -- covering thirty-one years-was born in Sweden, his natal day being December 17. [852. His education was there acquired and he continued to make his home in Sweden until eighteen years of age, when, being an ambitious young man, he resolved to try his fortune in a land of broader op- portunities, where effort is unhampered by caste of class. Accordingly he sailed for the United States, and in 1872, when twenty years of age, he came to Wexford county, Michigan, where he has since made his home. Ile first entered the employ of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, con- tinuing in that service for two years, on the expiration of which period he sought other employment and has since been engaged in farming and in working in the lumber re- gions. It has been in theis way that he has gained a comfortable living and a good property. He is now the owner of eighty acres of land, of which about thirty acres has been placed under the plow, its cultivation representing much hard labor and yet bring- ing to him good returns in abundant crops. Ile has also erected good buildings upon his farm, which is situated on section 14, Cedar Creek township. His is a pleasant home and all the improvements upon the farm are the result of the energy and effort of the owner.
In Manton, Michigan, June 27, 1896, Mr. Neilson was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Julia C. Jorgenson, a na- tive of Denmark, born May 11, 1876, and they now have one son, Ludwig H. Mr.
Neilson has never been afraid of work and realizes that it is the foundation of all suc- cess and by reason of this he has become the possessor of one of the good farms of Cedar Creek township.
HENRY I. DEVOE.
More than a century ago George Wash- ington said "Agriculture is the most useful as well as the most honorable pursuit of man," and this truth stands today as it did then. Farming forms the basis of all pros- perity and no land has had continuous or substantial development that could not base its growth upon agricultural pursuits. Mr. DeVoe is a representative of the farming interests of Wexford county and his home is now on section 34, Wexford township. Hle was born in Albany county, New York, on the 11th of May, 1837, and when a youth he was taken by his parents to Pennsylvania, the family settling upon a farm in Crawford county, that state. There the subject re- mained until he was eleven years of age, when he came with his parents to Michigan, the family home being established upon a farm in Wright township, Hillsdale county, where the subject remained until 1867. In his youth he worked in the fields and mead- ow's, early becoming familiar with the best methods of producing good crops and carry- ing on the other work of the farm. His work in the fields, however, was interrupted by his service in the Union army, for his patriotic spirit was aroused by the continued attempt of the South to overthrow the Union and in October, 1862, he offered his services to the government, becoming a member of Com-
488
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
pany G. l'irst Michigan Regiment Engineers and Mechanics, with which he served for three years, or until October. 1865. He rendered his nation valuable aid and was al- was loyal to the old flag and the cause it represented. When the war was over and he received an honorable discharge Mr. De- V'oe returned to Hillsdale county, where he engaged in farming until 1867.
The month of May of that year witnessed the subject's arrival in Wexford county. Ilere he settled upon a farm which is yet his home. Securing a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land. with characteristic energy he began its cultivation and he is now the owner of two hundred acres, of which fifty acres is improved. His is an industrious life and his well-directed energy is bringing to him creditable and gratifying success. When he came to Wexford county he was accompanied by his young wife, having been married in Hillsdale county, Michigan. On Christmas day of 1866 he married Miss Helen M. Miner, a native of Branch county. Michigan, and their union has been blessed with two children, but Edgar died when only a year and a half old. The other son is Isaac MI. He received a common-school education and was the first graduate of the Sherman public school in 1898, afterward taking a course in the normal college at Mt. Pleasant. Michigan. He wedded Miss Mae Snyder. who was born near Mt. Pleasant, and he now occupies the chair of science in the Charlevoix schools. They also had an adopted daughter, Carrie DeV'oe, who was reared by them from infancy and who is now the wife of W. M. Tracy. In 1882 Mr. Đe Voe was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in Wexford township on the 2d of April of that year.
Called to public office by his fellow townsmen, Mr. Del'oe has served as super- visor, as township clerk, and as justice of the peace and for twelve years he was county superintendent of the poor. He was also elected county surveyor and held that po- sition for one term and he has been deputy county surveyor during the greater part of his residence here. No trust of a public na- ture that has been reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and at all times he is reliable, fully meeting his obligations. He has taken an active part in church work, has held membership with the Congregational denomination since 1871 and his wife was also a member of the Congre- gational church of Sherman and they con- tributed liberally to its support and did every- thing in their power for its growth and up- building. Thus it will be seen that the sub- ject has been an active factor in the material and moral development of his community and his labors have been so directed by sound judgment that they have proven of much benefit to his adopted county. He is a man whom to know is to respect and honor and during his residence in this section of the state he has gained many warm friends.
ALBERT B. SOUTHWICK.
Albert B. Southwick, who resides on section 27. Wexford township, was born in Centerville. St. Joseph county, Michigan, on the 30th of September. 1848, his parents being Elijah B. and Harriet (Brown) Southwick. In the spring of 1884 the father removed with his family from Kala- mazoo county, Michigan, to Wexford con-
489
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ty and settled in Wexford township, where he and his wife spent their remaining days, her death occurring when she was about sixty-eight years of age, but the father sur- vived until he reached the age of eighty- two years. Unto them were born six chil- dren, of whom Albert B. is the eldest.
In the county of his nativity and in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Mr. South- wick of this review spent his boyhood days and at the time of his parents' removal to Wexford county he also settled in this por- tion of the state upon the farm which has since been his home. He has since erected good buildings here for he is a progressive agriculturist, and his labors have kept abreast with the improvements of the times that has marked the pursuit of agriculture as well as all other lines of business life. He has placed a part of his land under a high state of cultivation, having fifty-five acres improved. His farm comprises altogether one hundred and thirty-five acres and from time to time he extends the boundaries of the cultivated tract. He raises the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate and he also has good grades of stock upon his place.
Mr. Southwick has been twice married. In Leonidas township, St. Joseph county, Michigan, he wedded Miss Rachel Addi- son, a native of Indiana, and unto them were. born two children, who died in carly youth. The mother also passed away in Mendon, St. Joseph county, when about twenty-five years of age. On the 3d of October, 1877, Mr. Southwick was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Frederick, a daughter of John B. and Helen L. (Seas) Frederick, who came to Wexford county in the spring of 1808. Here the father died
February 19, 1901. Mrs. Southwick is the cldlest of his family of eleven children and was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 30th of June, 1855. By her marriage she has become the mother of three living chil- dren, Mercy .A., Lydia E. and Ida .A., and they also lost one daughter, who died in in- fancy.
Mr. Southwick has served as supervisor of Wexford township, has also been town- ship treasurer, justice of the peace, high- way commisioner and school inspector. All this indicates that he has the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen, who recognize his capability for office and there- fore honor him with positions of public trust. He has. indeed, been active in township affairs and is regarded as a valued citizen. Fraternally he is connected with Maquestion Tent No. 654, Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. Southwick is a man of considerable business capacity, of keen discrimination and unflagging energy. It is these qualities which have brought to him a creditable meas- ure of success, making him one of the sub- stantial citizens of his community. He is a western man, possessing the energy and adaptability that has always characterized the people of this section of the country, and his worth as a man and citizen is widely ac- knowledged.
REUBEN D. FREDERICK.
Reuben D. Frederick is the editor and proprietor of the Sherman Pioneer, pub- fished at Sherman, Michigan, and has made this paper an index of the progressive dis- trict in which it is located. He was born upon a farm in Medina county, Ohio, De- cember 7. 1856, and is a son of J. B. and
490
IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Jelen I. (Scas) Frederick, who came to Wexford county, Michigan, in the spring of 1800, locating upon a farm in Wexford township. Here the father spent his re- maining days, passing away on the 19th of February, 1901. in his seventy-seventh year. This worthy couple had a family of eleven children, of whom Reuben D. Frederick is the eldest son. Ile spent the first seven years of his life in the county of his nativity and then came with his parents to Michigan, a settlement being made in St. Joseph county. They lived upon a farm in Leonidas town- ship and there the son was reared to man- hood. taking his place in the fields as soon as he was old and strong enough to bear a part in the work of tilling the soil. He resided in St. Joseph county until 1883 and was educated chietly in the district schools of that county. When not engaged with the duties of the school room he worked upon the farm or else followed the carpenter's trade, being engaged at that labor for three years. He also taught school for two terms.
On leaving St. Joseph county Mr. Fred- erick came to Wexford county and took up his abode in Sherman. Not long after this he entered the employ of John H. Wheeler in the office of the Sherman Pioneer and has since been connected with journal- istic work, to a greater or less extent. For a year he remained in the office of the Pion- cer and then turned his attention to the sta- tionary business which he conducted for six years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased the paper of which he is now the editor and proprietor. It was called the Wexford County Pioneer. but he changed its name to the Sherman Pioneer. It now has a circulation of near- ly six hundred and is a bright, newsy sheet,
published in the interest of the Republican party and devoted to the welfare and up- building of this section of the state. One of its purposes is the dissemination of gen- eral and local news and the discussion of questions which are of moment to all Amer- ican people. Its editorials are clear, con- cise and interesting and Mr. Frederick has made of the Pioneer a journal of value to the community. Since coming to the county he has also taught for one term in Antioch township.
It was on the 30th of August, 1885, in Sherman, that the marriage of Mr. Fred- erick and Miss Matilda Martin was cele- brated. The lady is the daughter of Wil- liam Martin, who died in Orange. New Jer- sey. She was born near Newark, New Jersey, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Leo MI .. Floy A. and Esther H. Mr. Frederick has been active in the affairs of the village and by his fellow townsmen has been called to a number of offices, serving as village clerk. . as clerk of Antioch township, as justice of the peace and as school trustee. He was also appointed postmaster of Sherman in November. 1901, by President Roosevelt. and is now acceptably filling the position. . 1 valued and prominent representative of fraternal interests, he holds membership in Sherman Lodge No. 336. Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, Sherman Camp No. 5514. Modern Woodmen of America, Sher- man Lodge No. 212, Knights of Pythias. and Maqueston Tent No. 054. Knights of the Alaccabees. Whatever pertains to the wel- fare of the community and its progress elicits his attention and support and when his judg- ment approves of a measure he gives to it his hearty co-operation and aid.
JAMES MANSFIELD RESIDENCE.
491
IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
JAMES E. MANSFIELD.
Many of the best families of the state of Michigan trace their ancestry to sturdy New England stock. Of course all cannot boast of having Puritan blood in their veins, nor is it necessary to do so to demonstrate that they spring from worthy ancestors. As every one knows, the Puritans, while in the main acting on worthy motives, were both fanatical and intolerant and the common- sense observer marvels much why there should be such a scramble among sensible people to prove that the founder of their fam- ily tree in America was one of those who crossed the ocean in the "Mayflower" in 1620. That eminent humorist, Mark Twain. has given the most truthful and graphic de- scription of the Puritan of any other writer, when he says : "The Puritans were a noble band of people, who came to America for the purpose of worshiping God according to the (lietates of their own conscience and prevent- ing all others from enjoying the same blessed privilege." The subject of this review, James E. Mansfield, is a native of New England, but whether or not of Puritan stock, he neith- er affirms nor denies. He is quite content to let the work of his life speak for itself. with- out reference to what the generations of the past may or may not have been.
James E. Mansfield, a resident of section 14. Boon township. Wexford county, Mich- igan, is a native of Connecticut, born at Bridgeport. September 19, 1847. His par- cuts were Henry and Mary ( McCormick ) Mansfield, natives of Connecticut, who moved to Michigan in 1852, and settled in Washtenaw county, where they resided until his death. He died in Manchester, Washı- tenaw county, in 1861, at the age of forty
years, while she is a resident of Ionia county, aged about seventy-nine years. They were the parents of four children, of whom James E. was the second, and all are living.
At the age of five years James E. Mans- field accompanied his parents to Michigan, received a good common-school education in Washtenaw county and there grew to man- hood. When not occupied with his studies he was acquiring lessons of industry in the woods, the clearing or in the fields of his fa- ther's farm. In October, 1863, when only sixteen years of age, he entered the United States service as a private soldier, enlisting in Company I. First Regiment Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. Previous to en- listing he had devoted some time to car- pentering, was always handy with tools and before the close of the war had become quite skillful as a mechanic. He saw considerable active service, was often under fire, and was frequently in rather close quarters, but man- aged to escape without harm. He was mus- tered out of the service at Nashville, Ten- nessee, September 20, 1865, long after the war had closed. Returning to Washtenaw county, he secured employment as a carpen- ter, which calling he pursued very success- fully for seven years.
May 22, 1870, James E. Mansfield was united in marriage to Miss Ann Antcliff, a native of England, born July 25, 1849. Her parents were William and Sarah (Turner ) Antcliff, who immigrated to the United States with their family in 1863, and located in Washtenaw county, where they resided until their deaths. in 1871 and June. 1881. respectively. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield continued to reside in Washtenaw county until August, 1872, when they moved to Wexford county and established them-
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492
WEXFORD COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
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selves on a farm, a part of section 14. Boon township, which has been their home from that time to the present. lle is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, all located in Boon township. two-thirds of which, or two hundred and forty acres, is splendidly improved and un- der cultivation. Fine. substantial, commo- dious buiklings add much to the convenience and value of the place. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. James E. Mans- field, only three of whom are living. viz : Wilber. Clarence and Willis. Their oldest child, Bert, a youth of much intelligence and great promise, died upon the threshold of manhood at the age of nineteen years. The other son, Glenn, met with an accident in Grand Traverse bay, where he lost his life by drowning. Those bereavements weighed heavily upon the devoted parents and the other children.
It is only natural that a man possessed of as much property in Boon township as Mr. Mansfield owns should be deeply interested in the governmental affairs of the municipal- ity. This interest, however, exacts some pen- alties, for the voters insist that he must dis- charge the duties of some of the local offices. At various times in the past years he has been supervisor of the township, highway commissioner and member of the board of review. In each position he acquitted him- self most satisfactorily to his constituents and greatly to the substantial improvement and financial benefit of the township. He has always acted well his part in life. . As a citizen, soldier and official he has merited and received the respect, confidence and com- mendation of all with whom he came in con- tact in these various capacities.
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