USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > Past and present of Shiawassee County, Michigan, historically; with biographical sketches > Part 57
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EDWIN O. PLACE
'Tis not in mortals to command success, said a writer of old, but "I'll deserve it" seems to have been the motto of the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch, and who is an honored citizen of Owosso township. He is a native of Scio township, Washtenaw county, Michigan, where he was born August 8, 1841, and he is among the prominent and successful farmers of his township having carved his way to the front by hard work, honesty and frugality. He is a son of Reuben Place, who was born in Steuben county, New York, July 11, 1814 and who died April 29, 1879, in Shiawassee township; his wife was Electa (Phillips) Place, who was born July 6, 1812, and passed to the "land beyond the blue," February 17, 1873. This respected couple were married November 9, 1839, in Lodi township Washtenaw county, Michigan. John Place, the grandfather of our subject, was born on Long Island, New York, in 1775, and died in Illinois.
Reuben Place first came to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1836 and after working on a farm for some time he and his brother Isaac bought a woolen mill at Scio. They did not keep it long, however, but disposed of it and engaged in operating a chair factory at the same place. December 25, 1841, Mr Place sold out and removed to Woodhull township with his family, having previously bought eighty acres of wild land there. He built a log house, cleared the land and in 1852 moved to Bennington township, where he already owned eighty acres, partly improved land, but containing no buildings. He erected a frame house and barn and soon added one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land, sixty acres of which he placed under cultivation. In 1864 he sold the place and bought ninety acres on section 12, Shiawassee township. him. In both places there were one hundred acres improved, with good buildings. On the His son Edwin bought eighty acres adjoining former eighty father and son worked together and finally brought most of the remainder un-
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der the plow. In 1874 Edwin built a good house and barn on his eighty, and his father, Reuben Place, continued to live on his ninety acres until he joined the "silent majority" in the great beyond. When Reuben Place came to Woodhull township wild deer were so plentiful that it was not an uncommon thing to see eight or a dozen in a drove, and wolves could be heard almost nightly. Mr. Place used to go to Howell, thirty miles distant, for his mail, and go, too, through a dense forest most of the way. He helped to build a saw mill and took his pay in lumber. In those days pioneers used to make doors from dry- goods boxes which had been used to transport their household effects. One family had thin bark for floors and roof. Mr. Place brought with him at first, one year's supply of pro- visions. He traded some of his property for an ox team, plow and chest of tools. He helped to build many of the houses in his locality. He also assisted John P. Shaft, of Shaftsburg, to build a shoe house. In going to church he used to drive an ox team half way and walk the remainder of the distance.
In 1862 Edwin O. Place first bought forty acres in Bennington township, ten acres of which were improved. After clearing the rest he sold the tract and bought the eighty acres adjoining the land of his father, already men- tioned. He lived with his father until 1873. After the death of his father, in 1879, he bought out the interests of the other heirs to the farm, and in 1883 sold one hundred and thirty acres of the old homestead, but bought another sixty acres, leaving him one hundred and five acres. In 1891 he traded the remain- der of the old farm for ninety acres on section 12, Owosso township, to which he removed May 15th of the same year, and upon which he has since resided. There were not more than twenty-five acres of improved ground in all this farm of ninety acres when he got it; but all save some ten acres is now in a good state of cultivation,-splendid, in fact.
On September 16, 1873, Mr. Place was mar- ried to Jennie M. Cooper, a native of Benning- ton township, where she was born October 27,
1849. Her father was Archibald Cooper, who was born in the Empire state, November 12, 1809, and who died August 10, 1876, in Ben- nington township. Mrs. Place's mother, Jane S. (Castle) Cooper, was born in New York state, May 24, 1820, and died March 6, 1893, at Bancroft, Michigan ; she was a daughter of Lemuel Castle who was born in New York, and who came to Bennington township before Shiawassee county was organized. He bought a large tract of land from the government, cleared part of it and lived in Bennington township until his death. He was a represen- tative in the state legislature when the capitol was in Detroit. . Mrs. Place's father bought two hundred and nine acres, in Bennington township, which he improved and which he occupied until his death. Mrs. Place was the fourth of nine children. Lemuel, born Au- gust 3, 1843, lives in Bennington township; he married Sara Beers and had three children, -Frank, Katharine and Grace. Duane C., born January 19, 1845, lives at Owosso; he married Anna Herndern and they had two children,-Mabel and Gertrude. George A., born October 27, 1849, lives in Bennington township; he married Hattie Beemis and they had two children,-Lillian and Walter, the former being deceased. Delia E., born October 24, 1851, lives in Shiawassee town- ship; she married P. B. Reynolds and had three children,-Chauncey, Floyd and Leo. John T., born August 24, 1854, died on the old farm, June 12, 1895; he married Blanche King and had two children,-Sadie and Clay- ton. Angeline S., born April 30, 1855, lives in Caledonia township; she married William Lewis and had five children,-Leon, who was a member of Company G, Thirty-third Michi- gan Infantry, in the Spanish-American war, died at Montauk Point, New York, hospital in September, 1898, from disease contracted in the service. The other children in the Lewis family are Ray, Thella, Earl and Ralph. William F., born January 26, 1857, lives in Caledonia ; he married Myra Vandercarr and had two children,-Florence, deceased, and Fay. Mary S., born November 30, 1861, lives
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in Bancroft; she married Claude Watson and had two children,-Paul and Louise.
Mr. Place is the first of nine children, six of whom are deceased. Calvin, born April 23, 1842, died December 28, 1865; Judson A., born October 18, 1843, died January 26, 1866. James L., born August 21, 1845, lives in San Francisco, California; he married Isabella Melon and they have three children,-Addie, Floyd and Tressie. Grover, born August 9, 1847, died August 5, 1848; Phoebe A., born September 4, 1849, died March 13, 1867. Alvira J., born February 28, 1857, lives in Santa Cruz, California ; she married William Waugh and they have one child,-Eva. Eletha, born November 26, 1852, died Febru- ray 9, 1853.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Place, as follows: Anna, born August 30, 1874, died October 3, 1874. Myra, born March 7, 1876, lives at Morrice ; she married William Kirker. Neva F., born January 20, 1880, is teaching at Traverse City ; Winnie I., born February 13, 1883, died February 20, 1893 ; and Karl J. was born July 2, 1888. The parents of Mrs. Place were Baptists, and her father was a Republican.
Mr. Place is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patrons of Industry. In politics he is a Republican, but in no sense an office-seeker, preferring to be a private citizen. He was once elected highway commissioner, but refused to qualify. This is a modesty possessed by few men. Indeed, if more were gifted in the same way there would be fewer scandals in high and low places. The craze for office in this country has become a national evil, and honesty is at a premium.
DANIEL S. POST
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Among the intelligent and thrifty mien of affairs and one who enjoys to a marked de- gree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens is Daniel S. Post, of Vernon town- ship. He arrived at Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, July 12, 1844, coming in over the "stork" route.
His father, Orson Post, was a native of the Green Mountain state, and when a youth learned the trade of cabinetmaker. In 1837, while yet a young man, he took the advice later given by Horace Greeley and came west, locating for a time in the wilds of Shiawassee township. In 1839 he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Canfield, an estimable lady and one who proved to be to him a helpmeet, indeed, sharing with him the joys and sor- rows of the years of their wedded lives. In the year 1844 Orson Post removed to Geauga county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch was born. Three sons came to bless the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Orson Post. Stephen A. was born November 16, 1838, and most of the ac- tive years of his life were spent in the milling business. Hiram M. is engaged in the hard- ware trade in Owosso. Orson Post, father of our subject, died December 9, 1888, at Ver- non, and the mother passed away just seven- teen years later to a day. They rest in Green- wood cemetery at Vernon.
Our subject's school advantages were those common to boys of his time in a new country, but, with an eye to the main chance, he has been enabled to keep abreast with the progress of the age and fill the roll of a patriot and a good citizen. When but a lad of eighteen years, he heeded the call of his country to de- fend her flag and honor, and on the 14th day of August, 1862, signed the rolls of muster of Company G, Twenty-third Michigan Volun- teer Infantry, as a "high private," as he put it. He donned the uniform of an American soldier and marched away to war. The Twen- ty-third was raised in the sixth congressional district and rendezvoused at. East Saginaw. It left for the seat of war September 18, 1862, under command of Colonel Marshall W. Cha- pin, bearing upon its rolls of muster the names of nine hundred and eighty-three officers and men. Its first objective point was Bowling Green, Kentucky, where it was assigned to the tenth division of General Rosecrans' army.
During the three eventful years that fol- lowed, the regiment saw much hard fighting. Its losses from disease and action footed up
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two hundred and eighty-seven. Young Post followed the fortunes of his command through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina, meeting the enemy on nearly a score of battlefields, to the close of the war. He was mustered out of service with his regi- ment at Salisbury, North Carolina, June 28, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. He arrived home upon the date of his twenty-first birthday, crossing the threshold to full man- hood, and having to his credit nearly three years of active service in the field,-a record to which he may point with just pride and per- sonal satisfaction.
December 16, 1867, Daniel S. Post was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Ella M., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Johnson, pioneer residents of Venice township, where Mr. Johnson car- ried on farming and was also a horse farrier. Mrs. Post was born October 29, 1851. Mr. Johnson was a veteran of the civil war and re- ceived a serious injury by a horse falling upon him. No children came to brighten the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Post and they opened their hearts and home to a little girl four months of age, adopting her as their very own, and now she is a young lady and is known as Lina E. Post. She dates her birth August 31, 1888.
Mr. Post's ability and integrity have often found recognition by his fellow townsmen. He served as president of the village of Ver- non one year. He was for seven years treas- urer and was trustee for the same length of time. Fraternally Mr. Post affiliates with the Odd Fellows, of which organization he has been a member since May 21, 1866, and with H. F. Wallace Post, No. 160, Grand Army of the Republic, at Corunna. Politically his views harmonize with the principles of the Grand Old Party, and he is proud of the rec- ord of his party. The family give their moral and material support to the Baptist church society, of which they are esteemed members.
Mr. Post gives the following interesting reminiscence of his personal war experience, and the same will be read with interest :
"The first engagement in which I partici- pated was at Campbell Station, November 16,
1863. We spent our first winter out at Bowl- ing Green, Kentucky, where the regiment did garrison duty and guarded railroad trains. May 31st we arrived at Glasgow, and from there we were ordered to Tompkinsville, from which place we started in pursuit, July 4th, of a band of rebels under command of General John H. Morgan. We passed rapidly through, marching to Jeffersonville, Indiana, from there to Chillicothe, Ohio, arriving at Paris, Kentucky, June 29th, just in time to save the railroad bridge from destruction and the cap- ture of the small force defending the town. After a brisk skirmish the rebels withdrew.
"August 4th we proceeded, via Lexington and Louisville, to Lebanon, and on to New- market. August 17th we participated in the advance of the army in east Tennessee, arriv- ing at Loudon September 4th. On the 15th of September the army made a forced marchi of thirty miles to Knoxville, and from there to Morristown, returning to Loudon on the 19th and remaining for some time engaged in picket and other duties. We were marched to Lenoir in the early part of November follow- ing, and later the regiment with the army was marched to Hous Ferry, attacking the enemy and driving them some miles, later returning to Lenoir. November 16th orders were re- ceived to destroy transportation equipage and officers' baggage and turn the teams over to the several batteries. Then commenced the retreat to Knoxville, the enemy in hot pursuit. A warm engagement was put up at Campbell Station, and the enemy checked for some hours. When the retreat was resumed, through mud and rain, the command was tired and hungry, having fought for five hours without food or rest. We arrived at Knoxville at early dawn, after a march of twenty-eight miles. The regiment assisted in the defense of Knoxville until December 5th, when the siege was raised. The winter that followed was a severe one for the Twenty-third. The men suffered greatly from scarcity of rations and lack of tents, blan- kets and overcoats. Early in May following we were at Charleston, Tennessee, and were destined to participate in the Atlanta cam-
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paign. Arriving at Resaca, we were ordered to make a charge upon the enemy's works, which was done in fine order, but we were repulsed with a loss of sixty-two men killed and wounded within a few minutes. The en- emy, however, soon after evacuated the place, the rebel force falling back upon Dallas. Here we were again under fire almost constantly for several days. The enemy finally abandoned the town and Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Chattahoochee River and Lovejoy Sta- tion followed in close order. We were with the command that followed General Hood's rebel horde from Decatur northward through Georgia and Alabama to the Tennessee river. After scouring the country the regiment brought up at Jonesville, Tennessee, early in November, where it was stationed for some time and was then ordered by rail to Colum- bia, where it again joined the forces against Hood. A battle was on and a portion of our regiment was sent in at midnight. We were withdrawn to Duck river and threw up breast- works. Several severe engagements followed in quick succession, the enemy being repulsed. December 1st found us at Nashville, Tennes- see, having marched fifty miles in forty-eight hours and fought thé battle of Franklin. Here again the regiment made a gallant charge, capturing more prisoners than it had men en- gaged. The enemy was put to rout and closely followed to Columbia. The rain fell in tor- rents and the mud was fully six inches in depth. January 1, 1865, the Twenty-third Corps, to which my regiment was now at- tached, was ordered to Washington, D. C. A forced march of two hundred and fifty miles was made to Clifton, where we embarked on steamers for Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there took rail for Washington. Here we went into Camp Stoneman, where we remained until February 9th, when we marched to Alexan- dria and were put aboard transports under or- ders for Smithville, North Carolina, at the mouth of Cape Fear river. We met the en- emy again at Town Creek, where we captured two pieces of artillery and three hundred and fifty prisoners. A march of one hundred and
twenty-five miles, to Kingston, was made in six days. From Kingston we went to Golds- boro and on to Raleigh, where we arrived April 9th, the ever memorable day of Lee's surrender to Grant, at Appomattox. Here we remained until the surrender of Johnson's army, on the 21st, and the war of the Rebel- lion had passed into history."
Mr. Post relates the following personal in- cident which will be readily appreciated by any one who has had army experience: "At Columbia, Tennessee, I was arrested for for- aging. I had received a pass from General Couch's headquarters, got out about five miles, had killed a hog and loaded a part of it on to the horse loaned me at the time by Sur- geon James R. Leader. I was caring for the animal for Surgeon Leader. About this time some guards who were patrolling the country came in sight, but as we had a pass, we sup- posed we were all right. However, there had been orders issued against foraging that we knew nothing of. We were taken back to the officer who was in command of the guard. He ordered us under arrest and took the doctor's horse from me and gave it to some member of his force. At about seven o'clock in the even- ing we were started for camp in a terrible storm of rain and in almost impenetrable dark- ness. We had to cross a river on flood wood and some of the party came near to being drowned. We finally reached brigade head- quarters, and, to our disgust, were put under strong guard until morning. During the night the weather grew very cold, snow falling to the depth of about two inches. We nearly perished. Morning came and with it, to our great relief, sunshine also. During the day we were taken to the general headquarters; still under guard. I was allowed to go to my regi- ment for an hour to see the boys. After re- turning, the guards paid little or no attention to me, and I was permitted to go wherever I pleased during the remainder of my imprison- ment. From Columbia, the army marched to Clifton, on the Tennessee river, about one hundred and twenty-five miles. I had no gun to carry and had the best time of my army
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life. We had issued to us full rations, while the men doing duty in the regiment were on half fare. After our arrival in Clifton General Couch sent for us and we were taken before him. If I remember correctly, no bands of music accompanied us, and I confess I felt a little shaky, but was soon reassured, as the old general talked very kindly to us, as a father might have done to a son for a similar trans- gression. He told us not to get caught forag- ing again. After this we were allowed to re- turn to our command and resume our duties."
Episodes of this character were common ex- periences with the soldier boys in volunteer service. Mr. Post's father was a member of the same company and regiment with him, but was discharged for disability after a few months' service.
F. H. POTTER
The Empire state has always been noted for turning out splendid specimens of men, -- men whose hardy physical characteristics cor- respond to their sterling worth, patient indus- try and keen insight into business. Such men have proved of greatest value in the enter- prises of the newer states where they were sorely needed and where their work and their characters have pushed forward wonderfully the development of those more modern com- monwealths.
Among these sons of New York, we may mention Hon. F. H. Potter, the popular ex- president of the village of Durand. He was born April 8, 1833, being a son of Thomas Potter, who was born in Rhode Island, who was a farmer by occupation and who married Rowena Hill, who was a native of New York. Our subject was one of eight children, being the fifth in order of birth. He was reared in his father's home at Marion, Wayne county, New York, and was educated in the neighbor- ing district school. At the age of twenty Mr. Potter started out for himself, taking for his first work the trade of a carpenter and builder. In 1856 he located at Newberg, Shiawassee
county, and besides working at his trade was engaged in the lumber business until 1890, when he came to Durand and there engaged in the same business.
Our subject is a follower of the Democrat party and has filled many positions of trust and honor. These positions denote the confi- dence which the citizens of Durand repose in him and of which he is in every way worthy. He served as president of Durand for seven years and has held the offices of supervisor, township clerk, township treasurer, was high- way commissioner of Shiawassee township, justice of the peace of Vernon, and was hon- ored by his election to the position of state representative of the east district of Shiawas- see county, in 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1885. As a member of the house he labored faithfully for his people and in every way guarded their interests. He was a member of the commit- tees on the State House of Correction, State Public School, and horticulture. Mr. Potter's father was a straight out-and-out Whig and later a Republican.
In 1858 F. H. Potter was united in mar- riage to Jane C., daughter of Hiram and Eliza Davis. She was born in Shiawassee county, in 1838, her father having been an early settler of Newburg, Shiawassee township, where he was engaged in farming. Mrs. Potter's father and mother are both deceased.
To our subject and wife have been born six children, three of whom are living: Fred H. is Grand Trunk agent at Lansing; Nettie Har- der is a widow, residing at Durand with her father; and Maude C., the wife of R. C. Mackey, who is a railroad engineer residing at Charleston, Illinois.
Fraternally Mr. Potter is allied with the blue lodge, royal arch chapter, Knights Tem- plar and Mystic Shrine, all of the Masonic fraternity.
His long residence in the county has brought him prominently into connection with every movement which has proved of value to the people of this section, and his acquaintance with the people is a broad one and has existed for many years.
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HENRY H. PULVER
One never feels the truth of the saying that the ways of truth are devious, so much as when considering the intricacy of the simplest case that is under the'legal jurisdiction. Yet of all the liberal professions, in no other is there such mental acumen, such clearness and quickness of perception necessary as in the le- gal profession. It is of all other callings the one most dependent upon natural endow- ments, and a man if not having a logical rea- soning power, with a ready or facile under- standing, might study Blackstone and the whole library of legal lore without ever be- coming a lawyer. There are lawyers and law- yers, but the only true lawyer is he who unites with skill in his calling, truth and humanity.
Henry H. Pulver, who is a most successful practitioner in the town of Laingsburg, Shia- wassee county, is an honor to his profession, being a man whose opinions are not to be moved by any means of corruption. In addi- tion to his law practice Mr. Pulver is the pres- ent efficient postmaster of Laingsburg, having served the public in this capacity since Janu- ary 15, 1902.
Our subject was born in Livingston county, New York, September 2, 1843. He is a son of James and Lucinda (Morrell) Pulver, who were likewise natives of New York, where they were born in 1814 and 1821, respectively. The father died in Woodhull, Shiawassee county, Michigan, in October, 1864, and the mother at Laingsburg, in 1897. Our subject's parents were married in New York, about the year 1839, and there the father worked at the trade of blacksmith. He came to Woodhull township, Shiawassee county, in 1855 and lo- cated on one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, which he improved, later adding to his possessions a tract of one hundred and twenty acres, part of which he improved. Our sub- ject's grandfather, John Pulver, came from Holland. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the father was a Free Soldier, a Whig, and later a Re -· publican.
Henry H. Pulver was the second of six children, all of whom are deceased except himself. James N., born in New York Aug- ust 4, 1840, died at Woodhull. He married Kate Hardy and to them one child was born, James, who lives on a part of the old home- stead. The third and fourth were twins, Mid- dleton and Milton, born in 1847; Milton died in infancy and Middleton in 1904; he married Sara Foland and to them were born three chil- dren, Maude, Frank and Budd, and he lived in Woodhull. Mary, born in New York in 1850, died in 1903. She married John D. Haskins and lived in Laingsburg at the time of his death. Jennie, born in Woodhull, in 1856, died at Morrice, this county. She married Gaylord Colby and they had one child, which died in infancy.
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