USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 19
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When Selah Collins started for himself, he located on fourteen hundred acres of wild land in Lyndon township, Washtenaw coun- ty, and first built a shack by the lake, where he lived for one year, or until a house was built. He lost this property through specu-
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
lation, and his father sold out at Pittsfield and bought four hundred acres of this, re- placing the frame house with one of brick, which still stands on the place. Alpheus Collins resided on this place until his death in 1860.
Selah B. Collins was early a Whig, and later a Republican. He was a member of the M. E. church and had four brothers who were Methodist ministers. His brother, Judson, was one of the first seven mission- aries to China. Selah B. Collins was the first of nine children, eight boys and one girl : Selah B., Josiah, Wellington H., Isaac, Walter, William W., Judson, Sidney A. and Esther. All lived to an old age.
William H. Collins was the fourth of ten children : Edwin O., Dec. 11, 1837, died in 1903 ; Addison C., July 25, 1838 ; Marian S., May 24, 1839, died in 1852; William H., our subject ; Esther A., Sept. 6, 1843; Cyn- thia, April 11, 1846; Lucinda, Feb. 28, 1849, died the same year ; Josephine, Oct. 22, 1851, died in 1852; Albert, Aug. 12, 1853, died Aug. 26, 1862, and Betsey, born April 15, 1857.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Washtenaw county and started for himself in 1862, when he enlisted in Ist Mich. Vol. Infantry, and joined the regi- ment at Antietam. He was in every engage- ment of the regiment, including Laurel Hill fight, where he was wounded in the shoulder by a minnie ball, which went in at the right shoulder and came out at the point of the left shoulder blade. After being wounded he came home on leave of absence for thirty days, and at the end of that time was trans- ferred to St. Mary's hospital at Detroit and there put on duty where he acted as hospital steward until the close of the war. He was at one time first sergeant of his company.
In the early seventies Mr. Collins settled in Lyndon township on eighty acres of im-
proved land, where he lived until 1886, when he moved to Stockbridge village and en- gaged in the agricultural implement business for eight years and then moved onto his present place, which he had purchased three years previous to this time.
Nov. 27, 1868, Mr. Collins was united in marriage to Margaret McCall, who was born July 17, 1844, and is the daughter of Alexander and Margaret (McIntyre) Mc- Call of Waterloo township. Jackson county. The father was born June 17, 1800, and the mother, July 3, 1804. Mrs. Collins' father located in Waterloo township, Jackson coun- ty, in' 1835, on four hundred acres of wild land, 'all of which he cleared excepting eighty acres. He was in possession of this property at the time of his death, Feb. 21, 18 ... The mother is also deceased.
Mrs. Collins was the sixth of seven chil- dren : Hugh, born May II, 1833, died in 1836; Donald, March 13, 1835, died in 1836; Alexy, A., Nov. 5, 1837, died Marchi 20, 1901 ; Jane, April 1, 1839, died March II, 1904; Hugh A., second, born Nov. 13. 1842 ; Margaret, July 17, 1844, and Donald, second, Dec. 18, 1846. Mrs. Collins' father was a Whig, and later a Republican. He was a member of the Methodist church while his wife was a Presbyterian.
William Collins and wife are the parents of two children : the first child born May 3. 1876, died in infancy: Arthur W., born April 29, 1877, married Annie Grimes, Nov. 25, 1903, to whom one son has been born, Rodney A., Nov. 14, 1904. They reside on a farm across the road from the parents.
Our subject held the office of Highway Commissioner for three terms, being elec- ted by the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of the G. A. R., Masons and Eastern Star.
Mr. Collins is one of the representative citizens of Stockbridge township, and al-
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though his residence here has not been as long as that of many, he is as loyally at- tached to the district as though he were a native. He has the respect of all who know him, and in business matters his word is as good as his bond.
ARCHIBALD CLARK.
Archibald Clark, the prominent events of whose life this brief biography records, was born at Penn Yan, in the state of New York, August 13, 1841. His parents, Samuel and Charlotte (Hewson) Clark, were natives of the Empire State, where the father was born in Yates county, July 4, 1813, and the moth- er, March 16, 1807. In the year 1835 they were united in marriage and for about 19 years continued to reside in their native state. In the year 1854 they packed their goods and turned their faces westward. fol- lowing the star of empire. Locke township, Ingham county, was the objective point. Landing in this new and but partially settled country, they purchased a tract of 40 acres, but located upon what is known in that sec- tion as the "Gamby Lands," from whom Mr. Clark took a contract to improve a certain number of acres of land for which he was to receive a deed to a certain 40 acres. He was stricken down and died October 9, 1856, be- fore fulfilling his contract, leaving the fami- ly in moderate circumstances. The mother survived him about 20 years, passing away June 14, 1874.
To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Clark were born six children, as follows: Jane A., born June 7, 1839; Archibald, born August 13, 1841 ; Millicent, born February 7, 1844; Charlotte, born December 22, 1848; John H., died July 27, 1846; Alida, died June 7, 1850.
Archibald remained at home until 19 years of age when he lived out as a month hand, at which occupation he continued until
February 24, 1864. He answered his coun- try's call for men to fight her battles and en- listed as a volunteer and was assigned to Co. H, of the 26th Michigan Infantry. He, with others, joined his regiment at Brandy Station, Va., where it had spent the winter of 1863-64 in comfortable quarters. Young Clark had scarcely become accustomed to soldier fare or life in camp before Grant be- gan his great flanking movement to the left --- the line upon which he proposed to fight it out if it took all summer, which it did and well into the following spring. May 4th saw the Army of the Potomac on the move -the mighty army under the leadership of the silent Grant and the venerable George G. Mead. The second corps, led by the gal- lant Hancock, to which the 26th Michigan was attached, crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford and marched out to the old battle ground of Chancellorsville, where the loss to the Union forces the year before footed up seventeen thousand. Here they camped for the night. Three days later the awful bat- tle of the Wilderness had been fought. The loss is given as fifteen thousand on a side. There followed in close order Corbin's ridge, Ny River, Hoe River, Spottsylvania, May 12th, where the 26th Michigan lost nearly one half of the number engaged, and seven out of the nine color guards either killed or wounded. In this engagement private Clark was wounded and sent to the hospital, An- napolis Junction, where he remained until the middle of August, when he rejoined his regiment with which he served until the close of the war. The losses in this battle footed up about ten thousand on a side. North Anna, May 24. here fell- the brave young captain of Co. H. Henry V. Steele; follow- ing come Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg, each and all have their sad mem- ories.
While the main body of the army lay in
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siege before Petersburg, the 26th, with others, were engaged in several skirmishes and battles at various points. Deep Bottom, Welden Railroad, Strawberry Plains, White Oak, Reames Station, all in 1864. April 13, 1865, the army cut loose for the final strug- gle. The 26th under command of Major L. N. Traver, met the enemy at Sutherland Sta- tion, April 4th ; Amelia Springs, April 5th ; Deatonsville and Sailor's Creek, April 6th ; High Ridge, April 7th ; Farnville, April 7th ; Appomattox Court House, April 9th.
It was through the lines of this regiment Grant operated with his flags of truce, capitu- lating terms of surrender with General Rob- ert E. Lee. Three days after the final sur- render the 26th captured unaided a portion of General Lee's wagons containing bag- gage, provisions and ammunition. Many a soldier of that command carried away with him valuable souvenirs of the event. Follow- ing the surrender of Lee's army the regiment with other troops, was detailed to remain at Appomattox while the arms, ammunition and stores of the Confederacy were being in- voiced to the Government.
Returning to Washington, the regiment, still under the command of General Grant, participated in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac by President Johnson, Gen- erals Grant, Meade, and hundreds of other dignitaries, including United States Sena- tors, Governors of states and others. It was a day never to be forgotten by those who participated. Archibald Clark was with his regiment during all these events that have now passed into history. The regiment re- turned to Jackson and was paid off and dis- banded June 16, since which time soldiering has been to the veterans of '61-'65 a living memory.
August 23, 1868, Archibald Clark was united in marriage to Miss Mary Roberts, whose parents, William and Elizabeth ( Cas-
sady) Roberts, were early settlers in the township of Osceola, Livingston county. They were both natives of the Empire State, where the father was born April 28, 1821, the mother May 8, 1826.
In 1852 Mr. Roberts made the overland . trip to California, where he spent three years. Returning, he located with his family in Shiawassee county upon a tract of sixty acres. Later he added eighty acres, and made many improvements upon the place, and remained there for fifteen years, when he disposed of his farm and moved to Fowl- erville, which was ever after his residence. He died January 8, 1880. Mrs. Roberts passed away December 1, 1868. Mrs. Rob- erts was an exemplary member of the Bap- tist church. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were the parents of six children, two only still living.
Mrs. Clark was the second born, her birth occurring 1849; Albert, born February 5, 1856; Thaddeus, born August 7, 1846, died September 2, 1873; Ira, born July 5, 1858, died November 24, 1867 ; Edwin, born Feb- ruary 13, 1864, died December 14, 1884; Willie, born November 17, 1861, died No- vember II, 1862.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark : Ira, born April 27, 1872, died June 16, 1873 ; Delbert, born May 9, 1874, died April 21, 1876; La Verne, born March 31, 1878. August 27, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Hammond. Their little son, Hollis, was born January 22, 1904.
Politically, Mr. Clark votes with the Re- publican party, and has the utmost confi- dence in its leaders to guide the ship of state to safe moorings.
He has twice represented his township on the board of supervisors and is a member at the present time. He is also a Grand Army man and loyal to the principles of the order -fraternity, charity, and loyalty. Mr
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Clark is recognized as one of the reliable and trustworthy citizens of his township. His home surroundings indicate thrift and pros- perity. He is justly entitled to as he is re- ceiving the confidence of his fellow towns- men.
JOHN M. BROWN (DECEASED).
John M. Brown was born in Seneca county, N. Y., May 2, 1825, and lived with his parents and attended school in his native town. At the age of eighteen years he struck out for himself, came West and for seven years engaged in stage driving be- tween Milan and Toledo, Ohio. At this early day the stage coach was the most con- venient mode of travel, as railroads were few and extended only between the larger cities and towns. He came with his parents to Branch county, Michigan, and for several years conducted farm operations for his father.
Before leaving Ohio he was married to Miss Blooma Bemus. In 1866 he came with his family to Michigan, and bought eighty acres of land upon section 13 of the Township of Vevay. The same year his wife died, leaving him with a family of five small children, three sons and two daugh- ters, their names are: Chas. W., Mary L., Frank A., George L. and Nettie E.
October 16, 1886, he married Nancy Jane Kent, daughter of Moses and Minerva Jacobs, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Brown was born. May 29, 1841, in Trumbull county, O. Two children have been born to them: Ver- nor J., March 20, 1874, now married and the father of four bright little people, resides in Vevay township, and Jessie M., born June 26, 1880, died at the age of six years.
At the time of purchase the land was in its primitive state, wild and heavily timbered. By hard work and economy the forests were cleared away, the debt on the lands paid off
and good substantial farm buildings erec- ted. Mr. Brown was a man of the strictest integrity, modest and unassuming and a good neighbor. His word was as good as a · bond. He enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. He died May 22, 1904, and his remains were laid at rest in the Hawley cemetery.
His memory will be honored and revered by those who knew him to the close of his life. Mrs. Brown still lives in the farm home, which she by frugality helped to at- tain.
M. R. CARRIER.
M. R. Carrier was born in Calhoun coun- ty, Mich., in 1866. His parents, Edwin and Cornelia, were natives of New York state. His father settled in Calhoun county, Mich- igan, in 1837.
Mr. M. R. Carrier moved to Lansing in 1881 with his parents, where he attended the Lansing high school and the Lansing Business University, after which he attend- ed Albion college for three years. He is secretary-treasurer of Northrop, Robertson & Carrier Co., manufacturing pharmacists an ddealers in druggists' and grocers' spe- cialties, also vice president of the Cuban Fruit and Sugar Co.
Mr. Carrier is prominently identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the great fraternal society, and is at present chairman of the board of auditors of that organiza- tion, and is also a member of the Elks and the K. P. lodges. He is a Republican and prominent in local politics. He has served the fourth ward as Alderman a number of terms.
In 1887 he married Miss Jennie Cushman, daughter of Geo. C. Cushman of Bath, Mich. They have two children, Reno and Florence.
M. R. CARRIER
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
CHARLES COGSWELL.
The value of a book is not to be estimated by the style of binding or the size of the folio, but rather by the subject matter with- in. A brief biographical or historical sketch of an individual or family often becomes a valued treasure in the hands of the genera- tions that follow. This short biography doubtless places in form for permanent preservation the names of individuals that are no where else to be found in printed pages. In work of this character the living meet the obligations they owe the dead.
Charles, son of John and Eunice (Buck) Cogswell, was born September 27, 1827, in New York State. His parents were natives of the East. They came to Michigan in the early days of its settlement and located upon a farm in. Jackson county, while Charles was yet a small boy. Here the parents lived for many years. The elder Cogswell died at the age of seventy years, highly respected and beloved. . His companion died at an ad- vanced age and they sleep side by side in the little cemetery at Spring Arbor.
Charles Cogswell was united in marriage to Miss Sarah U., daughter of Peter and Elsie (Pitts) Earl, May 8, 1861. Mrs. Cogswell was born November 10, 1827, in Onondaga county, N. Y., of which her par- ents were natives. Peter Earl settled upon the farm situated on section 9 of the Town- ship of Onondaga, this county, in 1839, where Mrs. Cogswell now resides.
Mrs. Cogswell was the sixth of a fam- ily of ten children, nine of whom lived to manhood and womanhood : Hannah M. was born December 4, 1816, was the wife of Dr. L. A. Ward and the mother of five chil -. dren, she died December 3, 1890, at Hor- nellsville, N. Y .; David E., February 27, 1819, was a farmer and died at the age of seventy-one years; Levi P., February 24.
1821, resided in Michigan and was the father of one son and died at the age of thirty-nine years : Alsy A., born May 31. 1823, was the wife of Ephriam Haynes of Onondaga township and died at the ad- vanced age of seventy-seven years; Samuel WV., born August 15, 1825. resides in Jack- son county, Michigan, died at the age of sixty-eight years. He was the father of two children, Edward H., born November 21, 1829, resided at Washington, was a farmer by occupation and died at the age of seventy- three years. Peter, named for his father, born February 15, 1838, lived at Leslie, where he died in 1900.
To John and Eunice Cogswell, seven chil- diren were born as follows: George, a resi- dent of Jackson county ; Marcella Ann, the wife of Charles Hubbard ; Albert, enlisted in the defense of his country and died from wounds received while in service: Maria, the wife of Martin Hockenberry of Charlotte, Eaton county, Michigan : Mariette, wife of Leicester Francis ; John, husband of Maria French.
Two lovely daughters came to bless the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cogswell- the first born, Carrie, February 3. 1862, be- came the wife of Fred Burke. They lived on the home farm of her parents and had three children as follows: Fred. E., born December 15. 1883, lives with his grand- mother on the Cogswell homestead : Charles C., October 9, 1886, at home, and Carrie. named for her sainted mother, born Feb- ruary 25. 1889, passed to the better land March 2, 1889, only a few days after her birth. Anna M., born March 23. 1868, the light and joy of the home, died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Cogswell were for many years active members of the Bap- tist Society at Onondaga and by the in- fluence of their lives helped to mould society to the better way of living.
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Mr. Cogswell is remembered as a man of sterling worth, always on the right side of ali questions of morality and religion. After the death of his parents in Jackson county, Mr. Cogswell bought out the heirs of his father-in-law, Peter Earl's estate, where he lived the remainder of his life and where Mrs. Cogswell still resides.
From the date of the organization of the republican party "Under the Oaks" at Jack- son, Michigan, 1854, Mr. Cogswell was in full sympathy with the principles promul- gated. Though in no sense an office seeker he at various times served his township in an official capacity. He was Justice of the Peace for a number of years, also Commis- sioner of Highways. Always discharging the duties imposed with conscientious fidelity -he was warm-hearted, kindly disposed, genial and friendly. To imitate him is to live the life of a good citizen.
CLARENCE E. BEMENT, LANSING.
Clarence E. Bement, of the old and widely known firm of E. Bement's Sons, was born in Fostoria, O., in 1856, being the son of Edwin and Louisa Bement. His father, the founder of the business, was a native of Westfield, Mass., living there until he was eight years of age. With the family he then moved to Ohio, and, until he was twenty-two years of age followed the profession of a school teacher. Subsequently he was a mill- wright and a foundryman, embarking in the latter business at Fostoria, in 1845. He was thus employed until he came to Lansing, in 1869, with his son, A. O. Bement, to found the business which still bears his name.
At that time our subject was thirteen years of age. He graduated from the Lansing High School, from the scientific course, in '74, and from the classical course, in '76, and
attended the University of Michigan (class of '80), but left before completing his course to go into business. At that time he became a partner in the business, being the third son to be received into the firm. The founder of the industry died in 1880, but the style of the firm was not changed until 1897. when it was incorporated as E. Bement's Sons. The annual output of the manufac- tory amounts to $1,000,000, of which $400,- 000 represents cooking and heating stoves and steel ranges, and $600,000 plows and riding cultivators, spring tooth and disc har- rows, corn and cotton tools and bob sleds. The factory employs seven hundred men, and the goods are sold in every state and territory of the United States and exported to France, Russia, Africa, British India and South America. The initial plant employed about half a dozen men, most of the work being done by the proprietors themselves. It is the oldest establishment of the kind in Michigan, and certainly none is more widely or favorably known. Of this large and con- stantly expanding industry Clarence E. Be- ment has been superintendent since 1880, having had sole charge of the mechanical branch of the business and being made vice- president and general superintendent on the death of G. W. Bement, in 1903.
Mr. Bement is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Michigan Engineers' Society. His identifi- cation with secret societies is confined to his connection with the Modern Woodmen. In politics he is a Republican. Locally, he is prominent for the part he has taken in mat- ters of public education and enlightenment. He is serving his third term as a member of the Board of Education, of which he has also been President. He has been connected with the public library ever since he has been a member of the Board of Education, having, as a member of the Carnegie Library Build-
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CHARLES COGSWELL (Deceased)
MRS. SARAH COGSWELL
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ing Committee, virtually superintended the erection of the structure.
Married, in 1880, to Miss Carrie Roberts of Lansing, Mr. Bement is the father of three children : Constance, Helen and Robert S. Both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.
CHARLES W. BROWNE.
Charles W. Browne was born on a farm in the township of Quincy, Branch county, Michigan, August 25, 1855, and with his parents removed to Ingham county in 1866. His father was a farmer, and Charles fol- lowed that avocation until he attained man- hood. He enjoyed the somewhat uncertain advantages of the district school until six- teen years of age, when he began life for himself. He has had a varied business ca- reer, having been for some years a travel- ing salesman, and for eight years previous to 1891 being continuously in the employ of the Singer Mfg. Co., of New York, filling several positions of trust with that company in Michigan, Nebraska and Utah. June 22, 1887, Mr. Browne was married to Miss Effie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Williams of Ingham Twp. Miss Williams was an ac- complished teacher in music, and a lady of culture. Two children have been born to them, both boys: Paul W., December 5, 1893, and Charles W., October 12, 1896. Both are pupils in the Mason high school. It was in the year 1891 that Mr. Browne with his wife took up permanent residence in Mason, and for nearly seven years suc- cessfully conducted a retail wall paper, book and stationery business.
In February, 1898, Mr. Browne was com- missioned by President Mckinley Post- master at Mason, a position which he still retains, having been reappointed at the ex- piration of his first term. His administra-
tion of the affairs of his office have met with the general approval of its patrons. Several changes for better service have been inau- gurated during his occupancy of the office, the most important is the R. F. D. system. No less than ten routes have been established with headquarters at the Mason office.
In 1902 Mr. Browne purchased the build- ing where the postoffice is now located, on west Ash street, and fitted it with entire new fixtures, making it one of the best equipped offices of its class in the State.
Mr. Browne's is one of the many pleasant homes of Mason, and being yet in the prime and vigor of manhood, with his little fam- ily about him, ought to be reasonably satis- fied with the success he has attained in life and with the pleasures it affords him.
ORANGE BINKLEY.
Prominent among the younger generation ·
of farmers of Ingham county is the name of Orange Binkley. Mr. Binkley has been a resident of this State since 1883, as he came with his parents, Christian and Lovina (Kesler) Binkley, in that year. Christian. Binkley was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 1824, while the mother, who was also a native of the same state, was born in 1826. After their marriage Christian Binkley and wife emigrated to Ohio, and there settled upon a farm in Sandusky county. Here they remained until 1883. when they came to Michigan, and settled on a farm in Delhi township. . Here they lived until the present time.
Our subject received his early education in the district schools of his native state, at- . tending during the winter months, and as- sisting his father on the home farm during the summer. This experience gave him the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge of farm work, a knowledge that has been
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