USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 23
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required for the boiling of the sap and bor- rowed a five-pail kettle near the City of Jackson in which to boil the sap. This he carried home a distance of nearly twenty miles upon his back. Early in the spring he tapped the trees and while he gathered and carried the sap his wife kept the fire. The sugar thus made he carried across the coun- try into Jackson county, where there were no maple trees, and there received in ex- change articles of food needed for the fam- ily. He had only good words for the In- dians who were his neighbors in those early days. For a time old Johnny Okemos and his tribe encamped upon his land, as did also the Saint Joe Indians. The real beauty of these pioneer stories will never be known again, for he who told them best has left us to return no more. He is still remem- bered as one of the best story tellers in Ingham county. This gift came in good play during the active years of his life. For fifty years he was a public auctioner, selling goods at Lansing, Dexter, Jackson and all intervening points. In fact, for many years he was practically the only auctioneer in this locality. He was always jolly and full of fun, and did well his part to keep all who came in contact with him in the same happy frame of mind. He was successful in business, and at the time of his death owned seven hundred sixty acres of the best farming land in Ingham county. He also owned property in the village of Leslie, and was a stockholder in the Peoples' bank in which he had been a director since its or- ganization. When his estate was probated no claim was presented against it by any person. He was a man of very decided con- victions in his political views as well as in all other matters. He attended the meet- ing "Under the Oaks" at Jackson when the Republican party was organized, and voted that ticket at every election and town meet-
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ing from that time until his death. During the days of the civil war he was Supervisor for Leslie township; later he was Justice of the Peace for fourteen years, and was Coroner of Ingham county for something like twenty years. His wife died September 2, 1887, but he remained upon his farm and continued his active life until a few days preceding his death. He had three children : the oldest, Sarah Jane, now the wife of Daniel Frary ; Ogden Valorous and Celestia R., who was born February 15, 1844, and died September 3, 1863. To such men and women as Mr. and Mrs. John J. - home. Tuttle, Ingham county owes not only its pioneer history, but also its present pros- perity.
OGDEN VALOROUS TUTTLE.
The gentleman whose name introduces this biography is a native son of this county, as his birth occurred at the place where he · now resides, in Leslie township, on the 17th day of March, 1842. He is the son of John J. Tuttle, one of the early pioneer residents of this locality, of whom extensive mention is made elsewhere in this volume.
The early education of Mr. Tuttle was ac- quired in the district schools of the home lo- cality, attending during the winter months and assisting his father in the summer. His association with his father in extensive farm- ing enabled him to acquire a practical knowl- edge of that work, which he has successfully followed throughout life. Succeeding his father in the management of his extensive land interests he has not only maintained the reputation so worthily established, but has by his thorough methods and honorable deal- ings added a luster to an illustrious name. Occupying a beautiful residence on the old home place, he is the owner of one of the most desirable farming properties in the
State, comprising 960 acres of highly im- proved and valuable land.
On the 6th day of November, 1867, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Mc- Arthur, at Montezum, Cayuga county, New York, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Jones ) McArthur.
This union has been blessed with two chil- dren, namely: Arthur J., a prominent at- torney of this county, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Grace, the daugh- ter, is the wife of Burt A. Annis, a well- known farmer residing near the Tuttle
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Mr. Tuttle, in connection with his farm- ing, makes a specialty of raising stock for the market, and is a Director of the People's Bank of Leslie. He is a man of exceptional worth and character and enjoys the esteem and regard of his fellow men.
In politics, he affiliates with the Republi- can party. The name of Tuttle is inseparably interwoven with the pioneer history of Ing- ham county and our subject is a worthy suc- cessor of a worthy father.
GEORGE CURTIS (DECEASED).
The subject of this sketch whose birth occurred in New York State on the 21st day of October, 1841, was the son of Albert and Phœbe ( Smith) Curtis, the former born May 18, 1809, at Marion, N. Y., while the mother's birth occurred May 3, 1813, the same state.
It was in the year of 1850 that George Curtis accompanied his parents to Michi- gan, and with them located at Etchels Cor- ners, Ingham township.
In 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Emily, daughter of Amos and Char- lotte Wortman, the father having been born in New York in 1803 and departed this life 1894 ; the mother was also a native of the
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ALBERT H. LAYCOCK AND FAMILY
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Empire State. Mrs. Curtis was a native of Leslie township, Ingham county, her birth having occurred on the 3rd day of March, 1844. She was one of a family of six chil- dren of whom five are now living.
Amos Wortman was one of the earliest settlers of Ingham county, arriving here from Batavia, N. Y., in 1835. He was a man of more than ordinary calibre, and by judicious investment became the possessor of considerable property, owning at one time about half the land where the Village of Leslie now stands.
One year after the marriage of our sub- ject, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land on section twenty-one, Wheatfield township, and there resided un- til his death, which occurred the 21st day of February, 1890. This property is now in possession of the widow, and upon this place she now resides, but rents the land.
Unto the union of our subject and wife were born two children: George H., who married Nettie Steffer, he is a graduate of Albion and also took a degree at Ann Arbor, and is now engaged as superin- tendent of the Gaylord public schools ; Minnie, the daughter died April 14, 1890, at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Curtis was one of the most reliable respected farm- ers of Wheatfield, and enjoyed the esteem and high regard of his fellowmen.
ALBERT H. LAYCOCK.
This brief biography chronicles but a few of the more important events in the life of A. H. Laycock, who was born in Jackson county in 1860, prior to the breaking out of the Civil War. He was a son of Martin and Lovisa Laycock ; his father was a native, as was his grandfather, of the Empire State. When Martin was five years of age, his par- ents removed to southern Michigan and lo-
cated in Jackson county. They took up their land from the Government and made the improvements, which place became their permanent home.
A. H. was but two years of age when his father moved to Ingham county, and set- tled on a farm of eighty acres, where our subject still resides. But slight improve- ment had been made on the premises at that time, but during years that have intervened, the forests have been swept away, and in their places are waving fields of grain. The erection of buildings and other improve- ments have kept pace with the development of the country.
Martin S. Laycock added to the original purchase, from time to time, until he owned a quarter section of choice farming land. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Rice, at Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 19, 1903. The older residents of the township remember him as a man of convictions, always lining up on the right side of every question of morality or public good, exceptionally strong in his advocacy of the principles of temper- ance. The mother died Nov. 27. 1893. For some eighteen years before his death, Mr. Laycock had rented his farm. Mr. and Mrs. Martin S. Laycock were the parents of four children, all grown to manhood and woman- hood, their names and date of birth and other data of interest are respectively as fol- lows : Albert H., born July 15, 1860; Namie E., born Dec. 4. 1863, now the wife of Wil- liam Morris of Toledo, Ohio: Ida L., born July 15. 1867, now the wife of Walter Rice of Toledo, Ohio: Arthur M., born Nov. 15. 1873. now in Toledo, Ohio.
Our subject grew to manhood on the farm and received his early education in the dis- trict schools. In 1900 he went to Toledo. Ohio, and engaged in the machine business with his brother, in which he still retains an interest.
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In the spring of 1904 he returned to the farm. In 1882 occurred one of the most im- portant events of his life. He was united in Marriage to Miss Myrtie B., daughter of William Wright, who for many years was a resident and respected citizen of Mason. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Laycock: W. Earl, born Aug. II, 1885, and Harold J., born Dec. 20, 1891.
In harmony with the customs of the coun- try, Mr. Laycock carries on general farm- ing, growing crops and stock. In politics he is a Republican, having unbounded faith in the leadership of his party, to regulate the affairs, both State and National, and to guide the ship of state into safe harbor.
Mrs. Laycock's father, Wm. Wright, emi- grated from England, when but two years of age, and settled in the Township of Aure- lius, and was for many years engaged in the wagon making business. He died March 24, 1899. The mother was a native of New York, her maiden name was Susan Rowley, she died June 28, 1894. They were the par- ents of six children, Mrs. Laycock, being next to the youngest.
Mr. and Mrs. Laycock are yet on the sunny side of life, and happily seem so con- stituted that the friction that comes to many is a foreign element in their experiences.
JOHN COLE.
All the nearest and dearest associations of a life time are, for our subject, connected with the State in which he resides, as his whole life has been spent in Michigan. He is now located on eighty acres of improved land in Locke township.
John Cole was born in Oakland county, Michigan, March 22, 1841, and was the son of Dyer and Anna (Hunt) Cole. The father of our subject was born in Massachusetts, December 15, 1799 and the mother in Ver-
mont, November 9, 1807. The father was for a time engaged in the grocery business, but later, for forty-five years was a minister of the gospel, being a Wesleyan Methodist. In his early days he was a Whig but later a Republican. Dyer Cole died at the age of eighty-two and the mother lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years. To this couple were born ten children, four of whom are living, our subject being the sixth in order of birth.
John Cole acquired his education in the district schools and when sixteen years of age started out for himself by working at various places and in 1866 took charge of the home place, where he continued until the father's death. He settled in Locke township and bought forty additional acres in 1897.
Mr. Cole is a prominent member of the Democratic party in his community and has attended every county convention (Demo- crat) as a delegate since he came here in 1866. He was for twenty-five years path- máster and socially is connected with the I. O. O. F., No. 205, at Williamston. When he came to Williamston in 1841 there was but one house in the township.
John Cole is what may be termed a self- made man, having had but few advantages and no material pecuniary assistance from his father. By industry, prudence and good management of his agricultural and financial affairs, he has become one of the prominently successful men of Locke township. He is highly respected in his township and among his fellow citizens.
MARTIN LEEMAN.
Martin Leeman was born in Washtenaw county, April 22, 1856. He was the son of Adam and Verona Leeman, who were born in Germany, the father in 1803 and the mother March 27, 1810.
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
When Adam Leeman came to America in 1852 he brought his wife and six children and first settled in Washtenaw county, where he worked by the day and month for five years, and then purchased forty acres of un- improved land. A small home was erected and the land cleared of the forest and this was their first home in America. After fif- teen years Mr. Leeman sold the place and purchased forty-five acres where the family resided until the death of the father which occurred in 1881. The mother died in 1891. Both were active members of the German Lutheran church. Below is given a brief genealogy of their family history : John M., born April 8, 1832, now a retired farmer, re- siding in Chelsea, Washtenaw county, Chris- tian G., born July 10, 1834, also a retired farmer living in the Village of Chelsea. John was born May 6, 1838, and en- listed, as a private in Company C of the 7th Regiment of Michigan Infantry, and fol- lowed the fortunes of his command through many of the hard fought battles of the war. It was this gallant command that effected the crossing of the Rappahannock, which made it one of the most famous regiments in the Army of the Potomac. Young Leeman was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. To have been a member of this regiment that met the enemy on so many hotly contested fields of battle is sufficient to place the name high on the scroll of Amer- ican heroes. Fred was born December 22, 1840, and enlisted as private in Company K of the 20th Michigan Infantry and served to the close of the war or three years. He was three times wounded in battle. Among the battles in which he was personally en- gaged were Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, and Wilderness. The 20th Infantry was one of the best regiments that went out from Michigan to do service in defense of the glorious old flag and its record stands
undimmed. Mary, born December 10, 1843. the wife of Henry Rene, residents of Wash- tenaw county, Veronica, born May 22, 1850, is the widow of William Fletcher, living in Chelsea. The father of this family was born March 22, 1803.
Our subject received his early education in the district schools of Washtenaw county; however, after reaching the age of seven years, his opportunities for schooling were limited to three months out of each winter term. At the age of nineteen he left home and started out in life for himself, empty handed. For eight consecutive years he worked for one farmer near the Town of Grass Lake.
February 20, 1883, our subject was united in marriage to Nettie, daughter of Darwin Warner of Washtenaw county. His wife was born August 5, 1860, in Shiawassee county. Mrs. Leeman was born the daugh- ter of Alonzo Spaulding, a native of Ver- mont, and when a little girl went to live with her uncle and took his name, which was Warner.
Mr. Leeman purchased the farm upon which he now lives in 1883. It contains one hundred and sixty acres of choice land. There was a little clearing on the place at the time with an old house and barn. By dint of hard work and perseverance Mr. Lee- man was enabled to make all the improve- ments and has now a beautiful country home with fine buildings and all the improved modern appliances.
Mr. and Mrs. Leeman have been blessed by the birth of three children : Vernon W .. born Jan. 8, 1884: Jessie E., born Feb. 3. 1887. who is a graduate of the Williamston high school ; Earl W., born March 21, 1889. still in attendance at the Williamston high school. All are under the parental roof and all give promise of useful and upright lives.
Politically, Mr. Leeman is in sympathy with the Republican party to which he gives
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his cheerful support, believing that its prin- · brother, who lives at Dansville, and is eigh- ciples are best adapted for the government ty-five years of age, being three years older than our subject. He casts his vote for Republican principles and takes a deep in- terest in local politics, although not an of- fice seeker. of the American people. The family are among the highly prized citizens of the com- munity. Surrounded as they are with all the necessary comforts of life, the outlook for them is all that could be desired.
WILLIAM CLARK.
William Clark, whose well-improved farm in Bunker Hill township is the indi- cation of the life of thrift and energy which he has led, was born January 28, 1822, at Brutus, Cayuga county, N. Y. His parents were Adam and Elizabeth Clark, both na- tives of New Hampshire.
At the age of nine years, our subject moved with his father's family to Sandusky, Ohio, and then lived in different parts of Ohio until at the age of twenty he came to Michigan and worked for some years by the month in and about the town of Dexter. During the thirty-first year of Mr. Clark's life occurred an important event, it being his marriage to Mary Ann Foot of Dexter, and this union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Zachariah, who is forty-nine years of age and resides one mile north of the home place. Immediately after the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Clark, they moved to their present home, built a log house and started to clear the land. When the farm came into his possession the land was in an unimproved condition, but with charac- teristic energy, he began its development, and as the years passed, has made his farm one of the best in the county, and today has two hundred and ten acres of well-improved land, upon which this worthy couple will probably spend the remaining years of their life.
William Clark has five brothers and two sisters, all of whom are dead except one
Mr. Clark started out with no family or pecuniary advantages to aid him and placed his dependence upon earnest, persistent ef- fort, which is the real foundation of all prosperity. In this way he has gradually advanced until now he occupied a credit- able and honorable position among the sub- stantial farmers of this county.
CHARLES H. LOWE.
Among the prominent farmers of Stock- bridge township we find the name of Charles H. Lowe, who was born Oct. 29, 1854, and was the son of Richard R. and Mahala (Newkirk) Lowe,' both natives of New York, where their birth's occurred in 1808 and 1823, respectively. Our subject's par- ents were married at Stockbridge in 1839, the father having come to Michigan in 1834. Richard Lowe built the second house in the township and located on seven hundred acres of wild land on sections 2 and 3, which he purchased from the Government and later turned over to our subject's grandfather, Heman Lowe. Richard Lowe came from Detroit to Stockbridge township on foot, as did many a pioneer of those days. The land was greatly improved by the grandfather, and before his death was divided among his heirs.
John Newkirk, the father of our subject's mother, came to Michigan from New York and drove through with an ox team. He was the first blacksmith in Stockbridge and conducted his business under an oak tree, where the Baptist church now stands.
Richard Lowe was a Republican and the
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first Sheriff elected in Ingham county. In 1856 he was elected for the second term. He also held several township offices, was a member of the M. E. church and died in 1890. Richard Lowe was an ambitious and progressive man and an active promoter of the interests of his place. Our subject's mother is still living and is at present with a daughter in California.
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Charles Lowe is the fifth of eight chil- dren : Frances, born in 1842, married Geo. Proctor, and they had one child, Della, de- ceased. Mrs. Proctor died in 1864; Cassius, born in 1844, lives at West Cliff, Colo., mar- ried Eugenia Chappel, and they had three boys : Wirt, Robert and Orrie. Cassius' first wife died and he has again married ; Josephine, born in 1846, married Albert Brown, and they reside in Orange, Cal., and have one boy, Eddie; Adelbert, born in 1850, married Dolly Northrup, and they have two children : Ivan and Hazel. Adelbert resides at Corunna and runs the Corunna City Mills; Annie, born in 1852, died in 1878, married Chas. Chapman, and they have had one boy who died when a child; our sub- ject ; Clarissa, born in 1856, married John Harris, and they had one child, Flossie. Mr. Harris died in 1903; and the eighth, Wil- liam born in 1860, died in 1874.
Charles H. Lowe was educated in the dis- trict schools and in the Dansville High School. He started out for himself at the age of twenty-one years by renting the fath- er's farm of one hundred and forty acres for five years, and at the end of that time bought the farm, going into debt thirty-two hundred dollars, which he paid and also in- terest to the amount of sixteen hundred dol- lars. At this time there were but eighty acres of the place improved, but by hard and strict attention to business he has brought the place to a high state of cultivation, and
today has one of the best properties in his community.
April 10, 1879, Mr. Lowe was married to Miss Addie, daughter of Benjamin and Emeline (Jacobs) Boyce. Mrs. Lowe was born Sept. 3. 1856, in Lyndon township. Washtenaw county. Her father born in New York, Sept. 13, 1824, died Sept. 15, 1896, and the mother born July 22, 1831, died Jan. 1, 1901.
Benjamin Boyce came to Michigan with his father, Samuel Boyce, and settled in Washtenaw county, cleared a great deal of land and at the time of his death owned about three hundred acres of land. Ben- jamin Boyce was a Democrat, and his wife a member of the M. E. church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Boyce were born three children : Andrew J., born March 20, 1853, married Sylvia Hadley, and they had three children : Wort, Myrtle and Vera, and live in Lyndon township, Washtenaw county ; Benjamin F., married Eliza Daniels, and they have two children : Fannie and Fern ; and third, Mrs. Lowe.
Unto our subject and wife have been born five children, four living: Josie, born Feb). II, 1880, married Harvey Hayner, Nov. 12, 1902, residents of White Oak; Bonnie D., born July 1, 1884, a stenographer in De- troit ; Rosie N., Jan. 9, 1886, died July 2. 1888; Floyd B., born Sept. 5. 1889, and Gay C., Jan. 10, 1895.
In politics our subject is a Republican. Mr. Lowe is a member of the I. O. O. F. and was the first man to be initiated by Stockbridge lodge. He is also a member of the Gleaners and of the Rebekah's, Camp. and the Encampment.
This family is one of the most highly re- spected and efficient in the township and all have well fitted themselves for spheres of usefulness.
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AMOS C. LAWRENCE.
The history of the early settlement, growth and development of the Township of Bunker Hill would not be complete with- out a record of the activities of Amos Law- rence. He was born in the City of New York, March 17, 1830, the son of Thomas and Phoebe (Clark) Lawrence, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of New York. The father was a carpenter and learned his trade in the City of Philadelphia. This he followed during the earlier years of his life, in several eastern cities. He emi- grated to Michigan in 1832 with his family and settled in the Village of Dexter, where he followed his trade. The family con- sisted of three sons and one daughter, our subject being the eldest. The other mem- bers of the family are: Samuel, born in Dexter, September 1, 1834, died August, 1894; John, born at Dexter, Michigan, Jan- uary 2, 1837, now resides in California and Mary, born in Jackson, Michigan, April II, 1839, died July 31, 1868.
Amos Lawrence received his early educa- tion at Jackson, and later attended school at Dexter. At the early age of nine years, he was put to work with a farmer, for which he received the princely sum of fifty cents per week, however, the occupation be- ing to his liking, and feeling himself adap- ted to the work, he kept at it for several years.
One of the most important events in the life of our subject occurred April 25, 1852, when he was united in marriage to Miss Julia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jason Wal- ter of Dexter, who was born in Washtenaw county, April 25. 1834. By dint of econ- omy he had laid by his earnings until he had a sufficient amount to warrant the pur- chase of a farm. He therefore bought eighty acres of land in the Township of
Bunker Hill, and to this he added from time to time, until he now owns a fine farm of two hundred and twelve acres with good substantial buildings. He has been recog- nized as one of the leading men of the town- ship for many years. Public-spirited and enthusiastic in any enterprise in which he engages, genial and of a social tempera- ment, Mr. Lawrence numbers his friends by his acquaintances. His fund of pioneer reminiscences is practically inexhaustible. When he moved into his new possession the place was practically in a primitive state. He moved into an unfinished log house and be- gan the improvements, which today rank well with any in the township. Mr. Law- rence, a few years since retired from the farm, taking up his residence at Fitchburg, only a short distance, however, from his old home. His son, Vernon, is in full charge of the farm. Mr. Lawrence has been a great collector of curios and Indian relics. He has one of the finest private col- lections in the State, valued at several hun- dred dollars. The deer park, which he has maintained upon his farm for several years, is always a great attraction to the public.
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