USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 24
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In early boyhood Mr. Lawrence became attached to his dog and gun, and during the earlier days of his married life, he sup- plied his family and the neighbors with fresh venison and other wild game by the use of his trusty rifle, and during the in- tervening years, every season, he takes a few days off and enjoys a hunt. It was no unusual thing for him to come in late at night with a deer across his shoulders. Mr. Lawrence recalls having seen the first gang of prisoners brought to Jackson upon the completion of the State prison; there were eight, and they came in a wagon from De- troit. He was present and saw the first locomotive on the Michigan Central that entered the City of Jackson; it ran on
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MR. AND MRS. WHEELER GAYLORD
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
wooden rails from Michigan Center to the city. He well remembers when the law was passed and the government moved the In- dians out of the State. Mr. Lawrence had many personal friends among the Indians and used to deal among them.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have been born three children: Alice Marie, December 26, 1853, now the wife of Menzo Conklin, a farmer residing on section thirty-six, Bunker Hill township, and they have had three children, one only living : Eugene, May 20, 1863, married Miss Belle Havens. He is the proprietor of a general store at Fitch- burg and is a successful business man ; Ver- non, born July 23, 1869, married Mary Mackinder and has three children, while Eugene is the father of two children.
In politics Mr. Lawrence is a conserva- tive Democrat. He has for many years been an active member of the Grange, ad- vocating in every way its principles. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Stock- bridge Lodge No. 40. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, though not members of the M. E. church, are liberal supporters of the so- ciety. Having a comfortable competence for his declining years and living in the enjoyment of the consciousness of having lived a life of good citizenship and upright- ness Mr. Lawrence is looking toward the "setting of the sun" with a goodly hope of the life beyond.
WHEELER GAYLORD.
There is probably no family in Stock- bridge township better known for integrity. enterprise and intelligence that the one rep- resented by the name at the head of this sketch and it is one of those, which have helped to make Ingham county a center for all good influences and a county which is known throughout the commonwealth as one
of the most intelligent and enterprising sec- tions of Michigan.
Our subject was born in Plymouth, Pa .. July 23, 1824, and is the son of Henderson and Bethier (Nesbitt) Gaylord, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born Oct. 9, 1796, and the mother, June 28, 1800. The parents were married in January of the year 1819.
Our subject came to Michigan in April, 1851, and located in Stockbridge township on one hundred and sixty acres of land, forty of which were improved. The balance he cleared, and occupied a log house, which he lived in four years. Later he built a frame house, which was burned one year ago, he is at present engaged in building å large modern residence, which when fin- ished, with all its modern conveniences and improvements, will be an ornament to his fine piece of property.
Henderson Gaylord was a merchant, and later bought a farm in Pennsylvania, which was found to contain coal in large quanti- ties, and our subject received a large income from this property. The father died in 1876, and the mother in February of 1860. The father was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Christian church.
Wheeler Gaylord was the third of seven children : Esther, born in 1819, died in 1877. married Conrad Miller ; Sarah, born in 1821. married C. L. Farnum, and is deceased ; our subject ; Mary, born in 1826, married John W. Danforth, living at Hartford, Conn .: Lydia, born in 1828, died in 1901 ; Emily. born in 1830, married Rev. John Wilson, died in 1884 at Philadelphia: Asher, born in 1833. was killed in 1865. The last named at the commencement of the Civil War raised a company for the 143d Pennsylvania Infantry, and was elected captain. He was killed at Hatchers' Run, while leading a
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charge, and was the only one killed in that company. At the battle of Gettysburg he was wounded in both legs, and at the Wilderness was shot in the breast. A dis- charge was offered him, because of his dis- abilities, after this engagement, but he would not accept it. The members of his company were loyal to their captain, and would go anywhere and into any battle if he might be their leader. They had unbounded faith in their captain.
Our subject's education was limited, yet he has added much to his store of knowledge by extensive reading and observation. His early education was acquired at Plymouth. In 1852 Mr. Gaylord was united in marriage with Harriet Cool, who was born Jan. 7, 1829. Her parents were John and Margaret (Sutton) Cool. John Cool came to Michi- gan in 1836 and located in Unadilla town- ship, Livingston county, on three hundred acres of wild land, part of which he sold and improved the balance. At the time of his death, in 1874, he owned one hundred and twenty acres of the original three hundred and eighty acres north of it. The mother of Mrs. Gaylord died in 1862.
Our subject's wife was one of six chil- dren : William S., born Jan. 1, 1821, died Oct. 6, 1889; Charles, Feb. 17, 1822, died May 30, 1892 ; Andrew, born June 26, 1826, died June 18, 1890; Harriet, wife of our subject; Emeline, born April 25. 1831; Mary Ann, July 27, 1833. Mr. John Cool was a voter for the principles of the Demo- crat party. He was born Jan. 29, 1797, and the mother, Nov. 21, 1794.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Gaylord are the parents of six children, five of whom are living : Elva, born in 1853, married James Asquith, and to them have been born four children : Edna, Mabel. Lawrence and Marion ; Helen, born in 1855, married Hor- ton Reeves, to whom two children have been
born: Wilmot, and Irma; Charles, born in 1856, single and lives with his parents; May, 1860, married A. A. Hall, to whom seven children have been born: Hattie, Grace, Sumner, Hazel, Fern, Glenadine and Gaylord; Elmer, born in 1862, died in 1898. He married Ona Collard, to whom three children were born, one living, named Lloyd ; John, born in 1867, married Kittie Watts, to whom three children were born: Lora, Lila and Freda I.
Our subject has never been a candidate for office, though urged at various times to accept nominations.
Mr. Gaylord in the early days was a Whig, but voted for Fremont, and since the organization of the Republican party, has been one of its loyal followers. His hand- some farm of 180 acres on section I of Stockbridge township give evidence that he understands the work of farming and that he has the enterprise and energy essential to keeping his estate in good condition, and making it abundantly productive.
T. H. LYON.
Among the progressive and energetic farmers of Aurelius township is Theodore H. Lyon, who is the happy possessor of eighty-three acres of good land, under a profitable state of cultivation. Mr. Lyon has for many years been an exhibitor of stock and farm products, both at the local and State fairs, and always carried away a fair proportion of blue ribbons. He is one of those who believe that it pays best to grow the best, whether of stock or crops. He keeps a fine herd of registered short- horn cattle, has a flock of pure bred shrop- shire sheep; all the stock kept on the prem- ises shows good breeding. He is one of the oldest growers of light brahma fowls in the State.
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Mr. Lyon was born in the Township of Scio, in Washtenaw county, Michigan, May 27, 1844. His parents L. M. and Luna (Lane) Lyon were natives of the Empire State. His father was born March 4, 1804, and his mother February 6, 1812. His father came to Michigan in an early day, when the City of Ann Arbor was little more than a burg. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land located in Scio township while yet a resident of New York state, and when he came in 1830 to settle upon his possessions he employed a "land looker" to assist him in locating his land, and together, after three days work, they were enabled to find the survey posts. Two years later he took to himself a life partner. Before coming to Michigan, Mr. Lyon was engaged as a bank clerk for a time. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, he early acquired a good education, and after locating in Washtenaw county taught school for eighteen years. He managed to make improvements from year to year until he owned an improved farm of two hundred and fifty acres with good, substantial build- ings. In the year 1876 he sold out his farm, located in Ann Arbor and lived a retired life. The old homestead is now in posses- sion of one of the sons.
Theodore H. Lyon was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary B. Ruckman of Saline, October 4, 1867. Three children have been born to them, and they also have an adopted son, all are living upright and useful lives. They are : Eden R., born February 23, 1866, now a minister of the gospel connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, is married to Helen Gibbs, sister of Rev. N. E. Gibbs of Michigan Conference, and they have two children ; Herbert G., born March 18, 1871, a farmer living near his father's, married Laura Miles, has two children. He served one year in Michigan 3Ist regiment in
the Cuban war. Mary Ann, born September I, 1875, now the wife of Fay Pierce. Mr. Pierce is a farmer and resides in Eaton Co. They have no children. S. M., born Nov. 5, 1877, married Miss Edith Pierce, a sister of his sister's husband. He is engaged in the railway mail service and resides at Char- lotte, Michigan. Mr. Lyon is a thorough believer in education, and has given to all his family good educational advantages. Three of his children graduated from the Eaton Rapids high school, two later grad- tated from the State Normal at Ypsilanti. His son S. M. Lyon passed the highest ex- amination for mail service in the States of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, and was awarded the prize for being the best in his district in the above states for rail- road mail clerk.
When twenty-one years of age Mr. Lyon bought eighty acres of unimproved land in Ingham county, he immediately set himself to the task of improving it. As it was not just to his liking he sold it after a few years to a good advantage and purchased eighty acres near Mason. This was his home for several years. He sold forty acres at an advanced price and traded the balance for his present farm. It was heavily tim- bered at the time of purchase, but Mr. Lyon has brought it out of the wilderness and made it an attractive rural home. By econ- omy, good judgment and perseverance, he is now in comfortable circumstances, and he well knows how he came by his worldly possessions. His wife who during all the years of their wedded life had been to him a helpmate, indeed, died August 17. 1903. and was buried in the Eaton Rapids ceme- tery. She was a woman of strong Christian character and impressed the virtues of her life upon her children. For many years both Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have been active exemplary members of the M. E. church so-
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ciety. Mr. Lyons was again married Sep- tember 28, 1904, to Mrs. Emily S. Doane, a lady of good presence and ability, and possessing a strong Christian character, who looks well to the affairs of her house- hold.
Politically Mr. Lyon is in principle a Prohibitionist, though he sometimes affil- iates with the Republicans. First of all he is a staunch temperance man.
Mr. Lyon is the sixth of a family of eight children, seven of whom are still liv- ing, two of whom served in the Civil War. Any community would be the better by the introduction of such families as Mr. Lyon's, all united in a harmonious influence for the betterment of society. It is well that there are to be found, even in these days of de- generacy, men who are anchored to the truth-men the influence of whose lives is for the moral and spiritual uplifting of those about him. Like an echo going on and on until lost in the distance, so the good deeds that men do go down the ages until they reach the farthest borders of time. The world has always recognized the virtue of right living, though many forget its prac- tice. Many friends wish for Mr. Lyon that he will live to enjoy his possessions to a ripe old age, and bear in mind the words of Solomon: "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold."
GEORGE H. GODFREY, LANSING.
George H. Godfrey, engaged in the gen- eral carpet cleaning business, is a native of Thamesford, Canada. The date of his birth November 23, 1850. He is a son of Joseph S. and Juliett C. Godfrey; father and son being born in the same town, the former December 4, 1828. He died in 1902 at the age of seventy-four, and is buried in Lans- ing.
The father of our subject came to Ingham county with his parents when one year old, the family settling at Cowden Mills, Onon- daga township. Here the grandfather took up one hundred and sixty acres of wood land and cleared it for a homestead, his wife (the grandmother of our subject) living to the venerable age of ninety-six years.
Joseph S. Godfrey, the father, although the sum total of his book learning was con- densed into two winter's of schooling, was a forceful character and a natural inventor. He had mastered two trades, those of a carpenter and cabinet-maker, and was the inventor of many ingenious devices. He was the inventor of many ingenious de- vices. He was the originator of a steam canal boat, the patent for which he sold for fifteen thousand dollars. He also invented a rotary pump, and after manufacturing it to some extent, sold out his enterprise and founded the carpet cleaning business, the basis of that now conducted by George H. the son. He also invented a revolving mouldboard plow, which was manufactured in Pittsburg, Pa.
Our subject received his early education in the Leslie district schools, commencing to learn the carpenter's trade from his father when he had reached the age of twelve. This line of handiwork he followed for fif- teen years. His next distinct move in life was to buy fifty acres of land southeast of Leslie, just across the road from the little old district school where he received all the education which he ever derived from books. This tract he cleared, tilled and otherwise improved, engaging in mixed farming until 1892, when he sold his prop- erty, came to Lansing and went into the business with which he is at present con- nected. It is very prosperous. The pro- prietor also owns considerable town prop- erty and is about to build a commodious
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residence, which will be a credit to his taste, and an ornament to the City of Lansing.
Mr. Godfrey married Christina daughter of Frederick Leadley of Jackson county, Michigan. Carl W., their first child, was born July 28, 1875, and is now engaged in the carpet business at Galesburg, Ill.
The second child, Joseph S., named for the grandfather, was born April 19, 1880, and married Miss Grace McKrill, daughter of Benjamin McKrill, a blacksmith, and a resident of Lansing. One child has been born to them, Georgeanna.
Our subject's identification with secret and benevolent orders is confined to his membership in the Elks of Lansing, and the I. O. O. F. Foster Lodge No. 9 of Leslie.
GEORGE W. GULICK.
George W. Gulick was born in Ogden, Cayuga county, N. Y., April 3, 1826. His parents were natives of New Jersey, the father having been born in 1786 and died in 1849 at the age of sixty-three. His mother, Mary Van Ortwick, died at the age of seventy-seven years. When Mr. Gulick was five years of age, his parents moved to Independence, Oakland county, Michigan, and purchased a tract of eighty acres of wild land, which they cleared and improved, erecting comfortable farm buildings thereon, where they resided until their death.
The elder Gulick was the only member of the father's family who ever came to this State. In life he supported the Democrat ticket with his vote, but never aspired to or held office, except in the township.
Our subject was one of twelve children born to his parents, only four of whom are now living. The names and place of resi- dence are as follows : Adelia, wife of Daven- port Terry, lives in Oakland county ; Sarah, wife of Daniel Fenkbower of Macomb
county; Mary, the wife of George Porter of Williamston, and our subject, who re- ceived his early education in the district schools of Oakland county, remaining at home on the farm with his parents until twenty-two years of age, after which for three years he worked out by the month, as a farm hand.
The important event in life to Mr. Gulick was his marriage, January 1, 1852, to Miss Amanda, daughter of John D. and Fanny (Holcomb) Capin of Niagara county, N. Y., where she was born October 27, 1833. Her father was born October 27, 1805, and her mother, March 28, 1815. Mrs. Gulick's parents settled in Oakland county in 1836, where they bought eighty acres of wild land, which they cleared up and made their home for several years, when they sold out and came to Williamston, and purchasing a farm there, lived on this place until death. Mrs. Gulick was the oldest of a family of eight children, six of whom are now living: Al- mira, wife of Henry Willgus of Williams- ton ; Alzina, now Mrs. J. T. Van Ostron of Williamston: James and Henry are liv- ing on the home farm near the village and William is a veterinary surgeon in Wil- liamston.
Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gulick moved into a log house, which they had erected on eighty acres of wild land. pur- chased a short time before. There they have since lived and have met with gratify- ing success in life, Mr. Gulick having at one time no less than four hundred acres of land, which he has very generously parcel- led out among his children, retaining for himself and wife but eighty acres of the old homestead. They are bountifully blessed in the gift of eleven children. the first born were twins, born in 1855 and died in in- fancy: Perry, born January 26, 1857, a farmer at Williamston: Anna, died at the
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age of four years ; Nettie, born July 4, 1863; John, March 9, 1864, resides in Illinois; Bert, March 18, 1868, lives in Williamston and is a farmer; Elmer, born December 21, 1873, also a farmer ; Joe, December 7, 1880, married Nellie Lang of Woodhull, Michi- gan, and resides with his parents; Grace, the wife of Stephen Eberley, residing in Williamston, and the last born died in in- fancy.
Mr. Gulick, though a man of good social qualities, has never taken time to associate himself with fraternal organizations, deem- ing his interests best served by giving his attention to his personal matters. He has carried on general farming and made it profitable. Surrounded by children and grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. Gulick are go- ing down the shady side of life, enjoying the confidence of their many friends.
CHARLES S. FOSTER.
Charles S. Foster is the owner of a farm of one hundred and fifty two acres on Sec- tion 3 of Meridian Township, which is a model of agricultural neatness and produc- tiveness, its good features in this direction being beautified by the taste and judgment of the owner. The improvements on this place are of a modern nature and speak of the ability of its owner in the occupation of farming.
Charles S. Foster was born in Meridian township July 3. 1858, and is the son of Charles and Christina ( Nicholas) S. Foster, natives of England. The father was born Oct. 24. 1824, and died May 17, 1893, and the mother, born March 24, 1828, died April 24, 1904. Our subject's parents were mar- ried in England and came to America on their wedding trip. They first stopped with relatives in Pontiac and the father came on foot to Meridian township and bought
eighty acres of wild land on Section 13. Here he built a log house and here they spent their lives. At the time of his death the father owned two hundred and seventy-five acres. He was always a Republican, but would never consent to hold office. Mr. Foster was proud of the fact that he was never on the witness stand. He retired from active life and lived in Okemos seven years previous to his death.
Our subject is one of ten children. seven living : William, died at the age of thirteen years; Henry, lives at Hazlett Park, has three children, Sydna, Nellie and Lena; Thomas, died at the age of twenty-six years ; Agnes, the wife of E. R. Blair, overseer of the Agricultural farm, lives at the Agricul- tural College, and is the mother of three children. Charles, Ethel and Benjamin : John, lived at Okemos, his first wife was Jennie Cook, three children, one dying in infancy. Kittie and Ruth, his second wife was Mila Burger, four children, Mary, Jay, Vera and Fay. John died April 7, 1905. Walter is a physician at Port Huron. His first wife was Emma Armstrong and the second. May Onlay. He has two children, Walter and Rex; Ella, now Mrs. A. W. Robey of Bath, Clinton county. She is the mother of two children, Edith and Merle, deceased; Clifford is a stock buyer at Hazlett Park and owns the old home- stead ; Bertie died at two years of age.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Meridian township, and also at- tended the Williamston High School for one term. At the age of twenty-two he bought a farm of eighty acres and from time to time has added to his possessions. The place is adorned by a large frame residence and two immense barns. He was married May II, 1880, to Mary E. Kuhn, born in Liv- ingston county, Oct. 7, 1861. She was the daughter of Martin and Ellen (Smith)
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HIRAM D. LEE
MRS. HIRAM D. LEE
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Kuhn, natives of Livingston county, N. Y. Her parents first lived in Livingston county, Michigan, then in Clinton county. After the death of the father, Mrs. Kuhn married J. F. Saltmarsh of Okemos. Mrs. Foster had one own brother who died at the age of three years. She had one half brother, deceased, and one half sister, living at Collegeville, children of J. F. Saltmarsh.
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To our subject and wife have been born fifteen children, three of whom are dead: Martin Burr, born May 23, 1881, married Edna Foote, has one child, Gertrude, and lives in Lansing; William Earl, Aug. 15, 1882, at home; Roy Austin, Jan. 22, 1884; Ard Raymond, Nov. 18, 1885; George Edgar, Sept. 10, 1887, died Feb. 2, 1903 ; Roseltha, May 16, 1889; Charles Norman, Feb. 10, 1891; Carl and Clare, twins, born Aug. 2, 1892, Clare died Sept. 17, 1893 ; Ethel, Jan. 1, 1894 : Ferris, Sept. 25, 1895 : Russell, died Jan. 21, 1900, two years old ; Walter, July 18, 1898; Olive, March 5, 1900, and Theodore Roosevelt, Sept. II, 1903.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster are members of the M. E. church, as were both of their parents. In political views he is a Republican and fraternally belongs to the Maccabees, M. W. of A. and Masons, also the Grange.
Mr. Foster is engaged in mixed farming and is meeting with the success which he merits.
HIRAM D. LEE.
Hiram D. Lee, one of the honored early settlers of Bunkerhill township, where he is now engaged in farming, has been a resident of this locality since 1867, arriving here on the 15th day of March in that year. Here he bought forty acres of land, located on sec- tion four, which he began to improve ; and en- larged his first home, which was a log house, already built when he bought the place.
and there resided until 1894, when he erected a more commodious dwelling, in which he now makes his home. Upon the first day of November, 1860, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Bell, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Hudson ) Bell. Her parents were natives of England as was also Mrs. Lee, as her birth occurred in Lincolnshire in 1842. The Bell family emigrated to America in 1850, arriving in New York, where they re- mained for six months and then came to Michigan and settled in Washtenaw county, in Dexter township.
The father was a farmer by occupation and he began improvements upon his land, upon which he built a pioneer home of logs, which was afterwards supplemented by a more modern dwelling. Here he and his good wife lived until their death, which oc- curred when he was seventy-five years of age and she, seventy-nine.
Hiram Lee, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Washtenaw county, born in Dexter township on the 10th day of April, 1836. He is the son of Jonathan and Maria (Hawkes) Lee, who were natives of Ver- mont. The parents were married in that state, and in 1832 decided to cast their lot with the pioneers and emigrated westward and settled in Washtenaw county, Michigan. Here he purchased a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, which his father-in-law, Paul Hawkes, had taken up for him. Upon this place the father erected a pioneer dwelling of logs and there resided until the son, Hiram was seven years of age and then moved to Marion, Livingston county, where he resided for about seven years. From there he went to Jackson county, where he resided for eight years and then returned to Washtenaw coun- ty, where he died at the age of sixty-seven years while the mother died at the age of eighty-four.
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