Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan, Part 25

Author: Cowles, Albert Eugene, 1838-1906; Michigan Historical Publishing Association (Lansing, Mich.)
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Lansing, Mich. : The Michigan Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 856


USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 25


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Unto Hiram Lee and his wife have been born nine children, seven of whom are liv- ing : Clarissa, born September 17, 1861, now deceased; Ida M., born October 27, 1863; Herbert H., born June 19, 1866; Marietta, born April 2, 1868; Henry G., born January 2, 1870; William, born July 20, 1871, now deceased; Frederick T., born October 15, 1873; Katie R., born March 3, 1875, and Nellie E., born April 22, 1879.


Mr. Lee enlisted in 1862 on the 15th day of August in Co. B., 26th Michigan Volun- teer Infantry and served three years and nine months in defense of the Nation's honor. He was discharged at Alexandria, May 27, 1865, in the hospital.


Mr. Lee affiliates with the Republican par- ty, although he cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He has taken an active interest in local politics and has served as justice of the peace for eight years and as school di- rector for a number of years. Hiram Lee has been a prosperous man. At the outset of his career he had no special advantages to assist him, but the strength of his character has been manifest in his determination and close attention to his business duties. Gradu- ally he has progressed and the prosperity which he is today enjoying is a just reward for his honorable efforts.


HENRY L. LEONARD.


Henry L. Leonard was born in Wayne county, Michigan, May 15, 1857. His father, Lorenzo D. Leonard, was a native of the Empire State, born May II, 1827. Caroline (Dunbar) Leonard was born in Michigan, December 29. 1839.


Mr. Leonard's grandfather came to Mich- igan in 1844. At the time our subject's father was about eighteen years of age, he came with his parents and settled in Wayne county. His father found employment as


a month farm hand on a farm. After a time he purchased forty acres of timber land, making some improvements on same, when it was sold and he came to White Oak, Ingham county, and purchased one hundred acres of land, having upon it minor improvements, consisting of a small board house. This land he continued to improve and placed under a good state of cultiva- · tion, erecting fine buildings and ever after- wards made it his home. His death occur- red November 30, 1904. At the time of his father's first settlement in this State, Indians roamed through the woods every- where. A strange white face would have been almost a greater curiosity in those days than that of an Indian. Wild game was plenty, such as deer, bear, wolves and wild turkeys. Nearly every pioneer kept a trusty rifle and wild game was a common food.


Mr. Lorenzo Leonard affiliated with the Democratic party and was a zealous mem- ber of the Free Methodist society. He never held public office preferring to give his time to his own personal affairs. The mother's people were natives of Michigan.


Henry L. Leonard was the eldest of four children, and while yet in his teens, worked by the month as a farm, hand. His first purchase of real estate was that of thirty acres of land in the Township of Leroy, to this he added forty acres. This land he im- proved and it was his home for some time. He sold it in 1894 and bought eighty acres of land on section twenty-seven, about half of which was cleared and a small house was on this place. Since the purchase of this place, Mr. Leonard has erected new build- ings, including a house, barn and other buildings ; giving the place a modern and up-to-date appearance. He is counted as one of the progressive and industrious farm- ers of his community. He has given con- siderable study to the political situation and


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his views harmonize with those of the silver Democracy, lining up with the Bryan fac- tion. In his religious views, he is liberal.


Mr. Leonard was united in marriage October 12, 1879, to Para L., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jones. The father came to Michigan from Vermont, having been born there in 1832, and first settled in the Township of Iosco, Livingston county. His first purchase of real estate was forty acres of land located in Leroy township. He has cleared this, and upon it made many improvements and this is today the family home. Mrs. Jones was a native of New York, where she was born in 1837. She was the mother of four children. After coming to Michigan the Jones' experienced all the hardships common to people of moderate circumstances in a new country. Dexter, Washtenaw county, was the nearest store and, postoffice. To this place trips were made with an ox team to procure provisions and other necessaries of the family. Mrs. Jones passed away at the ripe old age of sixty-six years, March 16, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were for many years highly re- spected members of the M. E. church.


To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard have been born five children: Charles, October 20, 1880, is married and lives in the Township of Wheatfield ; Lila, born March 21, 1884, died October 14, 1898, aged fourteen years ; Wellington R., October 20, 1888, at home with his parents ; Ernest L., April 10, 1894, and Franklin H., October 2, 1899. Four dutiful sons are indeed an inheritance of which the parents may justly feel proud.


Mr. Leonard's farming operations are common to those in his locality ; stock rais- ing and mixed farming. He has never sought office, preferring to devote his time to his private affairs. His townsmen have twice elected him to the position of Com- missioner of Highways.


RUDOLPH LOOMIS, LANSING.


Rudolph Loomis, circuit court stenog- rapher for the thirtieth district, was born in Livonia, Wayne county, Michigan, in the year 1868. His father is a native of west- ern New York, but came to Wayne county, Michigan, when he was a boy of twelve and during most of his mature life was a farm- er. He is now living a retired life in Lans- ing.


When Rudolph was two years of age his parents removed to Delta township, Eaton county, Michigan, where four years after- ward his mother died. He lived with his father until 1878, since which time, he be- ing then a boy of ten, he has virtually sup- ported himself. At first he worked on a farm by the month ; then he supported him- self by doing odd pieces of work in Grand Ledge for his board while attending school, until he reached the age of eighteen. Despite the responsibilities cast upon him so young he had become so proficient in his studies at this time that he obtained a position as a country school teacher.


It was during this period that he entered the home of Hon. Jacob L. McPeek, a lawyer of Grand Ledge, acting as his office boy, with the ultimate object of studying the profession. As a step toward that end lie commenced the study and practice of stenography and typewriting, it being also his desire to make himself as useful as pos- sible to his patron and friend. Mr. McPeek. At length Mr. Loomis became so fascinated with his work that he abandoned the idea of studying law and devoted himself entirely to his stenographic course.


In the spring of 1888 Mr. Loomis ac- cepted his first position with R. A. Mont- gomery of Lansing, at the same time doing the stenographic work of Hon. Frank L. Dodge. He was thus employed for a period


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of eighteen months, studying and practic- ing incessantly, especially in the field of court reporting. His industry and rapidly acquired proficiency soon drew the attention of Henry F. Walsh, who for a number of years had been the official reporter for Kent county circuit, and who was also proprietor of a general reporting business in Grand Rapids. In September, 1889, Mr. Loomis entered the employ of the gentlemen named. his time being mostly spent in reporting cases brought before justice, police and the United States courts. This experience re- sulted in thoroughly familiarizing himself with the most modern methods of reporting, transcribing and typewriting all classes of court proceedings. He returned to Lansing in February, 1890, and established an office of his own, which was crowded with busi- ness from the first day of opening.


In February. 1891, Mr. Loomis was ap- pointed to his present official position as cir- cuit court stenographer for the newly erected thirtieth district, composed of Ingham and Livingston counties. In the general report- ing department of his business he has made a specialty of reporting conventions, the pro- ceedings of five important gatherings hav- ing been recorded by him in 1904.


Mrs. Loomis is also a shorthand re- porter of acknowledged skill and ability. She was formerly Miss Mattie Messenger, daughter of Dr. and Susan Messenger, of Grand Ledge, their marriage occurring in December, 1891. Their one child died in infancy.


Mr. Loomis' standing in the community, aside from that which he has earned profes- sionally, is illustrated by his election as Ald- erman from the sixth ward in 1901 and 1903, again in 1905, and his selection in the latter year as President of the Common Council. Being a practical, successful man, who has advanced to the front solely by vir-


tue of his own strength and determination, he has naturally taken an active interest in local politics. He is also prominently iden- tified with such secret and benevolent orders as the Masonic. Modern Woodmen, and Knights of Pythias.


SOLON C. LANE, ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP.


Solon C. Lane is pleasantly located on a farm on section five of Onondaga township. He was born May 23, 1859, in Broom county, N. Y., and was the son of Jonathan D. and Sarah (Conklin) Lane. The father was born October 18, 1826, in New York and died June 7. 1889, while the mother was born in New York, November 13, 1827, and died December 19, 1883. The mother's parents were the founders of Conklin, N. Y.


Our subject's grandfather settled in Ann Arbor with his family in 1833 and the next year came to Onondaga township, where he took up six hundred and forty acres of gov- ernment land. The father of our subject was the first boy in Onondaga township, and his oldest sister, Anna Lane, taught the first school in the township. He lived with his parents until he grew to manhood, and went back to New York and was married there to Sarah Conklin, November 12, 1850. They then came to Ingham county and made a specialty of buying and selling land for a time. After this he made his home here until his death. The father was a Republi- can and fraternally was connected with the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., while he and his wife were members of the M. E. church.


Jonathan Lane was the father of three children : our subject ; George, born Decem- ber 1, 1863, scalded to death October IO, 1864: Oscar, born July 23, 1867, married Ida Canfield and they live in Lansing, and have three children : Clarence, aged twelve,


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William and Irvin. Our subject's mother was of a family of nine children.


Our subject received his early education in the district schools of Onondaga town- ship and later at the Leslie high school. At the age of twenty-one he went to Iowa and was employed in the bridge building depart- ment for the C. R. I. and P. Railway Co., with T. B. Graham as manager of the work. He came back to Onondaga in 1882 and spent the winter visiting in New York.


February 14, 1884, Solon Lane was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Rilla Blodgett, who was born October 26, 1866, in Hamlin, Eaton county, Michigan. She was the daughter of Isaac and Marie (Meeker) Blodgett and her father is at present a resi- dent of Eaton Rapids, and is seventy years of age, as is also her mother a resident of this place. Mrs. Lane has one brother and two sisters, all residents of Eaton Rapids and its vicinity.


Jonathan Lane's brother, David, and also a nephew, Daniel Woodin, served in the Third Michigan Cavalry during the civil war.


To our subject and his wife have been born two children: Arthur, December I, 1885, attending school in Eaton Rapids, and Louis T., December 9, 1891, who is at home. Our subject is a Republican and served three terms as Supervisor and was also Highway Commissioner for two years. While a member of the Board of Super- visors he served as a member of the Board of Equalization, Chairman of Poor Com- mittee, and Chairman of Committee of County Officer's bonds. He is fraternally allied with the Masons and is financier of the A. O. U. W. and also a member of the Knights of Pythias.


Mrs. Lane is a member of the M. E. church of Eaton Rapids. Both our subject and wife are highly respected people in the


Township of Onondaga, and are valuable acquisitions to society in that locality.


For the benefit of posterity, Mr. Lane has carefully prepared a record dating from 1635, as follows :


GENEALOGICAL RECORD.


The descendants of William Lane, of Dor- chester :


I. I.


William Lane, came to Dorchester, with his adult family in 1635. He died 1654.


II. Children of William Lane, (I) :


2. I. George Lane came to Hingham, one of its original inhabitants, 1635.


3. II. Andrew Lane came with his father and brother, 1635; m. Triphene.


4. III. Elizabeth, m. Thomas Rider, lived in Boston.


5. IV. Mary. m. - Long, lived in Hingham, widow in 1690, m. Joseph Farnsworth.


6. V. A daughter. wife of Thomas "Linskhorne" (Lincoln) of Hingham.


7. VI. A daughter, wife of Nathaniel Baker of Hingham.


III. Children of George Lane of Hingham, (2) :


8. I. Ebenezer.


9. II. Josiah.


10. III. Peter.


II. IV. Sarah, m. Lewis.


12. V. Elizabeth, m. - Poor.


13. VI. Mary, m. - - Ellis.


14. VII. Joseph.


III. Children of Andrew Lane of Hing- ham, (3) :


15. I. Andrew. m. Elizabeth, daughter of Mark Eames, Dec. 5, 1672. She died Nov. 12, 1727.


16. II. John, baptized June 30, 1648, died in Norton. November 23, 1712. His first wife. Mehitable Hobart; m.


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in Hingham, June 18, 1614, his second wife, Sarah


17. III. Ephraim, m. Ruth Stevenson of Attleboro, Jan. 10, 1716. Had seven children in Norton. The family now in Norton probably his descend- ants.


18. IV. Joshua, baptized Aug. 20, 1654.


19. V. Deborah, baptized June 20, 1656; m. William Sprague, Dec. 30, 1674.


20. VI. Hannah, baptized Oct. 17, 1658.


2I. VII. Abigail, m. David Stodder, 27th Dec., 1665.


IV. Children of John Lane by Mehitable, his first wife, ( 16) :


22. I. Samuel, b. 16th March, 1718, in Hingham, d. in Attleboro, 7th Dec., 1725.


23. II. Priscilla, b. the 15th March, I720.


24. III. Mary, b. in Hingham, April 23, 1862.


25. IV. Asaph, b. in Hingham, July 21, 1685 ; m. Elizabeth ---. Children of second wife:


26. V. John, b. Attleboro, Feb. 18, 1695-6; m. Keziah Tiffany of Attle- boro, June 5, 1734.


27. VI. Sarah, b. Jan. 1I, 1698-9; d. Jan. 18, same year.


28. VII. Benjamin, b. Feb. 13, 1700: m. Hepzebah Moss, Sept. 15, 720. She died Nov. 28, 1749; had II children , in Norton.


29. VIII. Sarah, b. in Attleboro, June 22, 170I.


30. IX. Meletiah, b. in Attleboro, June 8, 1703.


31. X. Ebenezer, b. in Norton, April 6. 1707; m. Elizabeth Follet of Attle-


boro, and was drowned in going over narrow passage, Dec. 9, 1742, with Jonathan and Robert Follet.


V. Children of Samuel Lane, (22) : 32. I. John.


33. II. Ebenezer, b. 1712; in 1735 m. Bethiah Shaw, who d. Jan. 19, 1787, aged 91. He died 1791.


V. Children of Ebeneser Lane, son of John Lane, (31) :


34. I. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 19, 1735.


35. II. Mary, b. June 19, 1737.


36. III. Sarah, b. Feb. 26, 1739.


37. IV. Priscilla, b. May 15, 174I.


38. V. Susannah, b. March I, 1742-3.


V. Children of John Lane, (26) :


39. I. Esther, b. Sept. 20, 1735, in At- tleboro.


40. II. Amos, b. in Attleboro, Dec. 28, 1738.


41. Child of Asaph Lane, (25) Eliza- beth, b. in Attleboro, Jan. 16, 1713.


VI. Children of Ebeneser Lane, (33) : 42. I. Olive, b. Sept. 19, 1736.


43. II. Bethiah, b. Sept. 1738 ; m. -


- Packwood.


44. III. David, b. April 30, 1741 ; died unmarried, wounded in French war.


45. IV. Batsy, b. Aug. 27, 1743; in. Alvord, afterwards Smith ; d. at Northfield, between 1813 and 1820, childless.


46. V. Keziah, b. Feb. II, 1745; m. Nutting of Thomaston, Maine. I understood was drowned.


47. VII. Ebenezer, b. Feb. 10, 1747; d. in Northampton, June 6, 1808; m. I. Phœbe Parsons, who d. Nov. 12, 1781, no living children. 2, Martha Phelps, who d. at Northampton, 1785 (?). 3, Marian Chandler, nee Gris- wold, who d. June, 1829.


49. VIII. Nathan, b. March 20, 1750;


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d. March 17, 1817; m. Dorcas Mus- IX. Children of Ebeneser Lane, (66) : croft, b. March 1, 1817. She d. Sept. 8, 1839, aged 90.


50. IX. Lucia, b. June 9, 1752; d. at Northampton, about 1808, unmarried. 51. X. George, b. Nov. 29, 1754; d. about 1799 at Charlesworth, Mass.


52. XI. Daniel, b. Nov. 29, 1756; m. Abigail Allin of Cumberland, Feb. 28, 1782; d. 1812, childless.


VII. Children of Ebeneser Lane, (47) : By first wife none surviving.


By second wife, Martin and Martha, b. at Northampton, '178 --.


53. Martin Lane of Cambridge, m. Lucretia Swah, 1809.


54. Martha Lane of Worthington, m. Major William Swan.


55. Ebenezer Lane, by third wife, b. Sept. 17, 1793.


VIII. Children of Martin Lane, (53) :


56. I. Mary Swan.


57.


II. Martha, m. Mackintosh.


58. III. Sarah Swan.


59. IV. Elizabeth Meriot.


60. V. Lavinia.


61. VI. George Martin.


62. VII. Jane Lucretia.


63. VIII. Susan Minot.


Children of Martha Swan, (54) :


64. I. Martha, living. 65. II. William, killed by Indians in Kansas.


Children of Ebeneser Lane, (55) :


66. I. Ebenezer, b. at Elyria, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1819; m. Pallas E. Anderson, Jan. 21, 1845.


67. II. Frances Elizabeth, b. Oct. 12, 1822, at Norwalk, Ohio; m. A. Chese- bro.


68. III. William Griswold, b. at Nor- walk, Feb. 12, 1824; m. Elizabeth Deodate Griswold, Nov., 1850.


69. I. Ebenezer, b. at Sandusky, Aug. 25, 1847.


70. II. Frances Griswold, b. at San- dusky, June 21, 1850.


Children of Frances Elisabeth Chese- bro (67) and Alfred Chescbro.


71. I. William Lane, b. at Mansfield, Aug. 1, 1846.


72. II. Alfred Ludlow, b. in Spring- field, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1850.


73. III. Catherine Griswold, b. at San- dusky, May 22, 1853.


74. IV. Charles Griswold, b. at San- dusky, Dec. 18, 1855.


Children of W. G. and Elisabeth D. Lane, (68) :


75. I. Elizabeth Griswold, b. at San- dusky, Oct. 25, 1851.


VII. Children of Martin Lane, (49) :


76. I. Daniel, b. June 15, 1773; m11. Deborah Garnsey ; lived in Dallastown, N. Y.


77. II. Irene. b. Nov. 2, 1774; m. David Foot ; is dead. .


78. III. Betsy L., b. Sept. 2, 1777 ; m. Elijah Smith; is dead.


79. IV. Nathan, b. July 3, 1779; m. Clarissa Hyde, lives in Jackson county, Michigan.


80. V. David, b. Sept. 29. 1781 : m1. I, Anne Sage; 2, Sarah Diamond. Lives in Ingham county, Michigan.


81. VI. George, b. April 13, 1784; m. I, Sarah Harvey; 2, Lydia Bunting. Formerly of Methodist Book Concern : now lives near Brockport, N. Y.


82. VII. Asa, b. Sept. 20, 1786; d. 1793.


83. VIII. Charles. b. Dec. 7. 1738 ; m. Cynthia Spier.


84. IX. Dorcas, b. March 14, 1791 ; m. -- Sternes ; lives in Belvidere, Ill.


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VIII. Children of George Lane, (81) : 85. I. Harvey, professor in Middle- town.


86. II. George, a clergyman ; now


dead.


11OW dead.


88. IV. Charles, lives in Wilkesbarre. VII. Children of George Lane, (51) :


89. I. Mary, died unmarried.


90. II. Eliza.


91. II. George, died.


92. IV. William, died.


Other families of that name:


I. Samson Lane, agent, of Mason, Piscataqua, 1613.


2 Thomas Lane, warned by selectmen of Dorchester, to remove to Weymouth, 1635.


3. Ambrose Lane, of Strawberry Bank,. (Portsmouth) 1654.


4. Daniel Lane, came to New London, 1652, removed to Brook Haven, Long Island, 1662.


5. A family in Killingworth, Conn., from whence came Nathan Lane of New York.


6. Amos Lane, of Westchester, N. Y., removed to Indiana, about 1822. He is father of two generals, Joseph of Oregon, and James of Kansas.


7. Rebecca Lane, transported to Virginia, 1635.


8. Edward Lane, came later in the same year. Were they redemptioners ?


9. A family of Lane in Georgia, from whom W. G. Lane of New York.


IO. A family of Baltimore.


II. A family in Pennsylvania, from whom descended W. J. Lane of Erie, and the late Henry Lane of Warren, Ohio. 26. III. Jabez.


VI. Children of Samuel Lane, (24) : 27. I. Ebenezer, lived in Pittsfield, New Hampshire.


28. II. Samuel, lived in Stratham. VII. Child of Jabes Lanc, (26) :


87. III. Joseph, a clergyman ; 29. Edmund I. Lane, lived in Dover, New Hampshire.


VIII. Child of Samuel Lane, (28) :


30. Thomas I. Lane, lived in Mau- mee, Ohio; died Feb. 7, 1847, leaving a son.


IX. I believe Ebenezer Lane (22) is grandfather of the founders of the Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati. If so, the son of Ebenezer Lane, (22) :


31. I. Lived in New Gloucester, N. H. X. Children of Ebeneser, (31) :


32. I. Ebenezer, formerly a merchant in New Orleans, now in Oxford, Ohio. 33. II. Andrew, deceased.


GRANT PUTNAM.


Grant Putnam was born March 1, 1866, at Leroy, and is the son of Gilbert and Helen ( Mather) Putnam. The father was born in Herkimer county, New York, Octo- ber 8, 1834, and the mother in Scio, Wash- tenaw county, Michigan, September 28, 1842. The father was a farmer and came to Michigan in 1835.


The parents of our subject were married April 17, 1864, at Williamston and con- tinued to live on the home place after buy- ing out the other heirs. The original farm consisted of one hundred and twenty-seven acres to which they added ninety-two acres and cleared and improved this property, erecting the present house and good out- buildings. Gilbert Putnam was a supporter of the Democrat party and died May 28, 1872, while the mother is still living. Our subject is one of two children, being the first in order of birth. He acquired his education


MRS. HELEN CULVER


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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.


in the district school of his locality and when reaching the years of his majority, continued to run the farm, as his father before him had done, the place never having been out of the family name.


Grant Putnam was married March 26, 1890, to Ida M. Large, daughter of William and Josephine (Elliott) Large, who were early settlers of Michigan. Mrs. Putnam's father was politically a member of the Re- publican party, a good Methodist and died thirty years ago.


To Mr. and Mrs. Putnam have been born two children : Frances M., born January 3, 1896; Gilbert L., June 23, 1901.


In the year 1876, Mrs. Putnam, the moth- er of our subject, was married the second time to Levi Culver, a native of Canada, who lived in Michigan about thirty years and died at the home place in 1895. To them were born two children : Cleo, born De- cember 4, 1877, married Rev. H. R. Beatty, and Levi H., born 1881, married Berthy Osterle and is a farmer in Leroy township. Mrs. Culver was born in Scio, Washtenaw Co., Mich., the daughter of Calvin and Ma- rilla Newcomb, natives of New York, who came here when Michigan was yet a terri- tory, in 1831, and settled at Scio, where they took up eighty acres of timber land and cleared it and made many improvements upon the place. The father died in 1886 and the mother in 1872.


Gilbert Putnam came to Michigan when a baby, his parents locating in Dearborn, Wayne county. The family chopped their way through to their present place and took the original grant of land from President Van Buren and the deed of this land they still have in their possession. The grand- father of our subject, Richard Putnam, who cleared this land, added forty acres in Wheatfield, and again forty in Leroy town- ship, died in 1856 and his wife in 1858.


Our subject, though not enthusiastic in political questions, is on the side of the Democracy. Fraternally, Grant Putnam is allied with the Masons and Modern Wood- men.


THOMAS McEWING.


From an orphan asylum to a position of a leading man of affairs in a great State indi- cates the transformation in the life of a self- made character, and, in a word, is the re- markable contrast between the boyhood and the manhood of Thomas McEwing of Lan- sing. His younger days were passed in Utica, N. Y., at the orphans' home in that city. When he was yet in short clothes he ran away from the asylum, because of a whipping, which his childish mind consid- ered unjust. The little fellow boldly boarded a train and was carried to a point near Buf- falo. When he alighted, about the first ob- jects he saw were William Savage and his milk wagon. He was invited to take a ride and the good man took him home and kept him as his own son for three years. Mr. Savage made inquiry and found out who the lad was, and gave him a home. Here he became one of the original thirty-two en- dowed scholars of the DeBeaux College, an institution endowed by Samuel DeBeaux. This educational start was supplemented by the study which he had in the Agricultural College at Lansing, where he worked his way, as a janitor, while living with E. H. Longyear. Later he studied law with Dart and Wiley and was engaged in the lumber business at Jacksonville, Fla., for three years.


Upon Mr. McEwing's return to the North, he located at Howell, Michigan, and was in the employ of a hardware house for three years. teaching school during the winter months. His next change of location was


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to Bancroft, Michigan, where he engaged K. of P., the Elks, and the Masonic fra- ternity. He is an active Republican. There in business and also followed the occupation of a traveling salesman. Subsequently he . is probably no one who has a wider acquaint- was a resident of Elkhart, Indiana, for four ance in the State of Michigan than he, and he has a remarkable memory for names, faces and circumstances and is one of the most ap- proachable, as well as most substantial of men. His is a character which is particularly strong and well-rounded. years, but returned to Lansing in 1898 and was appointed manager of the Aultman-Mil- lar Company. This afterward developed into the Western Wagon and Supply Com- pany, which was organized by Mr. McEw- ing in 1903, and he is still its manager and active force. The business is incorporated and covers the handling of agricultural im- WILLIAM C. NICHOLS. plements and machinery.




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