USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 29
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At the close of the war our subject came to Michigan and in 1866 was married to Mrs. Frances J. Walker of Jonesville, Mich- igan, who was born at East Bloomfield, On- tario county, N. Y. She was born in that county in May, 1841. Five children came to bless this couple : Myrtie Luella, Oct. II, 1867, married W. H. Taylor of Toledo, Ohio: Leola M., Feb. 6, 1870, married E. H. Winfield, residing on the adjoining farm to Mrs. Bell: Orrin E., Dec. 1, 1874, married Jennie Harper and resides on a farm in Delhi; G. Ward, May 7, 1879, manages the farm at home and is a model young man in every respect and assisting the mother to educate the younger brother, Robert Floyd. who is 22 years of age, now attending the M. A. C., taking a course in civil engineer- ing. Floyd is improving his opportunities and making rapid advancement in his chosen profession. He was elected president of the class in 1904, is a member of the Y. M. C. A. and was a delegate to its convention in 1903 at Lake Side, Ohio. He will graduate in June, 1905. He is also a member of the Columbian Literary Society at college and holds the M. I. A. A. indoor championship for 1903 ; also the championship of the col- lege football team for 1903 and 1904, and has won a medal at an athletic meeting. He
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was captain of the football team two years at M. A. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Bell first located in Jones- ville, . Hillsdale county, Michigan, where they lived for two years, and then came to Ingham county and bought eighty acres, their present home. They made a comfortable home, and a family of dutiful children are now the comfort of Mrs. Bell's life. After the father's death, Orrin, the eldest son, took charge of the farm until his marriage, when the next son, Ward, came into the manage- ment of affairs and is successfully engaged in mixed farming.
The family are all members of the M. E. church and the father was a staunch member of the G. A. R. and a strong Republican, though never an office holder. More than ordinary credit is due Mrs. Bell for the man- agement of her property and she has work- ed hard with her children to show them the right path in life and has been well reward- edi by their uprightness and honesty. Mr. Robert Bell was a good man and known throughout his county. The uprightness of the sons are but the reflections of the father's life. -
D. N. BATEMAN.
Among the old family names in the Township of Aurelius is that of Bateman. Our subject was born in Niagara county, N. Y., in 1837, and was of a family of eleven children born to Erastus and Louisa Bateman. The parents were natives of the Green Mountain State. The names of the children in order of birth are as follows: Albert, Myron, Daniel, Ruth, D. N., Thomas, Truman, Calvin, William, Chester and Ella, all living except Myron, who died while in the service of his country at Baton Rouge, September 5, 1862.
Erastus Bateman came with his family to
Michigan in the spring of 1846 and settled in Calhoun county. He was a cooper by trade. The father located upon a farm of eighty acres and improved the same. D. N. is proud of the fact that his father served under Gen. Scott in the War of 1812 and participated in the Battles of Lundy's Lane.
In the early years of his manhood the elder Bateman was what was known as a free soiler, but later cast his vote with the Demo- crat party, voting first with that party for Franklin Pierce for President of the U. S. The father and mother were both identified with the Baptist church for many years and reared their family under Christian influen- ces. The father died 1876 and the mother in 1887, and their remains rest side by side in Greenwood cemetery in Aurelius town- ship, Ingham county.
Our subject acquired his early education in the district schools and later attended a select school, taught by Prof. Taylor at Lansing. Early in the history of the war, Mr. Bateman made four attempts to enlist in the defense of his country and was re- fused three times on account of being light in weight, but his fourth effort was success- ful, and he enlisted in the 8th Michigan Cavalry.
He was mustered out in 1865 at Jackson, Mich., when returning to his home he worked for his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he worked as a farm hand during the sum- mer and taught school in Delhi township in the winter. This he followed until he had taught fourteen terms.
In 1865 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Mary Parish of Aurelius township. Mr. and Mrs. Parish were old residents in the locality and were highly respected people. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bateman: Hugh H., born 1867 and died 1898; Milton
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JOHN FRANKLIN BENNETT
MRS. J. F. BENNETT
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
R., born 1869 and died 1891 ; Guy C., born 1870, married Nellie Leonard, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Leonard of Delhi township. Guy follows the occupation of farming. The youngest, Mary, is still at home with her parents.
Mr. Bateman began his farming opera- tions upon forty acres of land, but added from time to time until he owned one hun- dred and twenty acres. He later gave his son, Guy, forty acres and sold the balance. Mr. Bateman has travelled quite extensively in the west and sold nursery stock. At one time he was quite extensively engaged in evaporating fruit, employed twenty-five peo- ple and in a single season has sold as high as one hundred tons of dried fruit. He claims to own the largest apple orchard in Ingham county, embracing eighteen acres of trees. They are of high grade, about fifty to the acre.
Our subject, though independent in poli- tics at present, has held the office of Town Clerk, of School Inspector and refused to allow his name to run for other offices. He is a member of the G. A. R. Mr. Bateman had the misfortune to loose his house by fire in the year 1880. He however built a new and modern home. He is always interested in public affairs, looking to the well-being of society and the development of the coun- try, generally. He was largely instrumental in putting through the extensive tile drain which cost in the aggregate about nine thousand dollars. It was, however, an im- provement greatly needed and will result most beneficially to land owners in that sec- tion. Mr. Bateman is a pensioner, receiving from the government twelve dollars per month.
Our subject and wife are members of the Baptist church at Aurelius and always give the full weight of their influence on the side of morality and religion. Mr. Bateman is
a man of conviction, has a ready command of good English and never leaves his hear- ers in doubt upon which side he is arrayed in morality. He is a first class citizen.
JOHN FRANKLIN BENNETT.
Mr. John Franklin Bennett is worthy of great praise for the success that he has made in life, as what he has, he has earned for him- self by hard days' labor and strict attention to business. Mr. Bennett is a self-made man and influential in his community. He was born May 28, 1858, and is a native of the Wolverine State, his birth having occurred in Meridian township. John Bennett, the father of our subject, was born July 31, 1820, and Mary (Hahn) Bennett, the moth- er, was born March 12, 1826, both natives of Ohio. They came to Michigan in 1852 and settled on eighty acres of land. John, Sr., and his brother purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from a party named Bush. Bush had only ten days previous pur- chased same from government. They later divided it. Our subject's father built a log house and cleared up the land and made his home here until his death, Sept. 20, 1888. The mother died April 9, 1884. Both the father and mother were consistent members of the German Lutheran church and the father was a Democrat.
Our subject was one of ten children : Rachel, born May 14, 1844, the wife of Richard Teller, living in Tuscola county ; Sarah Ann, born January 1, 1846, the wife of Charles Glosser. She was the mother of eight children, five of whom are now living. Mrs. Glosser died March 20, 1895 : Mary Ann, born July 12, 1848, is the wife of J. Burgess of Meridian town- ship, they have six children living and four dead ; Catherine, born Feb. 8. 1851. married Clinton Ball of Tuscola county and has three
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children ; Lydia, Jan. 21, 1853, died March II, 1876; William Henry, born Jan. 18, 1856, died March 8, 1856; our subject ; Amos, Sept. 13, 1860, died Oct. 14, 1860; Harvey L., May 9, 1862, and lives in Merid- ian township on the old farm and has four children ; Gertrude, Aug. II, 1867, died April 2, 1887.
John Franklin Bennett spent his boyhood and youth in Meridian township, where he acquired his early education and lived with his parents until their death. He had bought eighty acres of land near Traverse City, which he sold and in 1884 bought eighty acres in Meridian township, where he now lives.
Mr. Bennett was married Jan. 23, 1889, to Mary Sophia Hahn, born in Steele county, Minn., June 10, 1858. She was the daugh- ter of Elias and Elizabeth Hahn, natives of Ohio, who settled in Steele county, Minn., in 1854. Mrs. Bennett is one of six children : Milton, died in infancy ; an infant ; our sub- ject's wife ; Edna lives in Minnesota with her mother ; Howard died in infancy, and Sarah, an infant.
Our subject is independent in politics and has never held office, deeming it to his ad- vantage to give his time to his chosen voca- tion. He is engaged in general farming and being quite handy with tools, built for him- self the house and barns upon the place which he now resides. He is also a black- smith by trade. Mr. Bennett owns his farm and is proud of the fact that he owes no man, and besides is in possession of a com- fortable competence, all of which are his be- cause he earned them by the energy and economy which he had practiced during his
earlier days. He is now in a position to en- joy the fruits of his early toil and enjoys the esteem of his many friends.
DANIEL L. CADY.
Like the forest tree standing alone, its fellows having gone down amid the onward march of the passing years, Daniel L. Cady, . a revered pioneer, lives at the age of eighty- three.
He was born November 20, 1821, in Co- lumbia county, N. Y. He was the son of Daniel L. and Lorena Cady, both of Scotch extraction. The elder came with his family to the wilds of Michigan in the year 1827, having subsequently taken up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government and settled in the township of Plymouth, Wayne county. To this he added from time to time, as he was prospered, until at the date of his death, which occurred August 30, 1860, he owned three hundred and twen- ty acres of choice farming land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have been born two children: Eldon Ray, born Oct. 19, 1889, and died two and one-half years old ; Dell Franklin, born Oct. 24, 1891, in Steele . Plymouth, and by reading and experience county, Minn.
Daniel L., Jr., returned to the State of New York in 1832 and made his home with relatives for a term of about four years, re- turning to Michigan in 1836. He acquired a good practical common.school education at has kept pace with the times and is known as a well informed citizen. Intelligence and veracity are marked characteristics of the man. His word is as good as a government bond any where he is known.
In the earlier years his reputation along this line was a good share of his stock in trade and helped out wonderfully, in making purchases in the early forties.
In 1845 he married Miss Harriet E. Taft, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pitts Taft of Oak- land county, Michigan, and by the timely aid of his father purchased sixty-five acres of land and started out to grapple with the
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affairs of life and win for himself and fam- ily a name and a place in the world. By economy and perseverance he, year by year, added to his estate until he was able, while still in the prime of life, to put aside manual labor and enjoy in the quiet of a comfort- able city home, his well-earned competence.
Four children were the fruits of these wedded lives: the first born dying in in- fancy ; the second, Clara, was born May 23, 1848, and died October 2, 1863 ; Menzo C., a record of whose birth and life appears in this volume; Minnie, the wife of Arthur Pebbles, born November 1, 1856, and died April 2, 1890.
In March, 1854, Mr. Cady moved with his family to Vevay, Ingham county, and settled on section 30, making a purchase 'of two hundred and eighty acres. To this he added later, until he came to be the happy possessor of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres with good buildings, well- equipped with improved machinery and fine stock. The homestead proper has now passed into the hands of his son, Menzo C., with whom Mr. Cady, since the death of his wife, November 13, 1893, has made his home. Mr. Cady recalls with considerable vividness hearing his grandfather. David Cady, relate his experience with the Indians, during the Revolutionary War, in which he was a soldier. On awakening in the morn- ing the command found themselves com- pletely surrounded by hostile Indians, who opened fire upon the troops and closed in upon them. After a brisk fight in which Mr. Cady received a severe gun-shot wound through the left arm, the soldiers clubbed their muskets and fought their way out.
He has served his township as Justice of the Peace. He was also for some time Deputy County Treasurer under Thaddeus Dens- more. Mr. Cady has been a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian church for many years and during the more active years of his life served the church as its treasurer.
Having performed well his part in life's activities and in the enjoyment of a conscious- ness of duties well performed, he is going toward the setting of the sun with a good hope of immortality in the bright and the beautiful beyond. An upright citizen, a kind neighbor, a just man.
MENZO C. CADY.
Among the successful and prosperous farmers of Ingham county and recognized to the limit of his acquaintance as a man of good judgment and irreproachable char- acter, standing near the head of the column is Menzo C. Cady of Vevay township. Re- tiring and unassuming in his disposition, yet firm in his convictions upon all questions of morality or religion, make him the ideal citi- zen, the like of which the county stands in need.
It is indeed refreshing to grasp the hand and look into the face of a man and at the same time feel that he is indeed a man in the noblest, truest sense of the word. Menzo Cady, the only son of Daniel L. and Harriet Taft Cady, was born at Northville, Wayne county. Michigan, January 1, 1850, a New Year's present to his parents, and one des- tined to be a lifelong blessing.
Mr. Cady acquired his early education at district schools and later attended the Mason High School and the graded school at Northville. Michigan.
In politics, Mr. Cady is a Republican, in- deed, it is characteristic of the family to keep pace with the march of the party with November 1. 1871. he was united in mar- `riage to Miss Helen Miller and launched history. This party in a local way have honored their ticket by giving him place. out for himself. engaging in farming on a
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part of the "old place." his father having retired from the farm. The soil being well- adapted to stock and grain raising, mixed farming has been the order.
By the death of his wife, which occurred in December 5, 1887, Mr. Cady was left with the care of their four children: the eldest, Myrtie, is now the wife of F. E. Mar- shall of Onondaga township. She was born October 21, 1872; Floyd E., born May 13, 1874, is married and resides in Aurelius township: Menzo. Jr., born May 28, 1876, is married and living at Mason ; Orlando D., born April 27. 1884, is employed by the gov- ernment as a rural mail carrier.
January 2, 1889, Mr. Cady married Edith L., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Fanson of Mason. To them two children have been born: Dorr L., December 26, 1892, and Margaret, October 22, 1898. Both are liv- ing with their parents.
In politics Mr. Cady has always been a consistent Republican and is proud of the record of his party from the present back to the dark days of the Rebellion. For him Republicanism stands for loyalty to country.
Mr. and Mrs. Cady are members of the Baptist church society at Aurelius, to which they give liberal support and loyal service. Mr. Cady's earnest, thoughtful, considerate manner inspires confidence and easily wins for him friends. Enjoying still the society of his father, surrounded by children and grandchildren, with a comfortable allowance, he ought to be, and is, a happy man.
JAMES R. DART.
So many men in these days of large chances have made more than ordinary com- petences and begun with nothing on start- ing out in life, that such cases have ceased to be remarkable. The qualifications, how- ever, necessary to bring about such success,
can never cease to be worthy of our admira- tion. He whose name is at the head of our sketch is one of the army of pushing, ag- gressive men, who were never satisfied un- less they could attain the highest position that could be aimed for. Mr. Dart started out in life without money or influence, but by the exercise of his fine executive and financial ability, he has attained a position in the community in which he has cast his lot, second to none.
James R. Dart was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., March 9, 1835, and was the son of Alfred and Jane Dart, both natives of Vermont. The father was engaged in farming throughout life. In the family of six children our subject was the fifth. He acquired his early education in the common schools of his county and has later supple- mented this early training by extensive read- ing, observation and experience. He began his business career at the age of eighteen years, when he went to Alleghany county, N. Y., and worked for an uncle who was a cabinet-maker. After this he worked for Samuel Moffit, as helper in building mills, and as a compensation received one dollar per day for two years and at the beginning of the third he received two dollars per day. When with Mr. Moffit our subject was in the State of Pennsylvania. After this our subject started out for himself mill-wright- ing and was engaged in this work for three years at Bradford, Pa., after which he went . to work for a coal company, they exchang- ing the coal for his board. About this time Mr. Dart took the contract for furnishing beef for a railroad crew in Pennsylvania, who were building a road from Bradford to Alton. He furnished it to them at a certain price per one hundred pounds, dressed, buy- ing it for what he could and in this adven- ture met with marked success.
Our subject came to Lansing, Michigan,
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ABRAHAM BLACK
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in 1869, and bought a lumber business, then run by Clark and Bird. He owned one-half interest in this concern, and after running it one year sold out and bought a half interest with Verety in manufacturing doors, sash, etc. Shortly after this he bought his part- ner's interest and for three years managed the business alone, selling out in 1872. Mr. Dart then went to Webberville, Leroy town- ship, and bought a sawmill and remained at this business for twenty years. In connec- tion with this interest he ran a general store and elevator, and aside from this did fifty thousand dollars worth of business in the cooperage business per year-the entire bus- iness here running at about eighty thousand dollars per year. In the year 1880 our sub- ject had the misfortune to lose his sawmill and in this fire lost fifteen thousand dollars. This he built up again in 1888, but shortly after, on account of bad health, was forced to make an assignment, when he came to Mason in the year 1893 where he has since resided.
August II, 1855, James R. Dart was married to Orpha P. Fisher, a daughter of William R. and Briceus Fisher, residents of Pennsylvania. To this union were born four children : Nellie M., deceased; Gertrude B., now Mrs. Dr. Campbell of Mason ; Rol- lin C. and Alfred R. also residents of Ma- son. The wife and mother of this family died 1897 at Mason. She was highly re- spected in the social and church circles of Mason and her friends were only numbered by her acquaintance.
On April 3, 1899, Mr. Dart was united in marriage with Mrs. Amorette Smith, and they are now pleasantly located in the City of Mason. She was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where her home was until married to Mr. Dart.
In the fall of 1877 James R. Dart was elected Sheriff of Ingham county, and he
filled this office for two terms, with credit to himself and his constituents. He affili- ates with the Republican party and is a wideawake and public-spirited man. His acuaintance with the people of Ingham coun- ty is a broad one and he is highly respected by a large circle of friends.
ABRAHAM BLACK.
In taking up the life history of Abraham Black we find many scenes and incidents of an eventful career, worth recording, that will be of interest to our readers, as he has not only been an agriculturist of prominence, but has seen active service in wars represent- ing two nations. Born in the year 1827 on the Emerald Isle, he there spent his boyhood and youth, acquiring his education in the schools of his native land, until reaching the age of nineteen he enlisted on the sixth day of May, 1846, in the British army, and served five years and three months and took part in the Irish Rebellion. Upon the expiration of his service, he emigrated to America and joined his father, who had come to Eliza- bethport, New Jersey, in 1851, and there worked in a foundry for one and a half years. His father, John Black, was also a native of the Emerald Isle, being born in the year 1787, while the mother, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Pinkington was born in 1797. The father did not long sur- vive the emigration to the New World, as he died the same year at the age of sixty- five, while the mother departed this life at the age of fifty-five.
Arriving at Elizabethport, N. J., our sub- ject remained in the employment of a foun- dryman for a year and a half, and then moved to the City of Chicago, where he found employment, and there remained for two years with the McCormick Harvester Machinery Company. On the expiration of
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this time, which was in 1854, he came from Chicago to Delhi township and secured em- ployment as a farm laborer, working by the month for Messrs. Abraham Smith, Thomas Mosier and N. B. Watson. He followed this ocupation until 1863, when in response to Lincoln's call for volunteers he joined the boys in blue by enlisting in Co. L, 4th Mich- igan Cavalry. Here he saw twenty-two months' hard service and was mustered out on the 19th day of August of 1865. He was with his company in the hotly contested engagement of Selma, Alabama, and at Columbus, Ga., together with numerous smaller engagements. He cast his first vote for Gen. George B. McClellan, or "Little Mac," while in the field, and has ever since supported the Republican ticket.
In the year 1852, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Donahue, a daughter of Thomas and Ann Donahue. both natives of Ireland, and unto this union were born seven children, as follows: Ellen Jane, who died at the age of thirteen months : Mary Jane, the wife of James Thorburn, and she died on the 16th day of May, 1882; A. J., now a merchant of Holt; Catherine, the wife of James McReady, a resident of Diamondale, Eaton county ; Thomas, a resi- dent of Jackson ; Lottie, at home, and Hattie, the wife of Charles F. Taylor, now living in Detroit.
Returning from the war, our subject worked as a farm hand for Mr. John Mc- Hugh and then bought forty acres of land at the Four Corners, east of Holt. This property he improved and erected thereon. a suitable home and farm buildings and there resided for eighteen years and then moved to the Village of Holt, where he has resided for eighteen years. The wife and mother died in 1902, at the age of sixty-six years. She had been a valuable helpmate on life's journey. She was laid to rest in Maple
Ridge Cemetery. She was a member of the Church of England, to which Mr. Black also belongs. He is a member of the Charles T. Foster Post at Lansing. Faithful as a pub- lic spirited citizen in time of peace, as he was as a soldier in the preservation of the Union, Abraham Black is honored and respected by all who know him.
WILLIAM A. DIAMOND.
Among the successful and prosperous young farmers of this county standing well up in the front ranks is William A. Dia- mond, located on section twelve in the . Township of Vevay. Mr. Diamond is a product of the township in which he resides and a farmer by birth and education. His ancestors on both sides were among settlers, pioneers, indeed, of the county.
William A. was the second son of John L. and Olive L. (Hawley) Diamond and was born in 1868. His brother Henry, two years his senior, met an untimely death at the age of eighteen years, by the kick of a horse. His only sister, Lottie, died in 1898 at the age of thirty-four years, a young lady of many graces and virtues. His father and mother were married December 24, 1863, the father paying the debt of nature August 10, 1870, while yet in the vigor of young manhood.
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