USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 32
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An uncle, Lewis Coon, enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, and after one and one-half years' service with this dashing regiment, fell a victim of disease and was buried in a soldier's grave in the sunny south, at Nashville, Tenn. Though it was not for him to meet death on the field of battle, amid the booming of cannon and the rattle of musketry, yet, in the language of the poet :
"As truly for his country's cause He sacrificed his early all ; As truly earned her proud applause. As truly answered duty's call."
Mr. J. S. Coon spent his boyhood days in Jackson county. It was in the year 1868 he came to Leslie, where he engaged in such employment as he could secure. His am- bition was to have a farm of his own, and to this end he purchased forty acres of land, to which he added as he prospered, until to- day, he is the happy possessor of one hun- dred and ten acres of good, tillable land. under a profitable state of cultivation. The
buildings are substantial and attractive-a pleasant country farm home.
August 6, 1865, Mr. Coon was married to Miss Caroline, daughter of Daniel L. and Ann McFarland. Mrs. Coon was born in Laporte, Ind. Her father was a native of Canada, the mother of New York. She was the second of four children born to her par- ents, and was raised in Jackson county, Michigan.
To Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Coon have been born children as follows; six of whom are living. Data respecting them is here given : Anna B., born January 17, 1867, died Jan- uary 17, 1895; Minnie A., born April 10, 1868, married E. D. J. Pixley of Jackson county, died at the home of her parents September 27, 1891; Ina P., born Febru- ary 20, 1870, died January 26, 1893; Ida May, born December 21, 1871, married Les- ter Eaton ; William H., born September 13, 1873, died September 19, 1875; Nellie E., born July 19, 1875. died May 30, 1878: Frank E., born December 13, 1877, married Nellie Hurst : George B., born December 27, 1879, married Emma Mann ; Elizabeth M .. born March 4, 1884: Edith A., born Decem- ber 18, 1886; Lala H., born November 10. 1891.
Mr. Coon is a zealous Grand Army man. being a member of Dewey Post No. 60 of Leslie, and has occupied nearly every official chair in the organization, which speaks vol- umes for his comradeship, and the fraternal side of his nature.
Being the happy possessor of a fine farm in Leslie township with good buildings and up-to-date improvements, and with a suffi- ciency for the demands of the declining years, he is enabled to view the past with a degree of satisfaction that comes from the contemplation of "duties met and well per- formed."
Deprived of the counsel and love of both
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parents while yet a youth, starting in life handicapped from wounds received in battle, he has reason for personal congratulation upon the success that has attended his ef- forts.
Naturally inclined to the sunny side of life, he is reaping as he has sown, and finds pleasure in the harvest.
ARLINGTON A. BERGMAN.
Arlington A. Bergman was born October 3, 1870, in Jay Co., Indiana. His parents, George and Elinor Bergman, had four chil- dren born to them, of which Arlington was the second son. The names and dates of birth of the others are as follows: Clement T., December 12, 1867: Nora A., April 9. 1872, the wife of E. A. Hilliard, a resident of Delhi township, Ingham county, and George C., March 1, 1875. At the tender age of five years, Arlington was bereft of his parents. His father died September 19. 1875. at the age of thirty-five and his mother in October, 1875. only a month later.
Our subject received his early education in the district school, and having a natural appetite for books, he made the most of his opportunities, and at the age of seventeen secured a certificate and began teaching school in the country. For the following eight years teaching was his business, and after some years in the country he was em- ployed in the graded village schools in Mer- cer Co., Ohio. This was not to be his life's work-he had greater ambitions, and teach- ing to him was a means to a desired end. He secured books and occupied his spare mo- ments reading law. He placed himself under the tutorage of Hon. J. J. M. LaFollette. Dept. U. S. Attorney for the District of In- diana, and in the year 1897, on February 22d, was admitted to the bar at Portland, Ind. Not being satisfied with his equipment,
he entered the Normal University at East- man, Ind., from which he graduated with honor, June 27, 1899, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court in that state. Only a few days later. July 12th of the same year, he was admitted to practice in the Su- preme Court of Michigan, and afterwards hung out his shingle for business in the City of Mason.
Mr. Bergman is an impressive speaker, and when he talks "the people hear him gladly." He has built up a good practice and is growing in popular favor. He is City Attorney, and his admiring friends made him the Democratic nominee for the responsible office of Prosecuting Attorney in 1904.
Mr. Bergman rather prides himself on the fact that his athletic sport, while in college, was largely sawing wood with a buck-saw. though not entirely from choice.
Mr. Bergman is a member of the fraternal organization of the K. P. and has occupied all the chairs in the order officially and is now past chancellor. He is also an Elk. His people were members of the Evangelical church, and while he has no church rela- tions, he is in full sympathy with every means and effort for a better and higher Christian civilization.
PHILO L. DANIELS (DECEASED).
Among the earlier settlers of Central Michigan, it is hardly too much to say that there are few who exercised throughout life a stronger influence or have left a more en- during impression upon the minds and hearts of their associates and acquaintances than Philo L. Daniels. He was born in Berlin township, Erie county, Ohio, Decem- ber 15, 1836. He remained a resident of the locality of his birth until 1861, which year witnessd his arrival in Ingham county. His
ARLINGTON A. BERGMAN
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early education was acquired at the district schools of his locality and later supplemented by a course at Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio.
Upon our subject's arrival in Lansing in the year above mentioned he became identi- fied with the livery business which he suc- cessfully continued until 1867. Disposing of this property he engaged in the real estate and ice business, in which he continued for forty consecutive years. Various other en- terprises demanded Mr. Daniels' attention, as he also owned and operated a valuable farming property near the M. A. C., com- prising one hundred acres. In the conduct of this place he took individual pride, as he was a great lover of fine stock and raised a great many thoroughbred horses and also Holstein cattle. In later years he was also identified with the dairy business and in 1882 embarked in the drug trade in which he continued until 1903.
In 1855 Philo L. Daniels was united in marriage to Miss Emeline E. Fisher, daugh- ter of John Lewis and Letitia Maria Fisher, who were both natives of New York. It was in this state that Mrs. Daniels spent the first sixteen years of her life and then, ac- companying her parents, moved to Ohio. Her education was principally acquired at Albany, N. Y., and in Ohio she successfully taught in the district schools prior to her marriage. Mr. Daniels affiliated with the Republican party, believing its men and measures best qualified for good govern- ment.
Forty-three years have passed since Philo L. Daniels became a resident of Lansing and Ingham county. The part which he took in the struggles and labors and successes of pioneer times and all the many acts of kind- ness and little deeds of charity and benevo- lence, and the temperate and consistent life he led are matters of history and will be
recognized by all who knew him. Not a few there are who can say that to his kind- ness and indulgence they are indebted in a large degree. Settling here in the early his- tory of his adopted State, he contributed much to making it what it is, desirable for situation. He died at his home on the 10th day of August. 1903, and is interred in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Mr. Daniels devoted much of his time to matters connected with the growth of Lansing and invested his means in the development of property, having built four stores in this city. He was one of the principal promoters of the Central Mich- igan Agricultural Fair and bought the first life membership ticket. He was a man of genuine worth and stood high in the com- munity where he so long made his home and those who knew him best were numbered among his warmest friends and no citizen of Lansing or Ingham county was more highly respected.
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Daniels has successfully superintended the settlement of the business affairs and in this has shown herself to be a business woman of exceptional capability. She was made ad- ministratrix of the estate. She still resides in Lansing in her pleasant home, surrounded by hosts of friends, who are coextensive with her acquaintance.
CHARLES J. DAKIN.
The subject of this sketch, Charles J. Dakin, was born September 8, 1868, in Ing- ham township. He is the son of Jacob and Adelaide (Woods) Dakin, who were na- tives of Michigan. The father was born August 3, 1838, and the mother August 6. 1840. In perusing the genealogy of the Dakin family. we find that their genealog- ical record dates from 1066 A. D., and that persons of that name came over from Nor-
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mandy with William the Conqueror, and from that time until 1875 they figured con- spicuously in English history. Sir Thomas Dakin, being Lord Mayor of London from 1870 to 1871. The first Dakins that came to America, were John Dakin and his wife, Alice, who sailed on the sailing vessel "Abi- gail," and settled at Lyon, Mass., in 1635. Elisha and Johnson Dakin, descendants of John and Alice Dakin, emigrated to Duchess Co., N. Y., and enlisted from there in the Continental army in the year 1777. Joseph. Samuel, Thomas, Jonathan and Peter Dakin, other descendants of John and Alice Dakin, enlisted from different localities of Massa- chusetts, at dates ranging from 1775 to 1779. The genealogy of the Dakin family of Ingham county trace their ancestry from Elisha Dakin of Duchess county, N. Y.
Jacob Dakin came to Ingham county in 1840 with his father, and engaged in the business of farming. He later purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ing- ham township, which he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. Polit- ically, Mr. Dakin is allied with the De- mocracy.
ยท
Charles J. Dakin is the second of a family of six children, and was educated in the dis- trict schools, at the Dansville high school and Cleary's Business College at Ypsilanti, Michigan. At the age of twenty-two years Charles Dakin purchased seventy-seven acres of land in Ingham township; he lived here four years, then sold and bought eighty acres in Wheatfield township, and later bought forty acres more, which was partly improved, and with the characteristic energy and ambition of the Dakin family soon brought the place to a high state of cultiva- tion, and now has one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land.
January 2, 1891, Chas. Dakin was united in marriage to Luella Benton, daughter of
James and Amelia (Hilton) Benton, the former being a native of Saratoga, N. Y., and the latter of Kent county, Mich. Mr. Benton came to Michigan in 1857, and soon after married and settled on eighty acres of unimproved land in Kent county. Mrs. Dakin's father died November 1, 1872, and the mother is yet alive.
Our subject has been a member of the Baptist church for twelve years, to which he gives his hearty support. Politically, he is allied with the Democratic party, and has represented his town as Drain Commission- er for one term, and is serving the fifth term as Supervisor.
Charles J. Dakin's farm of one hundred and twenty acres gives abundant evidence that he understands the business of a farm .. er, and that he has the enterprise and energy essential to keeping his estate in good con- dition, and making it abundantly productive.
CHARLES F. DANA.
Among the prominent and successful farmers of Leroy township, Ingham county, is the enterprising man whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Charles F. Dana was born in the township in which he now lives, January 19, 1866, and is the son of Hiram J. and Alice B. Dana, born in 1830 and 1845, respectively. The father was en- gaged in the occupation of a farmer and came to Michigan in 1837, and first located in Leroy township in 1858 and bought forty acres of timbered land. From time to time he added to his possession, until at the time of his death he owned three hundred and ninety-seven acres of highly cultivated land.
Hiram Dana was three times married, first at the age of twenty years, second he was thirty years of age, and the last mar- riage occurred about fourteen years ago. The parents were members of the Congrega-
M. F. BATES
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tional church and the father was a staunch Democrat. He died Nov. 16, 1894.
Charles Dana is one of ten children born to his parents, and the second in order of birth. He acquired his education in the dis- trict schools of Leroy township and later at- tended the Williamston High School. He started out for himself at the age of twenty- two by buying a farm of forty acres from his father. The land was in fairly good con- dition, but he has improved it, and now owns ninety-five acres of rich farming land.
Charles Dana was united in marriage in 1885 to Ella Rockwell, and one child came to bless this union, Oswald. The mother died Nov. 9, 1888. Our subject was again married in 1890 to Miss Lillie Geisinger, and they are the parents of four children : Myra May, Lelia Bell, and the twins, Vera and Vernor.
Our subject's grandfather, Alvin Oran, named Leroy township. In 1837, when the country was wild, inhabited mostly by In- dians and wild game, our subject's grand- father and his wife and his wife's grand- father came to Michigan and located the farm upon which they now reside.
Charles F. Dana is an active Democrat and fraternally is allied with the Gleaners and the Grangers in Leroy. He is a highly respected man in his community.
M. F. BATES, LANSING.
M. F. Bates, organizer of the Bates & Edmonds Motor Company and of the Bates Automobile Company, as well as an inven- tor of note in the specialty of gas and gaso- line engines, is a native of Calhoun county, Michigan, and was born in the year 1869. He is the son of B. D. and Betsy A. Bates, his father being also a Wolverinite, and, by trade, a blacksmith. He is still living-a
proud witness of his son's marked success in the industrial field, which he and his boy commenced to cultivate nearly twenty years ago.
Our subject was brought up in Calhoun county, Michigan, where he received his early education, and, where, while yet a boy, he was granted a patent on an improved land roller in 1887, and at once he and his father began the manufacture of the device, plac- ing several hundred of the machines on the market. The ambitious boy realized, how- ever, that to make the most of himself and his inventions, he must obtain a practical training as a mechanic. He therefore en- tered the machine shop of the Olds Works, at Lansing. From the first day of his em- ployment there he was thoroughly in earnest. He had a definite object in view, and he never rested, night or day, or holidays, until he had become a thorough machinist. More than that, he became an expert draftsman, making patterns and drawings, especially for gasoline engines.
Mr. Bates finally invented the first gaso- line engine used by the company, trading his invention for stock in the P. F. Olds & Son. He is also the inventor of a two-cycle boat engine, which is manufactured by the Smalley Motor Company of Bay City, Mich- igan.
After remaining with the Olds Company for six years Mr. Bates severed his connec- tion with the firm, and, in April, 1899, or- ganized the Bates & Edmonds Motor Com- pany, of which he is the president, and with Mr. Edmonds is the real power behind the large and rapidly growing industry. When the company was first organized it employed only three men. and the capacity of the works was only four engines monthly; it now employs one hundred men and its out- put is two hundred monthly. To keep up with orders the factory is in operation night
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and day, turning out the up-to-date gas and gasoline engines, which are the result of the president's ingenuity, and upon which he has been granted patents by the Government.
He is also vice-president of the Bates Automobile Company, which is in the gen- eral manufacturing business in that line.
A consideration of the above bare record indicates rare executive and inventive ability on the part of Mr. Bates; a rare genius, in fact, for realizing financial results from the products of his thought and mechanical skill. Little idea, however, can be given of the grim determination which has accom- plished these results, the hours of over-time which he passed as a machinist ; his persist- ent studies to improve his general education and business knowledge at the Scranton Night School, and a hundred other ways by which he "kept everlastingly at it," and wrenched success out of a thousand difficul- ties ; little idea can be given of all this, with- out far overstepping our bounds.
In 1896 Mr. Bates was married to Miss Celesta Thomas of Lansing. They have two children : Ralph and Louise. Both husband and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
GEORGE DUNCKEL.
When the early settlers of any township have been men of character and ability, men who respected themselves and the laws of God and man, and who were inspired with a noble ambition to provide for their children and their children's children, we may be sure that grand foundation has been laid for the uplifting of that place. Such a foundation was given to Locke township by the coming of men like George Dunckel, who ranks among the oldest settlers here.
This successful farmer and citizen was born July 29, 1829 in Ontario county, and
was the son of Nicholas F. and Catherine (Countryman) Dunckel. The father was a mechanic and farmer and came to Michigan when it was yet a territory. He first located in Wayne county in the fall of 1834, and then moved to Livingston county, and in 1842 moved to section 27. Locke township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, but only retained eighty on a contract. This land he improved, and then bought forty acres on section 27 and sold it. The mother being poorly they came to their son's home and lived with him until their death. The father and mother are interred in the Rowley cemetery at Locke.
George Dunckel is one of twelve chil- dren and out of the eleven who grew to man and womanhood only three are living. Our subject was educated in a little log school- house of his district. When twenty-one years old he started out for himself by pur- chasing forty acres of land on section 27 and eighty on section 25 in Locke township, where but little improvement had been made. By reason of strict attention to business and his ambition to succeed he has prospered and today is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of the best farming land in the community.
Mr. Dunckel was twice married, first to Lydia Hill and to this marriage seven chil- dren were born, of whom three are dead. July 21, 1883, he was again married to Hen- rietta Fairbanks, daughter of Ferris G. and Marguerite Fairbanks. The father died in the army and the mother, who was an active member of the M. E. church, passed away in the year 1889.
To Mr. and Mrs. George Dunckel were born two children : Leon Mose, born March 28, 1886, and Howard Wiest, born May 23, 1898.
Our subject early in life was a Whig but joined the Republican party on its organiza-
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tion. He cast his first vote for General Scott, the next for John C. Fremont and has been a strong Republican since that time. He has been honored with the position of Town Treasurer for nine terms, Supervisor for four terms, also was Superintendent of the Poor for three years. Mr. Dunckel is, active in politics and always studies the needs of the community and the characteristics of the men before using his ballot to place them in office. Mr. Dunckel is one of the oldest living settlers of Locke township and his value to the community has not been measured simply by his activities, although they have been great, but by his in- fluence for good in moral, social and indus- trial spheres. He has lived sixty-two years in this township and has seen the county in all its stages of advancement and progress. Mr. and Mrs. Dunckel are highly honored and respected people of their community.
JAMES E. FERGUSON, ESQ.
Among the citizens of Mason of good re- pute for uprightness of character and un- questionable integrity, enjoying the respect and confidence of the public generally is the time-honored justice of the peace, James E. Ferguson.
Mr. Ferguson was born in the Empire State in Galen, Wayne county, June 17th, 1822.
He was the son of Jacob and Fannie Fer- guson, the second in a family of eight chil- dren, named respectively, John, James E., George, Nelson, Amos, Mary, Margaret and Pamelia.
Mr. Ferguson grew to manhood upon his father's farm, securing such education as was afforded in the district schools at that day. His father being a pioneer settler, Mr. Ferguson attended school in the first institu- . tion of learning erected in that vicinity. The
building was also used for church purposes. Having always been something of a reader. his general knowledge coupled with fair dis- crimination has given him efficiency in his court practice which has been quite exten- sive, extending over a period of twelve years. Self possessed and with quiet, unassuming dignity, his is an ideal justice court.
As an illustration of the progress in meth- ods of farming within the scope of a single life, Mr. Ferguson relates with some degree of pride that he recalls the fact that he threshed out his father's oat crop with a flail, this he did nights and mornings, attending school during the day.
April 7, 1843, he was united in marriage to Elisabeth Vandercook, purchased forty acres of land and launched out at farming for himself, settling in Rose township. Wayne county, New York. This was but a few miles from his paternal home.
As the years went by, six children came to bless their home and lives. Their names are Josephine. Jacob, Joseph Ene, Barney G., Albertine and Fannie.
He added improvements to his little farm in the way of building, cleaning up and fenc- ing and after six years sold the place and in 1854 took Horace Greeley's advice and came west to Michigan and settled upon a farm of 360 acres in Jackson county.
Here he broadened out his farming opera- tions and for twelve years he managed this estate adding improvements year by year. The opportunity came and he sold out and for a time rented a large farm, raising grain and stock.
In 1886 he retired from farming. moved to Mason and engaged in the grocery trade which he followed for some years, and upon luis election as justice of the peace. closed out his business, devoting himself entirely to the duties of his office for the past twelve years.
Mr. Ferguson affiliates with the Demo-
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cratic party, but was never esteemed as an offensive partisan.
His wife died April 8, 1899. His children long since grown to man and womanhood have gone into the world to build homes for themselves.
Regarded with respect, and enjoying the good will of his townsmen, he is going down the western slope leaving behind a record for rectitude and virtue worthy of emulation.
CALVIN FOSTER.
Calvin Foster, whose home is in Wil- liamston township, is one of the representa- tive farmers of Ingham county. Thorough, systematic and progressive, he has met with success in his chosen calling and has risen to a position among the substantial citizens of his community, being now the owner of a well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and eight acres, where he and his worthy wife now reside.
Our subject was born in Williamston township, May 21. 1873, the son of John C. and Eliza (Cumming) Foster, the father being born in England in November, 1813, and the mother, also a native of England, was born in 1829. Thinking that oppor- tunities were better for advancement in the New World, our subject's father left the parental roof and came to America. Before this, however, John C. Foster was united in marriage to Eliza Cumming, who had one brother, George Povey, who settled in Meridian township. Settling in Williams- ton township on a partly cleared farm, which by industry and faithfulness, he greatly im- proved, he and his wife made this their home until their death. John C .. the father, was a Democrat in his political convictions, but never held any office.
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