USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 33
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Unto this union were born nine children, two of whom are now living: Esther, the
wife of Isaac Piper of Meridian township, and our subject, whose early education was acquired in the district schools of Williams- ton. Calvin Foster lived on the home farm with his parents until their death, when he rented the farm and on May 12, 1904, was united in marriage to Miss Viola Boam, born in Meridian township, May 25, 1882, being the daughter of Andrew and Louisa (Burtraw) Boam, now living in Meridian township, the former born in Michigan, October 13, 1851, and the latter November 12, 1854. Our subject's wife was one of seven children, five of whom are living.
The grandparents of Mr. Calvin Foster, who originally came from England, were among the pioneer settlers of Ingham county.
The subject of this review, following in the footsteps of his father, affiliates with the Democracy, and is an active member of the Gleaners. Mr. Calvin Foster, though but a young man in years, has lived a life of industry and usefulness and has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
DR. M. COAD.
The subject of this sketch was .born in Eastport, Maine, in 1836. His father, Eng- lish ; his mother, of Scotch ancestry.
Dr. Coad received his education in his native town, after which he went to Mas- sachusetts, where he took up the study of medicine, and was a student at the time of the breaking out of the War of the Rebel- lion. In 1862 he was enrolled as a private soldier in the 52d Massachusetts Infantry, Co. F. His abilities being recognized and the demands for surgeons being great, he was detailed assistant surgeon for a time; later he was commissioned by General Banks as assistant surgeon of the 76th
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DR. M. COAD
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Colored Troops, acting in this capacity until some months after the final closing of the war. He was mustered out of service and honorably discharged, December 31, 1865.
Following the close of the war, he com- pleted his education at Berkshire Medical College in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and at Brooklyn, N. Y. His experience in the Brooklyn Hospital in 1866 and during his term of service has been of great advantage to him in private practice in later years. In 1868 he came to Michigan and settled in Williamston, where he has since practiced his profession, in which he has met with more than average success.
In 1870 Dr. Coad was married to Miss Alice E., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Miles of Fenton, Michigan, and to them have been born two children: Grace E., the wife of T. L. Burger of Chicago, and Kate M., a · student at the M. A. C.
Dr. Coad has kept pace with the progress of his profession, as a member of the County and State Medical Societies. For some years he did practically all the surgical work in his locality. The doctor has always been identified with the growth and develop- ment of the various enterprises of the vil- lage, taking a lively interest in educational matters. He has served as village President for five years. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1897, as a Democrat, and served upon various important committees.
Fraternally, Dr. Coad is a Mason, A. O. U. W. and G. A. R. The confidence and esteem of his fellow-men in him is verified in the fact of his election as a member of the School Board for twenty-seven consecu- tive years. Dr. Coad has always been strong in the councils of his party and a trusted leader. His correctness of deportment and uprightness of life have won for him many admiring friends. Mrs. Coad is a lady of culture and a helper in every good work for
the betterment of society. She is a member of the Episcopal church.
A. S. BENNETT.
A. S. Bennett, secretary and manager of the Peerless Motor Works, manufacturers of gas and gasoline engines, is a native of Indiana, as he was born at Lake Station, that state, in 1865.
He is a son of William and Ann Bennett of New York. William Bennett having been engaged for many years in the insur- ance business at St. Johns, Clinton county, Mich., where he located in 1854, and died in 1893. The mother now resides at Whit- more Lake.
The early education of our subject was acquired in the common schools of St. Johns, and he remained in that city until sixteen years of age, where he found em- ployment with the Auto-Body Works, then conducted by W. B. Stone & Co. Here he remained for the following three years, and then found a position with the Capitol Wagon Company, remaining with this con- cern throughout the remainder of its exist- ence.
He, later, became identified with the Hil- dreth Motor Company, holding the position of secretary, and originating the gas engine, which this concern now manufactures. It is especially adapted for electric lighting purposes. As stated, Mr. Bennett is now the secretary of the Peerless Motor Works, incorporated as a stock company August 13. 1903. with the following officers : Lawrence Price, president : J. Gansley, vice president ; Lewis Sattler, treasurer, and our subject. secretary and manager. A new plant has been erected. and the company has become an important manufacturing factor of Lans- ing, employing a good force of men, hav- ing a capacity of five engines per day.
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Mr. Bennett was married March 15, 1887, to Miss Jessie TenEyck of Lansing, a daughter of C. P. and H. E. TenEyck.
A. S. Bennett affiliates with the Democ- racy, and is an active member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. He is likewise a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Elks. Viewed from a business standpoint, Mr. Bennett is considered one of Lansing's en- terprising and successful citizens, standing deservedly high in the estimation of his fel- lowmen.
GARRETT DUBOIS (DECEASED).
Among the earliest settlers in the Town- ship of Alaiedon was Jacob DuBois. The impress of the man and his family was such as to ever after characterize the community as one of the morality and to this day the traveler, inquiring for the DuBois settle- ment, finds no trouble in receiving direc- tions.
Garrett DuBois was the son of Jacob and Sarah (Buck) DuBois. He was born in Marble, Ulster county, New York, Febru- ary 8, 1806. In 1810 they moved from Ul- ster to Delaware county. The family con- sisted of twelve children, nine of whom lived to years of maturity. It was in the year 1837 that Jacob with two of his sons came West and settled upon wild lands in Alaiedon township.
Our subject received his early education in the common schools in Delaware county, N. Y., and when old enough assisted his father in farming and also helped about the mill, which his father operated, manufactur- ing lumber. He used also to assist in raft- ing logs on the river. In 1832 he was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Lucy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Israel Chapman of Delaware county, N. Y. Mrs. DuBois was born Jan- uary 18, 1807, and the year after their mar-
riage they moved to Wayne county, Pa., and he entered the employment of his father- in-law in his extensive lumber business.
Hearing from his father and brothers a glowing account of the future possibilities of this new country, he decided to join them. He purchased a team of horses and an out- fit, packed in their belongings and made the journey of seven hundred miles in nineteen days. Upon his arrival he located six lots of land, situated on section thirty-five in the neighborhood where his father had previ- ously located. Upon this he made consider- able improvement and resided there until 1855, when he disposed of his holdings and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Bunker Hill township. without im- provements which he had bought in 1852. He put up a frame shanty and began clear- ing the land; in fact, he had done some clearing and sold off one crop of forty acres of wheat before moving onto the land. At the time of his death he owned one of the at- tractive farm homes of the township. The farm is situated upon what is commonly known as Felts Plains, and the original shanty is still standing. He also built a frame barn in Alaiedon in 1842 and a frame house in 1845, which were probably the first frame buildings in that town. They are still standing and in service.
To Mr. and Mrs. DuBois were born seven children: James, November, 1832, is mar- ried, a farmer and resides in Eaton county ; Amasa, April, 1835. bereft of his wife, is now a resident of Traverse City, Michigan; Jacob C., December, 1837, married, and re- sides in Kansas ; Roswell C., died in infancy ; Adelia, born in 1842, lived on the home place, also her sister Emily, born in 1844; Ann, born in 1846, died in 1864. Mr. Du- Bois passed away in September of the year 1884, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight and one-half years, loved and respected by
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GARRETT DUBOIS (Deceased)
MRS. GARRETT DUBOIS (Deceased)
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all who knew him. His wife died in August, 1894, at the age of eighty-seven. They were buried in the cemetery near the Felts school- house on Felts Plains.
Upon the death of the parents, the old homestead passed into the hands of two maiden sisters, Adelia and Emily, who have since carried on the farming. The family have always been recognized leaders in the social and church work, giving to the cause of religion their first thought and effort. The M. E. church, to which they belong has always received from them cheerful and loyal support.
Few families have exerted a more potent influence for good. Long years after their names have ceased to be spoken will the in- fluence of their lives be felt in the commun- ity in which they resided.
ELBRIDGE A. DRYER, LANSING TOWNSHIP.
Elbridge A. Dryer was born in the Town- ship of White Oak, Ingham county, May 18, 1841. He is the son of Hon. William A. and Betsey H. (Newell) Dryer. Hon. William A. Dryer was one of the earliest settlers of Ingham county, and his name is intimately associated with the growth and development of the county for more than half a century after he came here. A very complete sketch of William A. Dryer's early pioneer life, written by himself, is found elsewhere in this volume, and after his re- moval to Lansing from the scenes of his pioneer struggles, his connection with pub- lic affairs is not given, a few incidents of which follow : He was engaged for a time in a general store for himself. In 1852 he exchanged his store and village property for one hundred and eighty-five acres of land on section 7 in Lansing township. The land was but partly cleared with no buildings.
He erected a comfortable farm house and barns, putting the premises generally in good condition. He was known as a progressive and successful farmer for many years, keep- ing choice herds of cattle and other im- proved stock. Mr. Dryer, the father of our subject, was a man of fine social qualities, bearing a character above reproach, always enjoying the confidence and respect of the public. This was manifested by the many positions of trust and responsibility to which he was elected by his fellow citizens. A few years prior to his death he disposed of the homestead and moved to the City of Lan- sing, where he spent the declining years of his life in quiet, with the realization of a life's duty well done. He was a life-long Republican, and a pillar in the M. E. church, of which he was a member for many years. Our subject takes pride in the fact that his father was present at the birth of the Repub- lican party "Under the Oaks" at Jackson. He was for twelve years a member of the Board of Supervisors, most of the time as Chairman. The longevity of the family was quite remarkable. William A. Dryer died at the age of eighty-three years and the three maiden sisters, who made their home throughout life with him, lived to a ripe old age, Margaret died at the age of eighty- eight, Mary was seventy-seven and Delia was ninety-two.
Elbridge A. Dryer was the third in a fam- ily of seven children. He remained at home with his father until the time of his mar- riage, which occurred November 25. 1863, to Eleanor Moon. Her parents were early settlers in Eaton county, coming there in 1853. Her father died in 1864 and her mother in 1901. After his marriage he worked on the home farm for seven years. He then moved to Beechbrook farm, owned by J. E. Warner. his brother-in-law, which he worked for five years. He then bought
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forty acres of land on section 7, Lansing township, this being but slightly improved at the time. He has since erected com- modious buildings and made all modern im- provements and here he resides.
Mr. Dryer styles himself a liberal Repub- lican. He has never been ambitious for place or public office, yet his fellow towns- men have honored him by his election to the office of Commissioner of Highways.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dryer have been born two children : Howe, born March 7, 1866, is married and lives in Delta township, Eaton county ; Elbridge Adelbert, Jr., born May 28, 1868, is married and resides at Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Dryer are consistent mem- bers of the M. E. church, to which they cheerfully contribute their means to its sup- port. Mr. Dryer is among the most respect- ed citizens of his township, enjoying to a good degree the confidence of his fellowmen.
LEWIS FOLER.
A progressive farmer in Wheatfield town- ship is the man whose name introduces this sketch. He was born May 20, 1844, in Prus- sia, the son of Christian and Marie Foler. The father and mother were natives of Ger- many. Our subject is one of ten children born to his parents and was the next to the youngest. He acquired his education in the common schools of Germany, and when sev- enteen years of age came to Michigan and worked by the month on a farm for five years. From his savings he bought seventy- four acres of land, all woods, which he cleared and improved, and purchased more land, from time to time, until today owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres.
Mr. Foler casts his vote with the Repub- lican party and in his religious views is found active in the Lutheran church.
Our subject was married Jan. 15, 1869, to Kate Liesenfeld, of Lansing, and to this . union were born five children, three of whom are living: Lillie, born August 13. 1870, married Charles Darrow, and lives in Alaie- don; Frank, born Sept. 24, 1875, married Mercie Robinson, and lives in Wheatfield. and Stella, born Dec. 13. 1879, married Charles Price, of Vevay township. The mother of this family died in 1888, and our subject was again married in 1891 to Louise Sipfley, daughter of Fred Sipfley, who early settled in Washtenaw county.
Mrs. Foler's father died in 1888, and her mother is still living in Mason, Michigan.
To the second marriage was born one child, Bertha, June 13. 1896.
Mr. Foler is a successful farmer to whom credit is due for having made his way through life unaided.
A. L. HARLOW, LANSING.
A. L. Harlow, the founder of the National Supply Company and the originator of a cooperative mail order business. which em- braces some most unique features (to be hereafter described), is a native of Dewitt, Clinton county, Michigan, and was born in 1868. His parents were Henry and Eliza- beth Harlow, his father, a farmer, coming to Michigan at an early day and settling in that county, where he died in 1888. There were four children in the family, and the future prophet of cooperation and cheap prices for the necessities and comforts of life early commenced to glean his facts, which were to be the basis of a great practical system, from the rugged storehouse of experience.
The boy left Clinton Co. when only nine years of age and made his home in Shafts- burg, where he was reared and educated. When a youth he began running an emery
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wheel for E. Bement and then, for a year and a half, clerked in a general store at North Lansing. In his young manhood his prominent connection with Grange stores opened his eyes to the necessity of dealing more directly with the people than was pos- sible under the prevailing business methods. After managing a Grange store for about three years, at Lansing, he formed a partner- ship in the business under the firm name of Harlow & Peabody. Their transactions, which covered a period of two years, were extensive and profitable.
Mr. Harlow then commenced to branch out as an independent merchant of large cali- ber, imbued with original and progressive ideas and possessed of the practical genius to carry them into execution. He first estab- lished a carriage, harness and implement business, which he pushed for four years with such success that he finally owned and operated establishments in Lansing, North Lansing and Dewitt. But the panic of 1893 caught him with business too greatly ex- panded and he lost not only his capital, but became involved $8,000 in debt. His next experience seemed a necessary step to en- able him to evolve from hard facts the sys- tem of which he is the acknowledged father. During the following three years he follow- ed the fortunes of a commercial traveler, be- ing a salesman for E. Bement's Sons.
In association with Mr. Merfield our sub- ject next organized the Michigan Distribut- ing Company, the forerunner of the business of which he is now the inspiring and devel- oping force. After about a year he sold his interest to his partner, and, having paid all the old claims against him resulting from his failure of 1893, he placed before the public his co-operative plans and organized the National Supply Company. When he start- ed his present enterprise his capital was only $1,500. With this sum he erected a large
brick store, being obliged to borrow money to pay his working force. His plans with direct buyers were, however, presented so earnestly and forcibly, by means of pamph- lets, catalogues and other printed matter, that the people patronized the store with con- stantly increasing liberality, and before long the stanch business men themselves became his associates and enthusiastic champions. The business expanded so rapidly as to make incorporation necessary, this move being ef- fected June 10, 1903. The accommodations for its transaction have been expanded by making a large addition to the original build- ing and by erecting another structure equal in size to this entire establishment. These two enormous stores are now filled with goods of every description to the point of overflowing, and orders by mail from buy- ers all over the country are increasing at al- most a bewildering rate.
The stockholders of the National Supply Co. met at their office in this city on Monday Jan. 15, and elected their officers for the coming year and transacted other business. After the reading of the financial statement it was decided to declare a dividend of 6 per cent, leaving a good surplus in the reserve fund, on which to conduct the business the following year.
This company has been organized but a little over a year and, it is stated, has made a remarkable showing for so short a time, sur- passing all other mail order houses in the size of its first catalogue and the variety of goods handled at the commencement. Al- ready its quarters are too small, and plans are being made for extensive additions to its building in the city. For this purpose the stockholders voted to increase the capital stock by issuing $25,000 of 7 per cent pre- ferred stock, the record of the past year's business warranting such action.
The directors-A. A. Wilbur of Lansing,
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PAST AND PRESENT
C. T. Maines of Flint, A. L. Harlow of Lansing, A. C. Davis of Lansing, C. A. Lawrence of Owosso, Dr. C. L. Barber of Lansing, George Hagamier of Lansing, and J. F. Lewis of Lansing-are all shrewd and careful business men, and it is believed, with their management, the company has a very bright future before it.
At a meeting of the directors A. L. Har- low was elected president, Dr. C. L. Barber vice president, J. F. Lewis treasurer, A. C. Davis secretary and C. E. Rogers assistant secretary.
A new and larger catalogue, with added departments, is now being prepared, as the demand for the first issue of 10,000 was so great that the supply is entirely exhausted.
This concern was incorporated with a cap- ital of $75,000. The profit-sharing life membership bonds of the Co-operative Soci- ety are divided into shares of ten dollars each. They are non-assessable and entitle their holder to a ten per cent discount on all goods purchased at the catalogue price, which is itself usually twenty-five per cent below the average figure in vogue among merchants who pay from the profits of their business. Those salaries of salesmen both in their establishments and on the road, which are saved by the co-operative mail order system. Members who procure from their relatives, friends and non-members orders for goods selected from the company's catalogue are allowed a commission of five per cent. If a person has not the ready cash to become a life member he may do so by clubbing together with his neighbors and sending in to the company a catalogue order amounting to $100. Every four months each member receives a statement showing the commission discount, etc., which is due him, with a check for the amount. If goods purchased are not satisfactory they are re- turned and money refunded, with all trans-
portation charges. The business transacted is strictly on a cash basis. There are many interesting details which might be given, ex- planatory of this successful co-operative en- terprise so largely a product of Mr. Harlow's experience, thought and foresight. but for the full literature on the subject direct con- nection should be established with the Na- tional Supply Company.
Again reverting to personal matters it may be added that Mr. Harlow is known politic- ally as a Republican. His wife was form- erly Miss Florence Tubbs, a native of Lan- sing. Their one child, Myrtle, is nine years old.
J. N. ELLIOTT (DECEASED) .
A greater portion of the life of the gentle- man whose biography we give below has been devoted to agricultural calling. In 1883, however, he retired from the active pursuits of this class of labor and came to the Village of Leslie and erected a fine resi- dence, where he lived until his death, July 6, 1898.
J. N. Elliott was born near Rives Town- ship, May 23, 1844, and was the son of Oliver and Rebecca Elliott. The greater portion of his boyhood days was spent in this locality and on the home farm. Starting out for himself, the first year he bought a farm of eighty acres in Onondaga township, Ingham county, and the next year added forty more, where he lived one year. After a residence on the farm of ten and one half years, he moved into Leslie and busied him- self with looking after the farming proper- ties of himself and wife.
Our subject was married in February of the year 1871 to Miss Marcelia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Parker of Aurelius Township, who was a farmer, born in New York. He emigrated to Michigan in 1847
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and settled in Aurelius township, when Mrs. Elliott was but six months old and located on a farm with but few improvements, their home being the log cabin of the day. There were three children in this family: Francis M., married Julius Vaughan, Guy C., lives near the old homestead, and our subject's wife.
In political preference, Mr. Elliott was a Democrat and used his influence and vote in the service of that party. He was for a time a member of the village council in Leslie.
Starting out in life with no pecuniary aid, Mr. Elliott, by his energy, ability and strict attention to business, amassed a comfortable competence and was the owner of a fine farming property of one hundred and forty acres, which Mrs. Elliott still looks after, along with the two farms which are num- bered among her possessions.
Mrs. Elliott is an active member of the Congregational church, and socially, is con- nected with the Eastern Star. Her father was a Mason and a Republican and was Justice of the Peace for a good many years. He accumulated a good deal of property and at the time of his death owned more than six hundred acres of land, which he dis- tributed among his children.
Since our subject's death, Mrs. Elliott has resided in the village where she enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends. Mr. Elliott was a good man, honest and well thought of. He was actively interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the con- munity.
GEORGE TRAVER.
The pioneers of Ingham county are a class of men, who for sturdy integrity and undaunted enterprise, will compare favor- ably with any class of men whom we may name. They did not come to the west with
the expectations of finding a royal road to fortune, but they had enough good sense to know that that road does not exist for the honorable and upright man. They did hope, however, and their hopes were realized, to make a home in the wilderness, which in time should "Blossom as the rose," and where they might place the feet of their chil- dren on the right road to independence and a comfortable competency.
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