USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 35
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We should fail to show to all who have treated us so kindly and have made our trip so instructive, as well as agreeable, the sin- cerity of our gratitude if we permitted their keen rivalry to go unrecognized. Our words may be inadequate, but the sincerity that underlies them is not the less genuine.
Therefore, be it resolved : That the Buf- falo Merchants' Exchange cause copies of this preamble and resolution to be suitably engrossed and sent to the various organiza- tions herein mentioned ; that a vote of thanks be tendered by the passengers of the North- west to all those who have thus ministered to their comfort and happiness.
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Signed, R. R. Hefford, Mathias Rohr, J. N. Adam, Moses Sheir, John Feist, M. N. Drake."
George A. Minar was united in marriage June 24, 1881, to Florence, daughter of Milton and Elizabeth Perry Ryan. Mrs. Minar was born in Onondaga township, Ing- ham county, August 10, 1863. She has one sister, Adella, born October 21, 1860, wife cf Haven S. Fuller, and a brother, Martin, born May 17, 1867. Milton Ryan was for many years a prominent citizen of Ingham county. He held respectively the offices of Register of Deeds, Justice of the Peace and County Superintendent of the Poor. He was also a soldier in the Civil War. He was born in New York, January 18, 1837. He died at Mason, October 8, 1889. Mrs. Ryan was born in Michigan, August 21, 1844. She is still living. Two children have been born to Capt. and Mrs. Minar: John Mil- ton, November 20, 1882. He is attending the Kalamazoo College and is in his junior year. He is taking the philosophical course ; Ruth Anstress, born June 21, 1903. Little Ruth is the light and joy of the Minar household.
Capt. Minar is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Chapter Degree, and enthusiastic in the work of the order. He also belongs to the Royal Arcanum. Capt. and Mrs. Minar are both active church workers, iden- tified with the Baptist society. Mrs. Minar is a lady of rare culture and exceptionally pleasing presence. She is an accomplished elocutionist, having graduated from Mrs. Chaffee Noble's training school of elocution and English literature at Detroit. Her pub- lic readings have been a source of much pleasure to those who have been favored with an opportunity of listening to her.
Republican party. He is proud of the long lists of eminent statesmen his party has pro- duced during the past four decades and of her record of progressive legislation in be- half of political and civil liberty.
Their friends wish for them many years of pleasure and happiness, the fruits of right living.
FRANK C. MINAR.
One who has observed the characteristics of Frank C. Minar of Vevay township re- marks of him, "He farms it for a business and his business is farming." To add that he has and is still making a success in his chosen occupation, would almost seem super- fluous. Application coupled with energy and good judgment are bound to win out. Mr. Minar first opened his eyes to the won- ders of this old world, new to him, at Ellis- burg, Jefferson county, N. Y., October 18, 1855. He was the youngest of six children born to Lyman and Austress (Jenkins) Minar. When nine years of age his parents moved to Toledo, Ohio. This was in the year 1865. After four years' residence at Toledo the family came to Michigan, and located in Mason, where Frank attended school,- receiving the rudiments of a good common school education.
In the year 1876 Lyman Minar moved his family upon the farm which has been their home for the past quarter of a century. The farm consists of one hundred and two acres of choice land, under a high state of cultiva- tion, lying one-half miles south of the cor- porate limits of the City of Mason, and for several years past our subject has managed the farm.
June 24, 1881, Frank C. Minar was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Lillian P., daugh-
Politically, Captain Minar's views are in accordance with the principles of the ter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Clark. Mrs. Lil-
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lian Minar was a lady of culture, a graduate of the Mason High School, quick of per- ception, bright and witty, and a general fav- orite among her acquaintances. One daugh- ter was the fruit of this union, Julia Belle, born March 31, 1882, now the wife of Harold W. Freshour of Aurelius township. After a little more than six years of wedded life, Mrs. Minar died, December 12, 1887, at the age of thirty years.
November 18, 1903, Mr. Minar married Jessie DuBois Barr, an estimable lady of re- finement, and a member of the M. E. church of Mason. One daughter, Dorothy Lydia, was the fruit of this second union, born De- cember 14, 1904. Mr. Minar lines up with the Republican party.
The farm has been greatly improved by tile drainage, nice fencing, the erection of . new barns and outdoor buildings, giving the promise an up-to-date appearance. Thrift and enterprise are the impressions one re- ceives in passing Maple Grove Farm, the fine country home of the Minars.
Mrs. Minar's parents, Amassa DuBois and Lydia C. Lowell, were for many years among the most highly respected citizens of Bunker Hill township. Her grandfather, Garret DuBois, was among the earliest set- tlers of the county. The family were noted for their probity of life and character.
Mr. and Mrs. Minar are active members of the Grange, and in full sympathy with the principles of the order.
WILLIAM TOBIAS.
William Tobias was born October 16, 1829, and was the son of Henry and Hen- rietta (Lake) Tobias, both natives of the Empire State. The father followed the oc- cupation of farming, and came to the wilds of Michigan when our subject was a lad of ten years. They first located in Howell,
where they lived for ten or twelve years, when they came to Wheatfield and bought twenty acres of wild land upon which were no buildings. The timber was cut away and a log house built, and here they made their home for some time.
Henry Tobias was a Republican, in which party he took an active interest. The mother died at the age of seventy years and the father died at the home of our subject aged eighty-five years.
William Tobias is one of eight children, and received his education in the common schools of Howell and Wheatfield. When nineteen years of age he started out for him- self, and worked on a farm for eight or ten years. He finally bought eighty acres of wild land in Wheatfield, which he brought to the present state of improvement. From time to time he has added to his pos- sessions, and now owns one hundred and forty-two acres of finely cultivated land.
Our subject was married December 31, to a daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Drake) Bird, who settled in Washtenaw county in the year 1833. They belong to that class of hardy pioneers who gave the best years of their lives to the upbuilding of the country. Their first purchase of land was one hundred and sixty acres, mostly oak timber and no improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Bird were members of the Presbyte- rian church, and in political convictions Mr. Bird lined up with the Democracy. The father of Mrs. Tobias died at the age of seventy-one years, and the mother lived to be eighty-five years old.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tobias: the first child born in 1859, died in infancy; Sarah, born in 1860, married Curtis Beeman of Williamston, and they have one child; Fred, born in 1863, married Nora Horton, and they have one child and live in Williamston; Frank, born in 1866,
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J. F. LEMON, M. D.
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is married and has two children. He lives three miles south of the Township of Le- roy. Bird, born in 1869, married Ethel Clark and lives at home.
Mr. Tobias is a Republican in his political views, and is public-spirited and progressive, and is ever ready to give a helping hand and encouraging word to any good cause that promises to be for the benefit of the peo- ple.
DR. J. F. LEMON.
The subject of this sketch, Dr. J. F. Lemon, was born in Novi, Oakland county, Michigan, Jan. 28, 1854. His father, Rev. Joseph Lemon, was for many years a well- known and highly respected minister of the gospel. Elder Lemon was born in England, in 1827, and came with his parents to. Can- ada when four years of age. Dr. Lemon's mother, whose maiden name was Zilpha Skinner, was born, 1830, in the State of New York. His parents were married in 1848 and in the year of 1854 came to Mich- igan and settled at Novi in Oakland county. During the years of his residence in the State, he followed his calling, that of Baptist preacher, serving the people of his denom- ination as pastor and teacher in Dansville, Perry, Waterloo and Pinckney. He died at Ann Arbor, Nov. 20, 1889.
Dr. Lemon grew to manhood under the shadow of the great Michigan University. He received his early education in the pub- lic schools of Ann Arbor, and later entered the medical department of the University, from which he graduated with honor in the year 1882. He soon after located in the vil- lage of Dansville, and hung out his shingle. He soon established himself in business, his practice increased, and he has had a large ride in the surrounding country. More than half a score of physicians have opened up
practice in the village since Dr. Lemon loca- ted here, and have passed on.
On May 16, 1885, Dr. Lemon was united in marriage with Miss Kittie Hatch of Dans- ville. The fact that Mrs. Lemon's relatives resided in the vicinity of Dansville may have had an influence on their deciding to make that village their future home. Since Oct., 1891, the doctor has had an increasing prac- tice. He has purchased a substantial resi- dence, and other buildings of value.
Being socially inclined, the doctor has as- sociated himself with the I. O. O. F. and the Maccabees, to both of which organizations he is a loyal member. He is also a member of the Masonic order.
Dr. Lemon is a member of the Ingham County and also of the State Medical So- ciety. He has been President of the village for seven years and Secretary of the Board of Education for twelve years, a position he still holds.
Politically the doctor lines up with the G. O. P.
Dr. Lemon is the oldest practicing physi- cian in his locality, and he is a progressive scholar, he keeps pace with the advance- ments made in the profession.
Dr. and Mrs. Lemon are both church workers, being identified with the Baptist denomination. They are unitedly interested in every enterprise looking to the better- ment of society.
HOMER L. WHITNEY.
Among the intelligent and progressive young farmers of Vevay township is Homer L. Whitney of Eden. Mr. Whitney bought the farm upon which he now resides, con- sisting of one hundred and twenty acres in the year 1897. It is most conveniently loca- ted, being only a half mile from Eden sta- tion, on the J. L. & S. division of the M. C.
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R. R., standing on the border of table lands. The view from the premises is one of the pleasantest for miles around. In addition to his farming enterprises Mr. Whitney owns the grain elevator at Eden, and ships large quantities of grain and produce. The market at this point has had the reputation for years of being one of the best along the line.
Mr. Whitney is a Wolverine by birth, having been born in Leslie township of this county, April 15, 1866. His parents, Loren- zo and Mary Craddock Whitney, were both of English extraction. His father was born in 1828 in the state of Connecticut and came into the County of Jackson, Michigan, in 1845. He located in Leslie township about 1853. He died at Rives in 1900 and was buried in the cemetery at East Rives. His mother, born in England, died in 1890 and rests beside her husband.
Mr. Whitney was the second of a family of four children. The names and date of birth of his brother and sisters were as fol- lows: Frank, August 11, 1859; Jennie, Sep- tember 22, 1869, and May, March 30, 1874. Mr. Whitney's school advantages were bet- ter than the average farm boy and he made the most of his opportunities. His early education was secured in the district school of Jackson county and later he attended the Leslie High School for three years. He took up the occupation of pedagogy in the dis- trict school, which he followed for five years, meeting with very satisfactory results. He afterward spent some time at the State Normal School at Ypsilanti.
Homer L. Whitney was united in mar- riage September 16, 1891, to Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Snyder of Henrietta, Jackson county. Mr. Snyder was a suc- cessful farmer and a good citizen and died in 1901. The mother is living in Jackson.
To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney three children
have been born and their bright faces and cheery voices are the joy of the home: Len- nah C., May 13, 1895; Miles R., August 30, 1897, and Alice I., November 22, 1902.
Mr. Whitney began his farming opera- tions upon a rented farm in Jackson county and followed it up for six years until his accumulations warranted his purchasing his present home. In politics he is a Republican and has held the office of School Inspector and Township Treasurer. Among the fra- ternal organizations which he affiliates are the F. & A. M., Mason Lodge No. 70, Eastern Star, Modern Woodmen and Grange.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitney are members of the M. E. church, to which they cheerfully contribute of their substance. Mr. Whitney is a gentleman of pleasing personal presence and his intelligence and character make him a worthy citizen.
EX-MAYOR A. A. WILBUR.
A. A. Wilbur, one of the leading furniture dealers of Lansing, as well as an alderman and the coroner of Ingham county, is a na- tive of the Empire State, having been born in Genesee county in 1848. He is the son of Noah and Rhoda Wilbur, his father being also a native of New York. The latter mar- ried twice, our subject being the only child by the second marriage.
Mr. Wilbur lived in New York until he was seven years of age, and when he came to Lansing with his mother he was in his fifteenth year. He first learned the cabinet- maker's trade, and worked at it for eight years, after which for four years, he was as- sociated with J. W. Barker in the manufac- turing business. He then fell back to his trade as joiner and cabinet-maker, continu- ing in this until he established an independ- ent business.
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In 1878 Mr. Wilbur founded the furni- ture and undertaking house in which Wil- liam H. Joy became his partner in 1903. The establishment which is located in North Lan- sing, consists of eight floors of a large build- ing, filled with stock which is tasteful and strictly up to date, and constitutes one of the largest and most complete stores of the kind in the State.
Our subject is a staunch and popular Re- publican, having served in the common coun- cil for six years and one year as mayor of Lansing. At present he is Alderman for the fourth ward and County Coroner. As to his connection with the secret orders, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Royal Arcanum.
Thirty years ago Mr. Wilbur was married to Miss Elizabeth Yeiter, a native of Ohio. One child was born to them, Etta, a gradu- ate of the University of Michigan, from which she has received the degree of A. B. and A. M. She is now teacher of German and English in the Lansing high school.
OSCAR S. GREGORY (DECEASED).
Among the early pioneers of the township of Stockbridge who have left their impress for good citizenship and for the develop- ment of moral and religious sentiment as a worthy example to those who come after them, recognition is given to Oscar S. Greg- ory and family.
Mr. Orrin Gregory emigrated from the Empire State in the year 1830 and located in the then Village of Jackson, Jackson county. Michigan. Here he engaged in the business of milling, making the town his home for the term of five years, when he decided to engage in farming. He purchased a tract of two hundred forty acres of wild land in the Township of Stockbridge. While the father
was a resident of Jackson village, the sub- ject of this sketch, Oscar S. Gregory, was born October 28, 1832, and it is recorded of him that he was the first white male child born in the settlement.
Orrin Gregory entered upon his posses- sions in the fall of 1835. It was in a state of nature. A log house was built and with characteristic energy the improvement of the land was begun, each year adding to the till- able land until one hundred acres was brought under a state of production. The elder Gregory being of a religious tempera- ment and impressed with the opportunities for doing good among his neighbors and adjacent settlements, entered the ministry in the Protestant denomination in 1843 and continued in the work during the remainder of his life. He died in 1847 respected and revered by all who knew him.
The year Mr. Gregory came to Michigan, before leaving his native state, he was united in marriage to Caroline Durand, a most estimable woman and one who proved to be a helpmate indeed during the years of their married life. She was the mother of five children and died in the assurance of a living faith in 1883. Our subject was the eldest of the family, the others were Olive, born December 28, 1834: Amanda, born January 31, 1837; Almon, born May 4. 1840; Fran- cis M., September 17, 1842.
Amanda, at the date of this writing. is the sole survivor of the family.
Oscar S. Gregory was a man of more than ordinary ability. A good common school education was supplemented by the privileges afforded by the Jackson high school. He was for many years a successful teacher and was nearly all his life associated with educa- tional work either as a teacher. school in- spector or otherwise. After the death of his father. the care of the family in a large meas- ure devolved upon Oscar, who remained at
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home until twenty-seven years of age and in the meantime, by dint of economy and good management had laid by means sufficient to purchase eighty acres of land, which he did. This was in the year 1853. The land was but partially improved, the balance was brought under cultivation and as he was prospered bought on from time to time until at his death he had two hundred thirty acres with good buildings, an attractive rural home.
October 27, 1859. Oscar S. Gregory was united in marriage to Martha E., daughter of Royal and Sallie Richison Stevens. Mrs. Gregory was born in the Green Mountain State at Underhill, March 4, 1833. Her parents were natives of Vermont, where her father was born in 1795, and her mother at Cornwell August 9, 1799. They were mar- ried on Thanksgiving Day at Underhill, in 1818. Royal Stevens came to Michigan. June, 1836, located in Stockbridge township upon one hundred and sixty acres of unim- proved land which he took up from the gov- ernment. At an early date there were no public highways to the premises. Blazed trees, section and quarter section lines were followed in the marking of locations. Reaching his wilderness possessions, Mr. Stevens set about erecting a home for his family. A shanty was first built in which his family lived for nine months without windows or floors, but with pioneer pluck and persistence, Mr. Stevens kept at it. A large comfortable log house took the place of the shanty and other improvements were going on. The land was being made to yield for the necessities of the family and as the years passed by a surplus was produced and in a few years Mr. Stevens was known as one of the prosperous farmers in his com- munity. In the year 1847 he erected a sub- stantial brick residence and also constructed a horse barn from the same material, making
the brick himself from clay found on his premises.
He was recognized as a man of sterling worth, a Christian gentleman. He died April, 1867. The mother lived to a ripe old age and passed away November, 1880, leaving to her children and grandchildren the rich in- heritance of a life of love, devotion and good deeds. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, as follows :
Melissa, born February, 1820, died in 1887; Orange, born April, 1822, died in the 90's; Edgar, No. I, born in 1824, died the same year; William M., born 1825, died in 1891; Justin, born in 1827, died in 1857; Edgar, No. 2, born in 1830, died in 1866; George E., born in 1835, died in 1860, and Theron A., born in 1841, now a resident of the Village of Stockbridge, engaged in the hardware trade.
Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were among the charter members of the North Stockbridge Methodist Episcopal church and always con- . tributed liberally of their means for its sup- port and were loyal to its teachings to the close of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gregory have had born to them five children, three of whom are living: Orrin, born in 1860, died in 1868; Metta, born in 1863, now the wife of Orville Jones. They reside on a farm in Stockbridge township; Marcus, born in 1868, was united in marriage to Mary Koons ; they have one child, Helen ; Marcus Gregory is engaged in business in a general store in the Village of Stockbridge. They make their home with his mother who owns a residence in the village. Marcus owns the old homestead in the township where the father lived and reared his family; Cora, born 1872, now the wife of Herman Sum- mers, their home is in Detroit; they have one child, Ruth ; Clarence, born in 1874, died the year following.
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Oscar S. Gregory was an active public spirited man and always took a lively interest in matters pertaining to the betterment of society. In politics he was an enthusiastic Republican and always loyal to the principles of his party and strong in its local councils. He honored his ticket by having been often given a place for various offices. He served three terms as Township Treasurer.
He was a member of the fraternal order of Maccabees, also the Masons. He died No- vember 22, 1897, a man of positive charac- ter, strong in his convictions and always on the right side of every moral question.
Mrs. Gregory takes special pride in the fact that her people are of Scotch descent, originally coming from Scotland, and she also takes pleasure in giving place in this biography in recording the fact that her father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and served during the entire war and in recog- nition of his services, received from the gen- eral government a land grant for forty acres.
NELSON A. HAZELTON.
There have been no remarkable or striking events in the life of Nelson A. Hazelton, who was born June 22, 1862, in the Town- ship of Onondaga, where he grew to man- hood. This brief biography is given for the purpose of preserving the genealogy of the family.
Nelson A. Hazelton was the son of James and Sarah ( Russell) Hazelton. The father was born in Canada, and died in the Town- ship of Vevay, aged sixty-six years. The mother is still living, making her home with her son William, in Vevay township. The father was one of a family of eleven children. four of whom are still living. He always lived with his parents, caring for them and assisting in the management of affairs until the younger children were able to assume the
responsibilities. When he was eight years of age his parents moved from Canada and settled in Jackson county. Here he received his early education. When about twenty-five years of age he was united in marriage to Sarah Russell, after which he purchased a farm in the Township of Vevay. The Rus- sells were early settlers of Ingham county.
Our subject was one of seven children born to his parents : Effie is the wife of James Hopcraft, a farmer, residing in Jackson county ; Mary, the wife of Norman Wilcox. a resident of Jackson county ; our subject and his sister Nellie were twins, she being the wife of George Salmon of Dakota : Wil- liam, a farmer in the Township of Vevay : Warren is a resident of Jackson county, and Frank resides in the Township of Aurelius.
Nelson A. Hazelton was united in mar- riage August 28, 1886, to Miss Belle, daugh- ter of James and Ellen (Burnett) Bell. Mrs. Hazelton was born June 6, 1868. They have two sons : Walter, born November 16, 1887. in Onondaga, and Floyd, born March 17, 1890. The boys are both at home with their parents.
Mr. Hazelton is a Republican in politics and is a member of the fraternal organiza- tions of the M. W. A. and K. O. T. M. His one hundred acre farm is located on section twenty-four of Onondaga township, and is one of the well improved and pleasant homes of that section.
WILBUR McCROSSEN.
Wilbur McCrossen is a well-known and popular druggist of Mason, and was born in New York, January 13, 1853. He was the son of Nixon and Jane ( Colgrove) McCros- sen. His father was a farmer, and resided in Ontario county, N. Y. Wilbur received his early education in the district schools of his native township. and added to this he has
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had years of wide experience along various lines. The early years of his life were those common to boys of his time on the farm. He assisted with the farm work until the age of thirteen, when he began as a newsboy of the M. C. R. R. and also followed the same occupation on the L. S. R. R. for three years. Arriving at the age of sixteen years he entered the employment of the railroad as brakeman and followed this hazardous work for a term of three years, after which he returned to his native town and entered the employ of a druggist of a neighboring town, where he remained for several years. Later he purchased employer's business and remained in this business for two years, closing out with profit to himself, when he located in West Branch county, Ogemaw county, Michigan, and remained there one year as clerk, and later engaged in the drug business, which he conducted successfully for a term of six years.
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