USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 37
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the programs of the annual gatherings of the association.
The Free Press Farm and Live Stock Journal of Detroit, in which appeared sev- eral views of "Sunnyside" and a portrait of Col. Ives, among other complimentary things said :
"A Michigan Farmer and His Record.
"The home of Col. L. H. Ives of Mason, Ingham county, the Colonel himself, and scenes at 'Sunnyside' are pictured out on this page. The Colonel needs no introduc- tion to the farmers interested in the Farm- ers' Club organization, or to members of the G. A. R. in Michigan. He is a son of Hon. Samuel G. Ives, who came to Michi- gan while it was yet a territory, settling in Livingston county. He has had a very ac- tive life, starting as a boy in farm work. getting his education in winter, teaching district school, attending the Agricultural College for a time, and finally enlisting in 1862 in a Michigan infantry regiment for three years, starting out a lieutenant and re- tiring with the rank of colonel, at the close of the war.
"He went back to farming, and has made his home, 'Sunnyside,' one of the pleasant- est in the State. Mr. Ives was one of the leaders in bringing the farmers' clubs of the State into the State organization, and has always taken a deep interest in all move- ments affecting the material interests of the farming community. Active, patriotic. with a genuine admiration for his State and coun- ty. Col. Ives has been a power for good in his community.
"Here is a typical American farmer, whose wide experience in various walks of life fits him for any station, and enables him to meet efficiently all requirements."
During the time Col. Ives was president
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of the State Association of Farmers, the Michigan Farmer, commenting upon the ap- pearance of his portrait, with a brief biogra- phy published in the columns, added :
"A pleasant surprise has been prepared for our readers in this issue. The lateness of the season at which it has appeared will not detract in any way from the pleasure of the glimpse of the face and life of the worthy president of our State association, which we are enabled to give our readers this week. We asked his permission to pre- sent these soon after the associational meet- ing, but with his usual thoughtfulness he preferred that the limited space of the de- partment be devoted to matter wholly perti- nent to the club work and discussions in hand during the winter months, his interest in the cause as ever far outweighing any desire for merited praise or personal adulation ; and it is but fair to state that in the end the brief but comprehensive biography of Col. Ives presented in this issue had to be secured from a friend who 'knew him.' Every reader of the Farmer will be the better for the careful study and emulation of his char- acter and example."
Twice Gov. Pingree recognized his fitness and ability in commissioning him a delegate from Michigan to the Farmers' National Congress. In 1904 Gov. Bliss conferred upon him the same honor, and he is a dele- gate to the gathering of the congress at Richmond, Va., September 12 to 22 of the present year. A State paper commenting on the fact of his appointment, said: "His is a good selection for three reasons. Col. Ives is a practical and successful farmer, he is a representative soldier of the war of the rebellion rising from private to colonel, he is a practical and consistent Christian gen- tleman. Added to these qualifications, he is a man of education, progressive and en-
terprising, and has farm interests at heart."
As an illustration of public confidence, fit- ness and social standing of our subject, ref- erence is made to the organization of the Mason Free Street Fair Association by the . public-spirited citizens of Mason city. Col Ives was the only officer connected with the association outside the corporate limits of the city. He was elected secretary, and given charge of the advertising and business end of the concern generally. Five annual exhibitions were given, bringing together the largest number of people that ever as- sembled in the city. The enterprise proved a great success in awakening sentiment in favor of Mason as a public-spirited city, se- curing sympathy and influence at a time greatly need in connection with the erection of the new court house. The exhibitions were maintained at a high moral standard, meeting the approval of the very best citi- zens of the county.
Other established organizations with which he has been actively and officially as- sociated are the Ingham County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., which he served both as director and secretary at different times. He was for several years president of the Ing- ham County Pioneer Society, also served as secretary.
In connection with the Ingham County Soldiers and Sailors' Association, his name appears with marked frequency, stretching over the entire period of the years of its ex- istence. It has often been remarked of him, that he has held more positions with less material compensation than any man in Ing- ham county.
The following transcript from the official records of the "Army and Navy Historical Association," briefly review the admirable war record made by Col. Ives from 1862 to 1865 :
"Lucius H. Ives enlisted on the 6th day
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of August 1862, at Unadilla, Livingston county, State of Michigan, to serve three years, or during the war, and was mustered into the United States service at Jackson, Mich., on the 12th day of December, 1862, as a second lieutenant of Co. B, 26th Regi- iment. Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Col. Judson S. Farrar, commanding.
"With his command, he left Camp Jack- son, for Washington, D. C. The day fol- lowing, and soon after arriving at the capi- tol city, was ordered on provost duty at Alexandria, Va., where he remained until April 20 following, when, with the regi- ment, he proceeded by boat to Suffolk, Va., and for some time occupied the trenches and assisted in constructing the city's defenses. He, with the regiment, participated in sev- eral expeditions to the Black Water and took part in the skirmish near Windsor, June 20, 1863 ; he was at Yorktown and formed a part of the command which marched to Bottom's bridge on the Chickahominy, re- turning to Yorktown, July II, and was im- mediately placed under marching orders for Washington, where orders were waiting to hurry the command on to New York City, where it arrived July 16, on his twenty-third birthday. A great riot was in progress at the time, resisting the draft. He was for some time on duty in the city guarding gov- ernment store-houses. After quiet was re- stored, the regiment was ordered on duty at Staten Island.
"About this time a general court martial was convened at Fort Hamilton, on the south bank of East river, and Lieut. Ives was detailed as a member of the court, which met daily for six weeks and disposed of several important cases. At the final dis- bandment of the court, he rejoined his regi- ment, and a few days later, October 13, the regiment was under marching orders for the Army of the Potomac, where it was as-
signed to the first brigade, first division, second corps: Lieut. Ives was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, February 7. 1863; captain, .April 26, 1864; major, March 7, 1865.
"He participated, in command either of his company or his regiment, in every en- gagement in which his regiment took part as follows: Suffolk, Windsor, Mine Run, Wilderness, Corbin's Bridge, Ny River, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolo- potomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Deep Bottom, Strawberry Plains, White Oak Swamp. Ream's Station, Peeble's farm, Hatcher's Run, Boydton Road, White Oak Road, Sutherland's Sta- tion, Amelia Springs, Deatonsville, Sailor's Creek, High Bridge, Farmville, Appomattox Court House, Siege of Petersburg from June 17, 1864, to April 3. 1865.
"At Spottsylvania, April 12, 1864, his regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing, one-half of the number engaged. It was a most remarkable fact that amidst all the blood and carnage of those eventful years, so freighted with wounds, death and disas- ter, the subject of this sketch should have escaped unharmed.
"These three years of constant and arduous service evidence a most enviable record, and Col. Ives justly takes pride in the following incidents : That for six months he was upon the staff of Gen. Nelson A. Miles as engi- neer officer of the division; that he, at one time, without aid, surprised and captured a mounted Confederate major and escorted him to the rear ; that among his fine collec- tion of war trophies, he has a sabre and belt surrendered to him before Petersburg by a Confederate captain: that it was his com- mand that captured Gen. Lee's train of two hundred and sixty wagons (three days be- fore the final surrender), containing bag- gage, provisions, ammunition, and other val-
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uables, of which he still retains several treas- ured reminders ; that it was through the lines of the 26th Michigan, while under his com- mand deployed as advance skirmishers, that Generals Grant and Lee operated with their flags of truce for the final surrender of the Army of Virginia, April 9, 1865 ; that while as second lieutenant of Co. B (position on extreme left of regiment ), he was the last officer in line to leave camp for the seat of war, when the shattered columns of the vic- torious regiment returned to the State for muster out, he rode at its head as its com- ' mander, a position he had occupied for near- ly a year, most of the time with the rank of captain ; that his warmest, most sincere and cherished friends are among those with whom he was intimately associated during those dark days, 'that tried the men's souls ;' that it was his proud distinction to lead his depleted regiment in the 'Grand Final Review' of the armies of the United . States by President Johnson, General Grant, and hundreds of others in high civil and military circles, which took place in the city of Washington, D. C., May 24, 1865."
He received his "final discharge" at Jack- son, Mich., on the 4th day of June, 1865, by reason of close of war. In "Michigan in the War," Gen. Francis C. Barlow, in whose division the regiment served, is recorded as saying, among other complimentary things, "I have the strongest regard and admiration for the 26th Michigan. It is difficult to pick out one regiment from all those I served with as the best, but I can say this, that I never saw one superior in the whole army."
General Hancock wrote, "I have great re- spect and esteem for the officers and men of the regiment so distinguished in the field as the 26th Michigan Infantry, being bound to them in ties of friendship, derived through common service." An officer familiar with
Col. Ives' military record wrote of him since the war, "Major Ives was one of the bravest and best soldiers, deserving well of his Ing- ham county friends, where he is prominently associated with every good movement of society in this region." An army corres- pondent of the Detroit Tribune, writing from the front under date of Sept. 10, 1864, said: "The commanding officer, Captain L. H. Ives, though young and fresh from the honors of late promotion, is thorough, ener- getic and capable in his regimental adminis- tration, and gives the best of satisfaction. This is saying much for any officer who can succeed our late excellent commander."
Colonel Ives is a member of Steele Bros. Post No. 441, Department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic, which he was instrumental in organizing, and of which he has been adjutant, and of which he has been honored as post commander. He is an influ- ential member of many organizations, reach- ing every avenue of society, and can always be relied upon for the full measure of his influence in every enterprise tending in any manner to the public weal."
In the Department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic, Col. Ives' ability and loyalty have been recognized on various oc- casions. He has served upon the staff of the department commander, also as a member of the committee for the inspection of the Sol- diers' Home at Grand Rapids.
In 1902 he was elected a delegate to the national encampment at Washington, D. C., and at the last State encampment was elect- ed a member of the council of administra- tion.
He is a thorough Grand Army man, and a true friend of the old soldier.
September 25, 1865, Colonel L. H. Ives was united in marriage to Miss Libbie E. Cowan of Parma, Mich., by his uncle, Rev.
----
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Dr. B. I. Ives of Auburn, N. Y. The mar- time largely to the occupation of a nurse. riage service was performed in the little . She is happily possessed of a good business brick Methodist church at Williamsville, Unadilla township. Three couples took their places before the altar rail and were mar- ried in the same service.
Mrs. Ives was born in Eaton county, Mich., August 11, 1841. During the years of her young womanhood she taught school, and at the age of eighteen years graduated from Albion College in the class of 1861 with the degree of M. S. A. Mrs. Ives was awarded the highest honors of her class in her selection as valedictorian. The first year after leaving college she taught a gov- ernment school among the Indians at Pere Marquette, Mich., and later followed the oc- cupation in Jackson county. She is a lady of rare culture and fine literary attainments, possessing a natural gift of poetry. Several of her productions of both prose and poetry have found their way into public print. As a wife, mother, housekeeper and friend, she is loyal. Her gentle, self-sacrificing manner make her the ideal wife, mother, homekeeper and friend. Her charming presence is the light and joy of Sunnyside. A friend wrote of her, "when you write the story of Col. Ives you unconsciously write the story of her who through life's battle has been his con- stant support and inspiration, his keenest critic, his best friend." And, referring to "Sunnyside," their rural villa, he added, "And the home is well named, for nowhere can a spot be found where cordiality and hospitality are more freely extended, and where good cheer and sunny favor more thoroughly abound."
Colonel and Mrs. Ives are the parents of four children: Minnie Maud, born Christ- mas, 1868, died February 6, 1870. Zada Evespie, born November 26, 1869. For several years Miss Zada has devoted her
ability, and has met with more than average success in her chosen avocation. She was for four years employed in Chicago. For the past three years her address has been St. Louis, Mo. She has also on several oc- casions been employed as traveling compan- ion, an accomplishment for which she pos- sesses rare adaptation. She has a most ad- mirable poise-self-reliance, and quickness of perception. Frank C., a brief personal sketch of whose life follows this biography; Win- nifred, born March 6, 1876, graduated from Mason high school at the age of eighteen years, was chosen class valedictorian. Taught one year in the public schools of Pennsylvania, later took a two-years' literary course at Albion College, followed with a course in shorthand and typewriting. Miss Winnifred was employed as secretary and bookkeeper at the Michigan Industrial School for Girls at Adrian for the term of four years, resigning to accept a position with the press department of the University of Chicago. She is at present employed as stenographer for Pres. Wm. R. Harper. of the Chicago University. Miss Winnifred has given considerable attention to painting, and her pictures in oil, sepia and water col- ors, which adorn the walls of her Sunnyside home, have been pronounced works of art and have been much admired.
Col. Ives has furnished our historian with the following data referring to himself and family and also his ancestors :
L. H. Ives was born in the Township of Unadilla, County of Livingston, Michigan, July 16, 1840. His parents, Mariah Louisa Hedden and Hon. Samuel G. Ives .. were na- tives of the Empire State, where the father was born Dec. 21. 1812, and the mother April 6. 1813. They were united in mar-
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riage, in their native state, August 30, 1835, and came west the same year and settled where our subject was born, while Michigan was yet a territory, and practically an un- broken forest.
A very comprehensive biographical sketch of these most worthy and industrious people is to be found in the History of Livingston County, published in the year 1880. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Five are now living : Edwin, born June 19, 1837, died July 5, 1837; Horatio, born September 5, 1838, grew to manhood on the old home farm and went south the year prior to the breaking out of the War of the Re- bellion, and has never been heard of since; Lucius H., the subject of this sketch, born July 16, 1840; Frank E., born August 25, 1842, a farmer by occupation residing on the old home estate, one of the prosperous and solid men of affairs in Livingston county, married Mary Bird. They have had two children, Lute and Mabel. Mabel died July 14, 1901. Maria Louise, born May 15. 1845, married John J. Watson. They had Josephine, who married Clair Durand, died a few years later. Mrs. Watson died Octo- ber, 14, 1867. Almira Josephine, born Sep- tember 18, 1848, married D. E. Watts, they reside in Mason ; Homer G., born November 18, 1850, by occupation a farmer, resides in Chelsea, Michigan, married Katie Godfrey. They had six cildren, Wirt, Edna, Jennie, Roy, Louise and Florence. Jennie D., born September 17, 1853, married Bernard Park- er. Their residence is in Lansing, Michigan, where Mr. Parker has an appointment as secretary of the State Board of Auditors.
The following genealogical facts referring to the ancestors and relatives of Mrs. L. H. Ives are here given place for the benefit of her descendants : Her parents, Clarissa Mat- tison and William Cowan, were natives of the
State of New York, where the father was born at Scipio, July 29, 1808, and the mother April 10, 1806. They were united in the holy bonds of matrimony by the Rev. Seth Mattison, father of the bride, October 26, 1826.
William Cowan's father, Thomas Cowan, was born October 28, 1777, and emigrated to America with his parents, William and Margarett Cowan of County Downs, Ireland. in the year 1791. The family consisting of seven children. They left their native land on account of the persecutions of the Pro- testants by the Roman Catholic church. .
April 18, 1806, Mrs. Ives' grandfather, Thomas Cowan, married Miss Charity Hin- man, who was a native of New York, where she was born March 19, 1786. They had six children, her father being the eldest of the family. Thomas Cowan's wife died March 22, 1817. He later married Sally Russell, who bore him thirteen children.
Mrs. Ives' parents, William and Clarissa Cowan, came to Michigan in June, 1837, and settled in Eaton county, in what was then known as Tyler township, where she was born August 1I, 1841. They were the parents of five children, one son and four daughters, the four oldest were born in the State of New York. Data respecting them and their families is given as follows :
Cyrus H., born August II, 1827, a farmer by occupation, married Miss Emily Ander- son, daughter of Col. John Anderson. They had Cora, Effie, William and Minnie. Cyrus Cowan died March 1, 1904.
Charity A., born December 23, 1828, taught school, married Rev. Lewis J. Griffin, September 6, 1857. They had Dr. Wm. L. Ernest, Clara and Stanley C., a graduate of Albion College. Rev. Griffin died Septem- ber, 1902.
Fidelia F., born January 4, 1831, grad- uated from Albion College, taught school,
HON. FRANK L. DODGE
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married July 12, 1856 to Wm. B. Burnam. They had George, Belva, Fred and Clement L. Mr. Burnam, a soldier in the civil war, died December, 1903.
Clarissa Jane, born March 4, 1836, taught school, married Jacob C. Haite, November 29, 1854. They had Seward, Frank, and an infant son, and Clara. Mrs. Haite died May 18, 1900.
Mrs. Ives' grandfather, Rev. Seth Matti- son was born 1789, a Methodist Episcopal minister, and for many years a member of the New York Genesee Conference, died in 1843. His wife's maiden name was Lucy Hoyt, born 1788. They had seven children, five daughters and two sons. Losing his wife by death in 1834, he married a Mrs. Law. They had one daughter, Anna, who married Rev. Andrew Bigelow.
Three of Rev. Seth Mattison's daughters married ministers, all well known pioneers in Michigan Methodism. Rev.'s Wm. E. and Andrew J. Bigelow (brothers ) for over forty years were members of the Detroit Conference. Melville M., Ph. D., only son of Rev. Wm. E. Bigelow, is the present dean of the Boston Law School, and a writer on law of international reputation. The other, Rev. Wm. W. Crane of Wesleyan Methodist church was a pioneer preacher in Eaton county. It is recorded of him that he preached the first sermon in the Township of Hamlin in the month of February, 1837. It is also written of him in the History of Eaton county, that "he married all the peo- ple and preached all the sermons." His name is found among the first Supervisors. He was later known as a historical writer and lecturer, and was for many years of- ficially connected with the Wesleyan College at Leoni, Michigan.
Of the two sons of Rev. Seth Mattison, Rev. Wm. Mattison, D. D., was a noted Divine in the state of New York, and Seth
A. accumulated a liberal fortune during his many years in connection with the N. Y. Life Insurance Co., a portion of the time as president of the company, and later was a well known capitalist in Los Angeles, Cal.
Prof. Hiram Mattison, A. M., of N. Y., author of Mattison's Astronomy and other scientific text books, was a descendant of the family.
HON. FRANK L. DODGE.
Hon. Frank L. Dodge, who has been at- torney in some of the most important litiga- tions in the State, for many years has also been a prominent Democratic leader in muni- cipal, county and State legislation. He was born in Oberlin, Ohio, in the year 1853, be- ing a son of Hervey and Angeline (Stevens) Dodge. His father, a native of Essex county, Mass., was born July 20, 1806, and was by trade a cabinet maker. His brother, the uncle of our subject, was the father of the manufacturer of shoes so well known throughout the United States, and he him- self was a nephew of Nathan Dane, the great lawyer.
The mother of Frank L. Dodge was a native of Haverhill, N. H., the date of her birth being July 22, 1812. She was the daughter of Col. Bradstreet Stevens, whose brother served in the War of 1812, and her remote ancestry was of distinguished Revo- lutionary stock. After passing the years of her girlhood in New Hampshire, she came to Ohio, where she met her future husband, their union going into history as the mar- riage of the first white couple in Oberlin. The ceremony was performed by President Mahan.
Mrs. Dodge's brother, E. L. Stevens, was for thirty-five years Chief Clerk of the In- dian Bureau, and the son of the latter, Dur- ham White Stevens (cousin of our subject ) .
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has recently been appointed Consul General of Korea by the Japanese government, with headquarters at Seoul,
After following his trade as cabinet mak- er for a number of years, the father of our subject engaged in the furniture business, locating for that purpose at Utica, N. Y. Then he came to Ohio, where he met his wife, continuing in that line and died in July, 1884. The mother died in January, 1890.
There were five boys and one girl in the family, all of whom are alive: John S., Wil- liam H., Elizabeth, who live in Cleveland; Charles D., a resident of Lansing ; Ezra B. and Frank L., who was for a time a resident of Cleveland, although he received his early education at Oberlin.
Mr. Dodge's experience in the railroad business at Cleveland, was for several years. His next venture was in the hotel field with W. H. Dodge. He began his professional studies with the late Hon. Isaac M. Crane, one of the leaders in the profession at that time, who, after his admission to the bar in Eaton county, received him into partnership. In 1879 Mr. Dodge removed to Lansing from Eaton Rapids, where he has since been in active practice, when his time has not been monopolized by his duties as a legislator. During the most of this period of twenty-five years, he has been alone, the Hon. C. P. Black, formerly U. S. Attorney for Eastern District of Michigan, being his partner for a number of years. In 1885 Judge Brown, now of the U. S. Supreme Court appointed him United States Com- missioner and he performed the duties of that office for ten years with marked ability.
Mr. Dodge has been connected with some of the most celebrated cases tried in the State. He represented the defendants in the conspiracy suits growing out of the great labor strikes at Saginaw. All were acquit-
ted, including Hon. Thomas B. Barry, af- ter one of the most protracted and fiercely contested suits ever tried in that section of the State. In 1887, he also made a speech, which was very highly commended by the profession, in defense of Milo H. Dakin, be- fore the House of Representatives, the occa- sion for its delivery being charges made against him growing out of the so-called con- spiracy cases. In the line of damage suits, Mr. Dodge has attained special prominence and a high degree of success, never hesitat- ing to act for any worthy person or cause without regard to the pay for services.
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