USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 45
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His connection with the office of Prose- cuting Attorney has given him a thorough training in the details of the office. He is a good trial lawyer and he has conducted many important cases in the circuit and su- preme courts. In the fall of 1902 he became · the popular choice of the people for Prose- cuting Attorney of Ingham county and was elected by a handsome majority, and the peo- ple in full appreciation of his excellent ser- vices in this capacity, again elected him to the office in 1904 by a majority of two thou- sand. Mr. McArthur is in every respect a self made man and although a young man in
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L. B. MCARTHUR
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years has made some remarkable strides to- wards the top round of the ladder.
On October 21, 1900, Mr. McArthur was united in marriage to Miss Adah C., daugh- ter of George M. Hoyt, a highly respected and honored citizen of Ingham county, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume.
Fraternally, Mr. McArthur is a member of the Elks of Lansing Lodge No. 196. Our subject stands deservedly high among the legal fraternity, his ability being recognized by all. He is able, painstaking and conscien- tious in his work and has many warm friends, and it is possible, some enemies ; what man has not who possesses some force of character ? As a citizen, he is every ready to assist in any and every enterprise that would tend to the advancement of his native county.
Mr. McArthur has recently been elected President of the Farmers' Bank of Mason, an old established institution. This act on the part of the bank officials was an expres- sion of confidence most complimentary to Mr. McArthur's executive ability. While yet a young man he has good reason for self- congratulation in the successes already won, and the promising outlook for the future.
GEORGE McGOWAN.
One of the farmers whose place, by virtue of its well tilled acres and neat buildings, proclaims him to be a man who is not satis- fied with mere existence, is he whose name is at the head of this sketch. He is a native of Wheatfield, Mich., and was there born April 2, 1859, the son of Michael and Susan (Bird) McGowan, the father being born in Ohio in 1828 and died in Wheatfield in 1863 at the age of thirty-five years. Mrs. Mc- Gowan, the mother, was a native of Mich- igan and died three years ago at the age of sixty-seven years.
The father of our subject came to the Wolverine State in the early days and settled on a farm of one hundred and ten acres, only a few acres of which were improved. He completed the clearing of the land, made all the improvements and erected also all the present buildings, making it a piece of property of which he is justly proud.
The union of Michael and Susan Mc- Gowan was blessed with three children ; Hattie, now Mrs. J. Bowes of Wheatfield : our subject, and James B., who lives with W. B., an uncle, in Wheatfield.
After the death of the father of our sub- ject, Mrs. McGowan was united in marriage to George H. Rouse, and unto them were born two children, Nelson Rouse, who lives in Mason, and Daisy, married to Lewis Aus- tin of Leroy township.
The foundation of our subject's early edu- cation was received in the common schools of the district in which he lived, that being Wheatfield, and after this time he lived with his uncle until he reached the age of twenty- one years, when he worked on a farm until he was married, then renting a farm of his uncle. The marriage of Mr. McGowan to Miss Carrie Hitchcock occurred December 20, 1884. She was the daughter of Chester Hitchcock of Wheatfield, who was a native of the Empire State, and died at the age of thirty-five years in 1873, while the mother died one year ago, aged 59 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock came to Michigan in 1871, making Wheatfield their home. Unto them were born five children, Mrs. McGowan be- ing the eldest of the family.
Our subject and wife are the parents of four children: Velma, born July 28, 1886, is teaching school: W. C., born July 10, 1892, at home ; Blanche E., aged nine years, born July 28, 1895. at home; and Roland, aged three years, having been born on the 12th day of June, 1901.
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The Democratic party commands the vote and influence of our subject. although he pays only the ordinary attention to politics. Mr. McGowan is engaged in general farm- ing on eighty acres of his father's original farm and the appearance of his property is credit to him. He has ever been upright in his dealings with his fellowmen and won the confidence and respect of the community in which he resides.
ELISHA D. MILNER.
Among the prominent and progressive farmers of Stockbridge township, who were natives of the State of Michigan, we find the name of Elisha D. Milner. He was born in Washtenaw county, June 15, 1839, and is the son of Jonah and Jane ( Peacock) Mil- ner, both natives of Yorkshire, England. the father's birth having occurred in 1800, and the mother's in 1801.
Jonah and Jane Milner came to Michigan before the Michigan Central railroad was built, and lived on the father Peacock's farm in Washtenaw county for several years. They moved to Stockbridge town- ship, where they bought eighty acres of the present farm, about ten of which was cleared and upon it a log house and no barn. Here father died in 1854 and the mother ten years later.
they made their home until death. The . and Hiram, who lives at Ann Arbor.
Our subject spent the first fifteen years of his life in Washtenaw county, where he was educated and moved with his parents onto the farm in this township. He attended the district school winters after coming here, but that was the extent of his education. He was one of six children : Ellen, who became Mrs. James Green, and lived on a farm in Stockbridge township; John, living at Dun- dee, Ill. His first wife was Maria Stocking, who is dead, and the second wife. Miss Wel-
ler ; our subject; William G., lives in Ing- ham township; Mary Jane, wife of John Holmes, a retired farmer of Stockbridge; Rebecca, the wife of Martin J. Hague, a farmer of Stockbridge township.
Since coming to Stockbridge, our subject has always lived upon this farm, and after the death of the parents bought out the heirs. and made this his life home. He has made all the present improvements.
April 17, 1865. Elisha Milner was mar- ried to Miss Catherine, daughter of Samuel and Orinda (West) Stocking, the father, a native of New York, whose birth occurred in 1806, and his death in 1888, while the mother, also a native of New York, was born in 1805 and died in 1886. Mrs. Mil- ner was born in Stockbridge township, Sept. 20. 1844.
Mr. and Mrs. Stocking were early settlers of Stockbridge township, and formerly lived on what is now the Townsend farm, west of Lowe's Lake. Mrs. Milner is one of seven children, three of whom are now living : Horatio, drowned after he became a man; Hiram, died in infancy; Jane, the wife of Samuel Richardson, died three years ago; Melissa, the wife of Martin Townsend of Unadilla township, Livingston county ; Maria, dead, was the wife of John Milner,
Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Milner are the par- ents of four children : Jennie, born May 6. 1866, the wife of Carl Stevens, died at the age of twenty-five years; Louis, born April 17, 1869, is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Stockbridge. He was married Nov. 28, 1901, to Margaret McCloy, the daughter of Hugh McCloy, and whose birth occurred Sept. 25, 1874. Lou was educated in the district school, attended the M. A. C. three months, the Stockbridge High School three months and graduated from the Michigan State Normal in 1896,
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E. R. MERRIFIELD (Deceased)
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'having had a four-years course, and obtain- the 13th day of December, 1821, and was ing thereby a life certificate for teaching. He the son of John and Rachel Merrifield, who were natives of New York. taught school for two years. During this time he taught one year in Holt. He began the furniture and undertaking business in 1898. Louis Milner and wife have one child. Hugh McCloy, born June 22, 1904. This energetic son is a Democrat in his polit- ical views and is an active member of the M. E. church. He is district president of the Epworth League; Emil, the third child, was born Sept. 8. 1872, is a partner of his brother, Louis, and is spending the winter in California. He married Elsie Skidmore of Ingham county, Stockbridge township, and they have one child, Doris, born July 21, 1902; Nellie, the fourth, was born Aug. 10, 1877, and is working for her brothers in the store.
Elisha Milner was formerly a Democrat, but now casts his vote for the principles of the Prohibition party. He never sought for office, preferring the quiet of home life to the excitement of the public life. The Milner family are liberal supporters of the M. E. church, in which they find a broad field for their labors.
E. R. MERRIFIELD (DECEASED).
The present generation owes a debt of gratitude to the pioneers of the State of Michigan that can never be repaid. The trials and hardships endured by them to make this State what it is today, one of the foremost in all the union, cannot be realized by those enjoying the present com- forts of an advanced civilization. E. R. Merrifield was a pioneer of Ingham county who in early life knew but little of the pres- ent day comforts, and who in his boyhood and youth little dreamed of the advanced conditions that Ingham county has attained. He was born in Green county. N. Y., on
The elder Merrifield emigrated westward to Michigan at a very early day in the his- tory of the State. He became a pioneer settler of Macomb county, where he fol- lowed the pursuit of the agriculturist for some years. Our subject was a lad of four- teen years when he came with his parents to this locality. His early education was acquired in the common district schools of the home community, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he be- came identified in the dry goods trade, as clerk. John Merrifield, the father, was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a man of exceptional capability, determined and energetic, and invariably brought to a successful completion whatever he under- took. He early instilled into the mind of his son the patriotic duty of citizenship, so that when the Mexican war broke out, Mr. Merrifield, the younger, enlisted in the 15th U. S. Volunteer Infantry, in which he held the commission of second lieutenant. He did valiant service throughout the Mexican war, receiving his honorable discharge. when he returned to Michigan, and located in Lansing in 1851. Here he accepted a position in the Auditor General's office, in which he remained for eight years. At the completion of this time he became identified with John Thomas and A. F. Weller in the dry goods business, under the firm name of Thomas and Co. He was identified in this concern for fourteen years and then disposed of his interest and took up fire insurance. in which he made a remarkable success, hav- ing at that time charge of the company now represented by Dyer, Jenison and Barry Co. He was in all probability the best and most efficient fire insurance representative of his time in that city.
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December 11, 1851, Mr. Merrifield was and praiseworthy, he not only maintained united in marriage to Miss Sarah Thomas, and sustained an honorable reputation, but acquired a comfortable competence. He de- parted this life September 1, 1895. His death removed a strong, commanding figure from life, and while he has passed on before, his memory will be held in lasting remem- brance by those who knew him best, as his life is well worthy of emulation. daughter of the late John Thomas, who was one of the old and honored pioneer settlers of Lansing. John Thomas became a resi- dent of Ingham county in 1847, and estab- lished the first dry goods store in the capital city. He was a man of unusual activity, possessing considerable business ability. He was especially identified with the pioneer history of Lansing, as he came here with the company that bought the land for the DANIEL MCKENZIE. capitol. His birth occurred in Alleghany, Perhaps there are no more enterprising and cultured residents of Ingham county, than those who, like our subject-one of the first-class farmers of White Oak township- are natives of Canada. Daniel Mckenzie was born in Canada, November 29, 1837, and is the son of Duncan, born in New York, in 1804. and Elizabeth (Burt) Mckenzie, born in Scotland in 1814. Pa., in the year 1810. He was an old time Democrat in politics, and took an active and prominent part in the early political his- tory of this State, having served at one time as a member of the Legislature. He ac- quired a position of prominence in Ingham county and Lansing enjoyed by few men of his time. His death occurred on the 19th day of March, 1863, and there passed away Our subject is one of fourteen children, seven of whom are living. one of the substantial pioneer history makers of this locality.
For thirty years E. R. Merrifield was ac- tively identified with Lansing business in- terests. He was a man of exceptional per- sonality, and therefore left the impress of his individuality upon the community in which he so long resided. He was a mem- ber of the Episcopal church, to which Mrs. Merrifield also belongs, and he contributed liberally to its support. He was likewise a Master Mason, living in harmony with the teachings of its craft. As the years have gone by he has become possessed of con- siderable property.
E. R. Merrifield was endowed by nature with a vigorous mind and a retentive mem- ory. Planting his feet firmly at every suc- cessive step, he was led onward and up- ward by a laudable ambition to achieve an honorable success through his own efforts. By industry, patience and use of means, fair
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Our subject's parents came to Michigan in 1854 and bought one hundred and sixty acres west of Stockbridge, known now as the Springman place. This was partly improved and our subject's father only lived there a short time, when he traded it for four hun- dred acres north of the village, owned by the father of Chas. Townsend. About the time of the war, Duncan Mckenzie fell heir to a farm in Canada, from an only brother and went there to live, where he remained until deathı.
Our subject was educated in the district schools and after coming to Michigan, took a course at Bryant and Stratton's Business College at Detroit. He lived with his parents until the beginning of the war, when he en- listed in Stockbridge in Co. K, 20th Mich- igan Infantry, for three years and served through the war. He was mustered out at Jackson in July, 1865. He was in all the en-
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gagements of the regiment and was thrice wounded, first at Spottsylvania. A shell ex- ploded killing three and wounding four. Our subject was wounded in the hips and had the heel of his boot torn off by a broken shell, the second time was at the first day's fight at Petersburg, when he was shot through the arm, the third time at Fort Smith, the night before Petersburg was taken, when he was serving as a private.
December II, 1867, Daniel Mckenzie was married to Mary Etta, daughter of John and Abagail (Bullock) DuBois, both natives of New York. Mrs. Mckenzie was born on the farm upon which she now lives, March 10, 1843, and the father was born August 30, 1804, while the mother was born May 21, 18II.
Mr. and Mrs. DuBois came to Michigan in 1834, were married here and settled on this farm of two hundred acres in 1838, when the land was all new. They cleared the place and built a log house and here lived and died. They helped organize the first M. E. church of Stockbridge, and Mrs. DuBois taught the first schools in Unadilla and Stockbridge. Mrs. Mckenzie is the only re- maining member of the family, the other two girls being Hettie, born July 22, 1840, mar- ried B. E. Ballard and they lived on this farm until Mrs. Ballard died, February. 1869, and had one daughter, who was a graduate of a school at Boston, and died at Colorado Springs, December 2, 1897, at the age of twenty-nine years. The other sister was Orilla, born July 29, 1848, and died June 18, 1872.
Mrs. Mckenzie was educated in the dis- trict schools of White Oak and spent one year and a half in the High School at Lan- sing.
When our subject and wife were first mar- ried they lived on part of his father's farm, but after the death of Mrs. Mckenzie's
father they moved to this farm and have here since lived. Her father died in 1880 and the mother in March, 1885.
Three children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie: Rilla May, born September 7, 1868, died when eight months old; Fannie, born November 29, 1878, and died December 8, 1893, at the age of fifteen years, and D. Burt, born March 9, 1882, single and at home with the parents, a gradu- ate of the Stockbridge High School. They had one adopted daughter who took the name of Mckenzie, born July 23, 1876, and she died at the age of twenty years. Her father's name was Christopher Call.
The Republican platform and declarations embody pretty thoroughly the political ideas of Mr. Mckenzie, who has ever shown an intelligent interest in the welfare of his party. He has served his town as Treasurer.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie are highly respected members of the M. E. church in which circle they are always active. They are deeply interested in every movement that tends to the best interests of the farming community and are well and favorably known both far and near.
JAMES C. MARSHALL.
Among the prominent families which Scotland has bequeathed to Michigan and Ingham county, few is more worthy of our consideration than the one represented by the namie at the head of this sketch. Both by character and connections, his family is entitled to rank among the best in Ingham county, and has for many years been known by all who have had acquaintance with Ing- ham township, during the past forty years. Mr. Marshall's farm is to be found on sec- tion twelve where he is living in retirement from the activities of his vocation. enjoying
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the fruits of his early toil. This gentleman was born at Unadilla, Livingston county, Michigan, January 5, 1840, and is the son of Archibald and Margaret (Craig) Marshall.
Archibald Marshall was born at Bathgate, Scotland, in 1796, and his wife at Airdrie, Scotland. She died in her seventy-ninth year at Unadilla, Michigan. They were mar- ried in the old home country, December 7, 1830. The customs of Scotland demand that an engagement shall be announced three con- secutive Sundays before the marriage, and our subject prizes very highly the certificate which announces the engagement of his par- ents, also their marriage certificate.
An incident of their voyage crossing the ocean is given. They took passage on a sail- ing vessel which fell into a calm where it lay for a number of days with scarcely the flutter of a sail, and were six weeks on the voyage. Mr. James Marshall's grandmother on his mother's side came to America with her . brother, James Craig, and Mr. Marshall dis- tinctly remembers to have seen her at one time-though from dates known, he could not have been more than three years of age.
Three years after their marriage was solemnized, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Mar- shall emigrated to America in quest of a for- tune and settled at Tarifville, Connecticut, where they lived for five years. One brother, George, who settled in Unadilla, and a sister, Margaret Thompson, and her son and daughter came to America after the father of our subject. Upon coming to Michigan the parents of James C. Marshall settled in Una- dilla on 66 acres of wild land. As they pros- pered they added to their possessions until at the time of their death they owned three hundred sixty-six acres of highly cultivated land. The father lived to the age of sixty- seven years, and died May 13, 1866, and the mother seventy-nine years, and died July 30, 1883.
Our subject's grandparents were John and Margaret Todd Marshall, married July 2, 1796, in East Calder, Edinburgh county, Scotland, and to them were born nine chil- dren : Elizabeth, July 27, 1797; Archibald, November II, 1798, the father of our sub- ject ; Janet, March 25, 1800; Margaret, Sep- tember 28, 1801; Mary, June 5, 1803; George, February 27, 1805 ; James and John, twins, April 24, 1807, and William. January 4, 1810. In the early days Mr. Archibald Marshall was a Whig, but later a Republi- can, and for a number of years served his township as Supervisor. He and his estim- able wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Six children were born to them, our subject being the only living member of the family. The deceased were John, born Sep- tember 19, 1831, died February 26, 1856; Robert C., July 28, 1883, died February 7, 1892; Archibald T., May 13, 1835, died at Unadilla, December 11, 1876; Jean Bell, August 3, 1837, married C. R. Backus, died October 20, 1882; George T., April 3, 1842, married Helen Babcock who lived in Una- dilla ; died September 21, 1872.
James C. Marshall received his primary education in the district schools of Unadilla, and later spent one year at the Ypsilanti Normal. At the age of twenty-one he rented eighty acres of land of the father and farmed it for two yars, after which he took one hun- dred sixty acres for two years, and when he came to Ingham township invested his sav- ings in one hundred sixty acres, partly cleared, where he has since made his home. The first home was the customary log house of the times. Today in its place stands a modern brick structure.
Our subject's marriage with Lucia, daugh- ter of Alfred D. and Nancy (Williams) Wade, took place April 22, 1861. Mrs. Mar- shall was born in Unadilla, August 22, 1844. Her parents were natives of New York and
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Connecticut, respectively. They came to Unadilla in 1836, and with the exception of a few years' residence in Henrietta, Jackson county, always lived in this section. To them were born five children, of which Mrs. Marshall was the oldest, the others being Jennie, born September 24, 1846, widow of James W. Wolcott, now living with her brother in Caledonia, Mich .; Henrietta C., born May 12, 1849, died September 12, 1850; Isaac, born August 9, 1851, and Cor- nelius H., born January 20, 1854, living at St. Charles, Mich.
Mrs. Marshall's grandfather, Amos Wil- liams, was among the earliest settlers in Unadilla township, Livingston county. He was a millwright by trade and erected the first saw mill in that section of the country. A little burg sprung up which was ever after known as Williamsville. A brother of her grandmother Williams, whose maiden name was Marshia Ruggles, Isaac Ruggles, was the first missionary sent by the Congrega- tional society to the Sandwich Islands. The natives were cannibals at that date.
A cousin, Mrs. Minerva (Briggs) Dens- more was the first white child born in the township.
To Mr. and Mrs. James Marshall three children were born: Archie R., October 4. 1862, married Mary Walker and they have two children, Vancia, born October 27, 1888, Mildred, born July 28, 1894. Archie Mar- shall resides in Mason where he is engaged in the hardware trade. Jennie C., July 7, 1873, died June 4, 1892 ; Henry G., Decem- ber 9, 1877, is a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College, is a chemist now in the employ of the Bay City Sugar Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are active mem- bers of the M. E. church, and he is a staunch Republican. They are living in retirement. enjoying the fruits of their early days of toil, and highly esteemed by all who know them.
E. P. NEWBROUGH (DECEASED). LANSING.
E. P. Newbrough, father of W. H. New- brough, manager of the Clarkmobile Com- pany, of Lansing, was a native of Ohio, be- ing born in Ashland county in 1824, the son of William and Elizabeth ( Palisley) New- brough. His father in turn (the grand- father of W. H.) was a Virginian and of Scotch-Irish decent. After growing to man- hood in the Buckeye State, E. P. Newbrough was absorbed by the stream of overland mi- gration to California, which poured thither in 1848. He remained in the gold region for three years, returning to Michigan and soon afterward locating in Lansing. At first, he taught school in Stockbridge, Ing- ham county, but after the first year asso- ciated himself with his brother, S. D. New- brough, in the drug business. The latter was a physician, and the two remained in partnership in Lansing for sixteen years. He died in 1887.
In March, 1858, our subject was married to Miss Samantha Mun, a native of Ashland county, Ohio. There she was reared, com- ing to Michigan after the Civil War. To them were born four children : J. C., Deputy Postmaster at Greenville: Mrs. E. R. Good- now. of Lansing: Mrs. M. C. Knight, and W. H. Newbrough, of the Clarkmobile Com- /pany. Mr. Newbrough was a Republican and a public-spirited citizen, being always active in all enterprises tending to develop the city and to improve it morally and spirit- ually. Both he and his wife were constant attendants at the Universalist church. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Newbrough has lived with her son in Lansing.
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