USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 46
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The latter. W. H. Newbrough, is a native of Lansing, where he was born in 1867. Passing through the common schools, he en- tered the employ of E. Bement's Sons, as a
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clerk, and remained with that firm for twen- ty years. In January, 1903, he resigned and assumed the management of the Clark- mobile Company, being known officially as its secretary and treasurer. It was organ- ized as a stock company in April, 1903, the special manufacturers being a light, grace- ful, moderate-priced touring runabout and four-passenger car, with detached tonneau.
The company was reorganized, Jan. 23, 1905, as The New Way Motor Company, to manufacture both automobiles and gas and gasoline engines, is incorporated for $100,000, and its officers are A. C. Steb- bins, president; W. H. Newbrough, treas- urer and manager: E. W. Goodnow, secre- tary, and C. H. Way, mechanical engineer.
A. A. NICHOLS.
A. A. Nichols, a prominent business man and city official of Lansing and for more than twenty years secretary and treasurer of the Clark Carriage Company, is a native of Branch county, Michigan, where he was born in the year 1844 on the 13th day of July. His parents were Asahel and Phoebe Nichols, the father being a farmer of the Green Mountain State, who settled in the above named county in 1838 and subse- quently removed to Ionia county, where he died in 1869. There were six children in the family, four of whom are still living. Our subject commenced his long and honorable residence in Lansing, when, as a boy of nineteen years, he assumed the duties of clerk in a grocery store. He performed them to such good advantage that after an experience in that line of five years, he was able to establish a business of his own, which he successfully conducted for an entire decade.
In 1882 the Clark Carriage Company (manufacturers ) secured the services of Mr.
Nichols as its secretary and treasurer, Al- bert Clark, Sr., being manager. This posi- tion he has held continuously and the steady increase of the business is largely due to his organizing ability and progressive methods. The works now employ more than one hun- dred men and their up-to-date vehicles are shipped throughout the United States.
Although Mr. Nichols' immediate inter- ests lie with the Clark Carriage Company and the development of their business, to which he devotes the bulk of his energies and abilities, his practical influence has been felt and appreciated in several outside enterprises of an industrial and financial character. He was one of the charter members of the City National Bank of Lansing, and is still serv- ing on its directorate ; he is also a director of the Lansing Cold Storage Company.
Mr. Nichols' attention is by no means, all concentrated on matters of business and finance. He is an active citizen, of Demo- cratic proclivities, who takes a deep interest in public education and the most efficient conduct of the municipality in general. He has already served seven terms, or a period of fourteen years, upon the city Board of Edu- cation and for three years was a member of the Police and Fire Commission. Aside from his business and financial interests and the public service, Mr. Nichols, as well as his wife, is identified with the Central M. E. church. He is also a Mason in good stand- ing. Taking all into consideration, it is evi- dent that his life is a remarkably busy, use- ful and satisfactory one; it should be satis- factory to himself, since he has obtained the substantial honors for which he has striven and it is eminently satisfactory to the com- munity in which he has resided for nearly half a century.
Mr. Nichols' first wife was Miss Mary True of Western New York, to whom he was married in 1875. She died in 1890,
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bearing him two children, of whom one, Marie, is living. He was again married in 1892 to Miss Ella C. Baker, his present wife.
GEORGE NORTHRUP.
George Northrup is a prosperous farmer of Meridian township and his farm is located on sections two and three, and consists of two hundred acres of highly improved land. His birthplace was Geauga county, Ohio, and the date, May 9, 1847. His parents, James Northrup, born in New York, Febru- ary 25, 1809, and the mother, Elimy ( Wheeler) Northrup, born in Ohio, August 3, 1822, moved from Ohio to Meridian town- ship in the year 1853. Here they bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, erected a log shanty and made their home. They bought more land from time to time, and once owned five hundred acres. In 1871, James Northrup sold his farm and spent the fall and winter visiting in New York. He then returned to Lansing, where he lived un- til March 22, 1891. The mother died Octo- ber, 1872. James Northrup was formerly a Whig and later a Republican. He was Jus- tice of the Peace, also Supervisor for many years, but held no other office. He was fra- ternally a member of the Masonic order, and Mrs. Northrup was a member of the M. E. church.
Mr. George Northrup was one of eleven children, four of whom are living : Frank of Honolulu; Elvira Towar of Meridian ; George W .; Leslie H., of Benzonia. The deceased are James, Lucinda, Alanson, Charley, Nellie, Calvin and Rebecca.
His early education was obtained in a little log school in Meridian township. He always lived on the farm with his parents until his marriage in 1872. On February Ist, of this year he married Jennie A. Hardy, who was born in New Hampshire, December 5. 1847.
She was a daughter of Reuben K., born in New Hampshire, October 24, 1811, and Azilpha (Barden) Hardy, born in New Hampshire, March 4, 1809. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy came to Michigan in 1856, bought forty acres of wild land in Meridian town- ship and there lived the remainder of their lives. The father died May 3, 1863, and the mother December 11, 1870.
Mrs. Northrup is one of eight children, four of whom are living: Wellman A., an old teacher and graduate of M. A. C., born July 21, 1836, died at the age of thirty-two. he was single and lived at home. Kate, October 15, 1839, the wife of James M. Pulver, attorney-at-law at Laingsburg, and they have one child living, James M. Pulver, Jr., of Lansing : Achsah M., May 31, 1841, died four years ago, was the wife of Henry Hamilton Pulver, attorney-at-law of Wood- hull township, and they had one child, Henry H. Jr. ; Mary M., December 10, 1843, the deceased wife of William Guiles of Lansing ; Stillman B., born May 21, 1845, died when a young man at home; Mrs. Northrup; Ori- gen D., Born December 2, 1848: Anson R., February 3, 1851. The last two are engaged in the real estate business in Lansing. Mr. Hardy was always a farmer and supported the Democracy, though never an office holder. Both parents were members of the M. E. church at New Hampshire.
Our subject, when married, engaged in carpentering and building, and had a force of men under his supervision for five years. He then bought twenty-five acres of land at the north end of Pine Lake, and there en- gaged in the hotel business. Later, he bought two hundred acres of land known as the Gunderman farm, and has resided there since. He has added many improvements to his farm and owns a fine cottage at Pine Lake. One child came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Northrup, Nellie, March 22.
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1878, but was only spared to them for a short time, as her death came in March, on the 15th day, 1879.
Our subject was always a Democrat and held the office of Highway Commissioner. Because Mr. Northrup was held in high es- teem by all who knew him, and was known to be a man of sterling character and worth, he was nominated for State Senator of the 14th District, on the Populist ticket. He is a member of the G. A. R., C. T. Foster Post at Lansing. He enlisted in the 28th Mich- igan Infantry, Co. F., in 1863, and served his command until the close of the war. His brother, James, enlisted in the 2nd Mich- igan Sharpshooters at the beginning of the war, and was discharged for disability, and a brother, Alanson, served in the same regi- ment, and afterwards died at a Philadelphia hospital.
· THOMAS LASENBY (DECEASED).
In almost every community there are ever to be found those who by their personal characteristics have won for themselves pub- lic recognition as good financiers and suc- cessful business men. The old adage says, "It is better to be born lucky than rich." Luck usually goes with pluck, perseverance and push. He is indeed a lucky man, who has born within him the elements of success and makes the most of his opportunities. In some countries in the old world, the indi- vidual must, through life, remain in the class in which he was born. In this free land of ours there are no "metes and bounds" placed upon individual possibilities. The obscure country boy of today is, on the mor- row, the captain of finance, the eminent law- yer, the statesman, the divine, the author or the possible President of the United States.
When but three years of age, a mere child, Thomas Lasenby, who was born in London,
Canada, July 4, 1849. was bereft of his par- ents. He was brought to Ypsilanti, Michi- gan, and adopted into the family of Mr. Ly- man Graves, with whom he lived until six- teen years of age, when he struck out for himself, his earthly effects consisting of a cheap wardrobe and empty pocketbook. He found employment with a farmer, Mr. J. C. Haines, one and one-half miles south of Dansville. His first adventure was a for- tunate one, and destined to influence the whole future of his life. He proved to be a valuable man and soon won the confidence . and esteem of the whole family. He was industrious, frugal and trustworthy, and each year laid by something for future in- vestment. He made himself almost indis- pensable. He commanded the best wages for farm help and made good use of his in- come. After an apprenticeship of nine years as a farm hand, he made the most important transition of his life, being united in mar- riage to Miss Ella C., daughter of J. C. and Nancy Haines. This event was celebrated September 17, 1874.
A few years later he purchased the pres- ent Lasenby home, just east of the corporate limits of Mason city. His first purchase was fifty acres, he later added thirty more. He immediately began to make needed im- provements, and each year added to the at- tractiveness and conveniences of the place. A new house, barns and other buildings were erected. He seemed just ready to be- gin to enjoy the fruit of an active life of toil when he was suddenly stricken down in death, February 8, 1896.
Being somewhat of a speculative turn of mind he had branched out in his business enterprises. He purchased stock and shipped to Detroit and Buffalo. He was a Democrat and when the necessity seemed to demand it, he worked at it hard. For two years he was Treasurer of the Township
THOMAS LASENBY (Deceased)
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of Vevay. He was a Master Mason in good standing, and also belonged to the K. O. T. M. Mr. Lasenby was of a social friendly temperament, enjoyed society and took a lively interest in public affairs.
A beautiful granite monument marks his final resting place in Maple Grove cemetery, Mason, Michigan.
Mrs. Lasenby's people were natives of the State of New York. They came to Michi- gan in the year 1836 and took two hundred and forty acres of government land, located one and one-half miles south of the Village of Dansville, Township of Ingham, this county. Mr. Haines was a highly respected citizen, a man of integrity, upright in life and character. From a cabin in the wilder- ness, at the beginning, with the entire coun- try around practically a dense forest, over- run with Indians and wild beasts, he lived to see the forests swept away and in their places, waving fields of grain. Poor Lo and his wigwam gave way to the onward march of civilization. The wild beasts went down before the trusty rifle of the pioneer and served a good purpose, in supplying the otherwise scanty fares of the early days.
The improvements on the Haines farm ranked among the best of his time. Mrs. Lasenby was an only child. Her father died in 1879 aged seventy-one, and the mother in 1885 aged seventy-five.
The soldier who during his term of army service, met the enemy on many hotly con- tested fields of battle, does not care to have a single engagement or hardship left off the record, so the pioneer, looking back over the years of privation and toil, of "trials and triumphs," cares not to have the cares of a single day eleminated from the record of the years.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lasenby: Orlo J., June 15, 1875, married Miss Clara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil
Sanders, and they reside at Rochester, Mich- igan, where Mr. Lasenby has built up a fine dental practice : Lee T., born September 8, 1880, assisting his mother in the manage- ment of the farm, and also engages in buy- ing and shipping stock; Gladys M., born .December 4, 1895, the light and joy of the home.
ALMERON NOYES.
Among the prominent and successful farm- ers of Stockbridge township, Ingham county, is the enterprising man whose name appears at the head of this writing. His farm is lo- cated on section 29 and his attractive home is one of the ornaments of the township. He was born in New York, Essex county, July 19. 1844, and is the son of Stillman and Alphreda (Richmond) Noyes; the father's birth occurred October 11, 1806, and the mother's April 26, 1811.
Stillman Noyes followed the tradeof a brick layer for four years but devoted the most of his lifetime to farming. He came to Mich- igan in 1844, having been married in the State of New York ten years prior to this. They located first in Stockbridge township. section 28, on forty-three acres of unim- proved land. Here they built a log house and cleared the land. They next owned forty acres on section 34 and at one time, twenty acres of swamp land on section 22. In 1859 they traded their first land for one hundred and sixty acres in Gratiot county, but never moved there. For two years the father worked a farm near Stockbridge on shares. In 1861 he sold the place in Gratiot Co., and bought eighty-eight acres on Sec. 17, Stock- bridge township, forty acres of which were improved. Here they moved into a shanty until the log house could be built in which they spent the remaining years of their life. Stillman Noyes was a Republican and a
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member of the Methodist Protestant church. He died March 17, 1869, and the mother passed away March 2, 1871.
Our subject was the fourth of six children, two of whom are living: Elinor, born in 1835, died in infancy ; Andrew, born October 4, 1837, died June 8, 1870, married Marga- ret Dougherty, March 19, 1864; Mary E., born June 27, 1841, died September 15, 1887, married Edward Clark, April 30, 1866, and to them four children were born : Edward, Ida May, Aaron, and Louie; our subject ; Almon, born October 2, 1849, died January 6, 1866; Charlotte, born January 13, 1857, married Charles A. Mirkle, No- vember 14, 1881, to whom three children were born, Albert A., Mable and Clara.
Almeron Noyes was educated at District No. 5, Stockbridge township. He started for himself in 1865, took the old farm and com- menced paying for it. In 1871 he bought forty acres adjoining the home place and in 1877 bought thirty-two acres, fifteen acres of this being improved. In 1889 he bought forty acres, all improved, where he now re- sides and thirteen years after this built the present commodious residence, which speaks of the prosperity of its owner. He also built barns on the other places. Our subject is politically in line with the Republican party and his religious views are of the Methodist Episcopal faith.
October 3, 1868, Almeron Noyes was mar- ried to Rebecca Pickett, who was born in New York, in Niagara county, June 28, 1843. Mrs. Noyes' father, Valson Pickett, was born August 16, 1814, and the mother, Eliza Ann Thorn was born April 4, 1815. Valson Pickett was the son of David and Phebe (Townsend) Pickett, who were mar- ried December 28, 1811. David Pickett was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Noyes' great grandfather was a soldier in the Revo- lution.
Valson Pickett was a member of Co. D., 27th Michigan Infantry and was in most of the engagements of his regiment, was also in the commissary department. He contracted typhoid fever and was in the hospital at David Island, New York, and from there sent to Detroit, where he served as nurse in a hospital until discharged. Mr. Pickett came to Michigan in 1857, settled in Plain- field, Livingston county and worked out one year. In 1858 he commenced working a farm on shares and continued at this until 1861 when he enlisted, at which time he moved his family to Stockbridge village. Mrs. Pickett bought a small piece of ground and a house before the husband's return from the war and afterward the family lived on this place until 1872. At this time Mr. Pickett bought two hundred and forty acres on section 18, Stockbridge township. He improved about twenty-five acres and in 1883 traded the farm for village property in Stockbridge, where he moved and lived until his death, March 3, 1888, while the mother passed away October 23, 1886.
Mrs. Noyes was the fourth of six children, three of whom are living : Phebe J., October 24, 1836, died February 28, 1847; Betsey M., born October 28, 1838, is single and lives with our subject and wife; Arvilla, March 31, 1841, married Obadiah Force, May 2, 1866, she died September, 1899, they were the parents of three children : Clara (dead) ; William and Frederick (dead).
To Almeron Noyes and wife have been born five children, two of whom are living : Eliot, August 10, 1869, died January 3, 1870; William H., January 10, 1871, died April 18, 1871; Albert, October 16, 1873, died March 16, 1874; Frank, May 21, 1876, married Myrtie Sharp, September 28, 1899, to whom was born an infant on Christmas day, 1904, which lived but a short time. Frank is on the old homestead, working it on
J. C. HAINES (Deceased)
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shares and has purchased forty acres adjoin- ing the old home. On three acres of the old farm which the father deeded to his son, frank has erected a fine frame dwelling. The old log house which our subject's father built is still standing. At twenty-two years of age Frank Noyes was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for one term. The fifth child is Clara M., whose birth occurred April 17, 1880, married to Charles Sharp, February 5. 1902, and to them one son has been born, Wilmer Glen, June 8, 1903.
Sixty years' residence in the Township of Stockbridge have won for Mr. Almeron Noyes many friends throughout the county. He is a progressive man and ranks among the foremost citizens of the community.
GEORGE W. PHELPS (DECEASED).
In the death of this honorable and up- right citizen, Lansing and Ingham county sustained an irreparable loss. He was a man of high respectability and those who were most intimately associated with him speak in unqualified terms of his sterling integrity, his honor in business and his fidelity to the duties of public and private life. Mr. Phelps was born in Superior township. Wayne Co., Mich., on the 28th day of November, 1849, and was the son of Noah and Esther (Turn- er) Phelps. The father came to Inghamn county when the son was two years of age and settled on a farm ten miles from Lan- sing, adjoining what is now the County Poor Farm, where he cleared up a large tract of land and built the log house of pioneer times, where he resided continuously until about 1872, when he disposed of this property to his son George W. With his family, he then removed to Lansing, in order to give his daughters better educational advantages. Here .he remained for some years, when he returned and resided upon one of his smaller
farm properties, eventually removing to Okemos where he died. His earlier resi- dence here entitled him to be classed among the honored pioneer settlers of Ingham coun- ty. He was a man of unusual activity, en- ergetic and determined and his name is in- separably interwoven with the pioneer agri- cultural history of Ingham county.
The boyhood and youth of George W. Phelps was spent as other farmer lads of that period, acquiring his education in the district schools near his home and assisting the father in the cultivation and improve- ment of the home property. Later he had a two years' course at the Rork private school at Lansing and also attended the M. A. C. His early associations with his father, from an agricultural standpoint, gave him many valuable and practical lessons which proved remarkably beneficial as he ap- proached man's estate and enabled him to capably manage his own extensive interests. He was a model agriculturist in every sense of the word, giving particular attention to the breeding of fine blooded stock, especially Shropshire sheep. Few men, if any, were his superior in judging blooded cattle. · He also took great interest in the raising of fruit and was awarded several substantial rewards at the national exhibitions of the east.
In the year 1873 Mr. Phelps was united in marriage at Sodus, N. Y., to Miss Mary S. Pullman, daughter of Alonzo and Harriet Newell ( Hopkins) Pullman. Alonzo Ham- mond Pullman, the father, was born in the Empire State and her mother was a native of the same state. She is a lineal descendant of Stephen Hopkins, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Unto George W. Phelps and wife were born two children, one of whom is living. namely, G. Howard, who is now a resident of Detroit, being connected with the Cen- tral Drug Co. of that city.
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In 1887 the health of Mr. Phelps became seriously impaired and he decided to sell the farm interests and remove to Lansing. He visited Europe and Colorado with the hope of recovering his physical condition, but eventually returned to Lansing and built the residence where his widow now resides. Here he lived continuously until his death January 31, 1902.
Mr. Phelps was rather independent in poli- tics, giving his support to the men and meas- ures best qualified for good government in home affairs. He took a local interest in political affairs and for four years repre- sented his ward as Alderman of the City of Lansing, and it was said of him, that no man ever gave more of his time to the city than he. He was manager of the Morgan & Zabriskie estate, and through his untir- ing efforts he had finally succeeded in get- ting Pennsylvania avenue opened south, and was preparing to build a bridge over the Cedar river, when he was instantly killed by a limb from a falling tree, January 31, 1902. He took an active interest in the Grange Association and served as master of the county and home Grange many terms. He also was president of the Ingham, Eaton and Clinton County Grange Insurance Company from the time it was organized until his death. Mr. Phelps was a member of the Masonic fraternity and his life was in harmony with it beneficient teachings. He was a man of strong personality and firm determination, broad minded and liberal in views and had a high sense of honor. Added to these qualities he was a loving husband and a kind and indulgent father, generous and hospitable and a liberal supporter of charitable and church work, as well as a successful man. His death occas- ioned the deepest regret throughout the com- munity and Ingham county thereby lost one of its most valued citizens. Almost his en-
tire life had been spent in this county and he is therefore classed among those who gave the best years of their manhood towards the improvement and betterment of its condi- tions, and his name is therefore honorably inscribed on the roll of honor of Michigan's history makers.
OSCAR W. PRIEST.
Among the comfortable and tasty farm homes of Vevay township is that of Oscar W. Priest. Mr. Priest was the son of Thomas and Eliza Priest, residents of the Empire State, where he was born October 4. 1840. His father was a native of the Green Mountain State, and at the age of eight years, came with his parents to New York state. He secured his education in the public school of his native town, which averaged with the boys of his time and cir- cumstances. His father died, where he had lived for many years, much respected for his many virtues in the year 1885. His mother passed away in 1859.
December 28, 1865, Mr. Priest married Evaline, daughter of Daniel Ketchum of New York state. In the year 1876 Mr. and Mrs. Priest took the advice of Horace Greely and came West, settling on the farm where they now reside. Many improvements have been made upon the place, new buildings have been erected, giving the premises an air of prosperity and thrift. Mr. Priest has carried on mixed farming, farms for the profit and is not often disappointed in results.
In politics he is enthusiastically Repub- lican all the year around, and has been recog- nized by his party in his election as Justice of Peace. Mr. and Mrs. Priest are active members of the Grange and the organization is destined to elevate the business of farm- ing to its rightful place among the avoca- tions of men. They believe it to be a great
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