USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
While all of these were seeing service, Winslow A., the eldest of the family was drafted, but being the only support of an aged widowed mother, was not required to serve. All living are on Uncle Sam's pen- sion roll.
Mr. Townsend, while voting with the Re- publican party, has a strong leaning towards the principles of Prohibition. On this one question, he is in advance of his party, be- lieving that the rum power is the great curse of our American civilization. He has car- ried on general farming and has made a suc- cess of it. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are highly respected members of the Congrega-
432
PAST AND PRESENT
tional church of Onondaga, and have always been generous in their contributions to its support.
J. H. VANBUREN.
The question is often asked: "What's in a name?"-Much. Men are called upon sometimes to live down a family name, others live off the family name, individuals often add dignity and strength to the family name. He who is able to trace his lineage back a generation or more to one who has made his name a national household word because of his achievements in some honor- able calling or profession may justly feel a sense of pride in the name which he bears. The subject of this sketch has the proud distinction of being a descendant of Martin VanBuren, ex-president of the United States.
J. H. VanBuren was the son of Cornelius and Cornelia Parker VanBuren, whose na- tivity was Wyoming county, N. Y., where our subject was born July 17, 1847.
The father with his family emigrated to Michigan in the year 1869 and located on the farm in Vevay township, now owned by his son, J. H., who by purchase has added sixty to the original forty owned by his father. While farming has been the main business of life with J. H. VanBuren he has at two different periods in his activities engaged in mercantile business, three years in groceries at Eden and one year at Barre Center, N. Y.
December 27, 1882, Mr. VanBuren was united in marriage to Miss Mantie, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Tallman of Eden. One child has been born to them, Paul, September 29, 1884, now with his parents on the farm. Being a descendant from illustrious Democratic stock Mr. Van- Buren is true to the political principles of
the family name. He is always active and interested in local politics. He has often graced the township ticket with his name and has served in various official capacities to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the fraternal organiza- tion of the Maccabees, I. O. O. F., the Grange, and is a past master of the organ- ization at the Aurelius Grange.
Mr. VanBuren was of a family of six children : Lucinda, born December 14, 1842; an infant, November. 1851; Elizabeth M., February 7, 1855; Josephine Rachel, July 9, 1857, and Cora Adelia, September 7, 1860.
Mr. Cornelius VanBuren died September 7, 1875, aged sixty-four years. three months and six days. His wife died Octo- ber 29, 1896, aged seventy-eight years, and both rest in Maple Grove cemetery at Mason.
Mrs. VanBuren's father, Isaac Tallman, was the son of Timothy and Mariah (Dobbs) Tallman, natives of the Empire State. The family came into Ingham county and settled on an eighty acre tract of wild land in the year 1844. Two years later Timothy Tallman died. At the time of the death of his father, Isaac was twenty-two years of age. By frugality and persever- ance, he paid off the heirs and came into possession of the farm which he still owns. Mr. Tallman's country residence, a few rods west of the Eden station of the J. L. S. division of the M. C. R. R., is one of the well known pioneer homes of the township.
Poor Lo and his wigwams were familiar to the pioneer in those early days. Wild game in abundance was to be had for the taking. The trusty rifle was a companion piece of the axe of the pioneer. He went to his daily task with one on each shoulder and returned to his shanty at noon or night with a fresh supply of meat for the family
433
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
use. Isaac Tallman was united in marriage February 22, 1860, to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Covert, of Leslie township. Mr. Covert was among the first settlers of the township, a highly respected and upright citizen. He was re- garded with esteem for the probity of his life and character. In the year 1837 he be- gan to carve out for himself a family home on the advanced line of civilization in the Wolverine State. He won out, securing for himself a comfortable competence for his support in the years "when age came on a pace." He died January 25, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine and his wife, June 8, 1900, aged eighty-eight years. Mrs. Van- Buren has one brother, Fred D. Tallman, born January 3. 1864, and he has been en- gaged in telegraphy and railroad station agent. He married Ethel Jones of Bunker Hill. Indiana, in July, 1895, and has one child. Mary Josephine. September 9, 1897.
Mr. and Mrs. VanBuren are liberal sup- porters of the Methodist church at Eden, of which Mrs. VanBuren is a member. Both are actively interested in every interest look- ing to the betterment of society. Public- spirited. benevolent with well-developed so- cial qualities, their friends are limited only by their acquaintances. Life still holds much of happiness in store for them.
FRANCES VAN BUSKIRK.
Those men who came to Ingham county in the early days and made the first settle- ments here were men of more than ordinary calibre, broad in their views, earnest in their life's aims and full of enterprise. They "builded better than they knew" and laid the foundation for the splendid development which we see today. Their early work pre- pared the way for those who came after them to build up the institutions of educa-
tion, business and society which make Ing- ham county so desirable a home.
Such a man was Abraham Van Buskirk, the father of our subject. He did not come West with the expectation of finding a royal road to fortune, but had enough good sense to know that such a road did not exist for the honorable and upright man, but is reached by means of thrift, energy and busi- ness ability.
Frances Van Buskirk was born September 7. 1852, and is the daughter of Abraham and Sarah Ann ( Buck) Van Buskirk, both of whom are natives of New York. Abraham Van Buskirk was born February 4, 1816, at Dansville, Livingston county, and was an only child, left without a father at eighteen months of age. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and while serving his country in this war, contracted a cold from which he died. Our subject's mother was born June 1, 1812, at Bolton, Warren coun- ty. New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Van Buskirk, who spent their early days in New York, there acquired their education. They were married June 1. 1845. and in 1853 came West and bought their present farm home of two hundred and forty acres from a man named Hatfield, who obtained it from the government. The land was partly cleared and upon it was a frame house and small stable. Here they lived for several years but as they were prospered they added to the attractiveness and comfort of the place by erecting their present commodious residence. To them three children were born : one son, S. B. Van Buskirk, of Watertown, S. Dak., died August 19. 1903; Nina H., now Mrs. E. R. Hollbrook of Langford. Marshall Co., S. Dak .. and Frances A., the youngest, who lives on the old homestead.
In political views Abraham Van Buskirk was found among the supporters of the re-
28
434
PAST AND PRESENT
publican party. He never held office more than Highway Commissioner and School Director. Mr. Van Buskirk never belonged to any church but was a man of good habits and sterling qualities, also a great student of the Bible. He was highly respected in his community and died September 20, 1898, while the wife passed away May 7, 1895.
GEORGE MORRIS TOWAR.
One of the most entensive land owners of Meridian township is George Morris Towar, who is located on a farm in section six and is the owner of over five hundred acres of highly improved land, with fine buildings and all the improvements of the day.
Mr. Towar was born in Sodus township, Wayne county, N. Y., June 1, 1826, and is the son of John and Ruth (Sumner) Towar, the father a native of Scotland and the mother of Massachusetts. John Towar was born September 8, 1785, and died in Meridian township, December 30, 1860, and the mother was born April 28, 1791, and died in Meridian, January 21, 1865.
Mr. Towar descended from an old Huge- not family, which, on being driven out of France, took refuge in Alloway, Scotland, which is the birth place of the father of the subject of this sketch.
Our subject's father is one of thirteen children, and came to American with several of the children, when he was seven years old. The father and a number of his broth -. ers and sisters died in Scotland. They set- tled in Pennsylvania on the Susquehanna river, and here John Towar lived with his mother: was educated in the district school and remained with her until her death. He then went to New York and settled in the Township of Sodus, where our subject was born. John Towar was always a farmer
and twice married, first to Lydia Reynolds, who died February 3, 1821. To them three children were born: Charles Towar, April 3, 1815, died at the age of sixteen months ; Mary Carl, August 19, 1817, died April 15, 1853; Alexander, June 27, 1820, died De- cember 5, 1900. To the second marriage were born five children : an infant, who died March II, 1823; our subject; Charlotte Ann, July 4, 1828, the wife of Zina Parker, died October 12, 1855; Emily Jane (Carl) born June 25, 1830, died July 30, 1883, and Eunice E. (Snyder), January 31, 1834, died about the year 1859.
Our subject's parents sold the farm in New York and came to Michigan to live a few years before they died. The father was one of thirteen children, yet our subject is the only one living of the first generation born in America.
George Morris Towar was educated in the district schools of Sodus township, N. Y., attending school winters and working on a farm for the father in the summer. June 1, 1847, at the age of twenty-one he began business for himself. He hired out on a farm and worked ten months receiving a horse worth fifty dollars and twenty dol- lars in money-seven dollars per month was his wages. With the twenty dollars he bought twenty sheep, and in less than one year, his horse and flock of sheep, together with the increase, was worth two hundred dollars. He then farmed his father's place with an older brother, one year on the shares, receiving one-quarter of the crops, then for three years he farmed it on shares for himself, and during all this time hired his board at his father's house. He then worked in a sawmill with a man named Smedley, who lives in Lansing township, borrowed fifty-five dollars and sent it to Michigan to buy forty acres of land. This first forty acres was in Bath township, Clin-
G. M. TOWAR
PC
MRS. G. M. TOWAR
435
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
ton county. Hearing of more land for sale, have lived until recently with the family of he came to Michigan in the spring of 1849 G. M. Towar. and bought another forty adjoining his first Our subject, though not an office seeker, is a Republican. He belongs to no church, but is an honest man and owes no man a penny. He is hale and hearty, and manages the farm, and works by the side of his hired men. Mr. Towar is a prosperous and highly esteemed man in the whole community, and is well known throughout the country. purchase. In the fall of 1850 he came to Michigan, spent the winter, and after another summer in New York state he moved to Michigan, bringing his bride, and settled on his farm in Bath township. On this place he built a log shanty, in which he lived until the spring of 1852, when he built a frame house, a part of which is still standing.
In the spring of 1853 Mr. Towar made the original purchase of one hundred and two acres of the farm where he now lives, selling his Bath property in August of the same year, and moved to the new farm the following December. Mr. Towar claims to have "worked harder than any man in the town." He "can do more work now than any man of his age."
Our subject was married September 17, 1851, to Jane Ann Taylor, who was born in Sodus, N. Y., September 7, 1829. She died December 22, 1855. and November 15, 1857. Mr. Towar was married to Elvira Northrop, who was born September 17, 1835. To them three children were born : Perry George, October 23, 1859, married May Smith, lives at Blissfield, Michigan, where he is employed in the Beet Sugar factory. They have three children : Gladys E., born February 22, 1898; George E., July 7, 1901, and Genevieve E., October, 1903. James Delos, born September 26, 1863, mar- ried Hannah Proseus and lives at the Agri- cultural College. James is a Professor of Agriculture and has been President of an Agricultural College in Australia. They have one child. James Delos, Jr .. born Att- gust 5, 1892. Jennie, born December 5. 1865, was married to Charles Whitmore, who died 1899. To them one child was born, Morris Towar Whitmore, born April 13. 1895. Mrs. Whitmore and her child
WILL C. WALTERS.
Will C. Walters had the good fortune of having been born in the patriotic state of Massachusetts, up among the Berkshire hills, on the western border of the old com- monwealth. The whole face of the country is covered with picturesque highlands, hav- ing many rare beauties of natural scenery. Because of this wonderful beauty of scenery, Berkshire has been called "The Piedmont of America." It is a most delightful region for a summer resort. To have lived and grown to manhood amid such surroundings, one must have formed lofty conceptions of the grandeur and stability of this old world. Mr. Walters was born in Southfield, Decem- ber 7, 1853, and was the son of Nelson E. and Cynthia ( Bograth ) Walters. His mother died at the age of thirty years, leav- ing two little boys and a daughter. His father married as his second wife, Mrs. Sarah Barker, who bore him one child. Fred, now deceased. He died at the age of forty years.
Mr. Walters' brother Edwin was born at Southfield, June 23, 1857. and is now a resi- dent of Traverse City. Michigan. He is married and the father of three children, named respectively, Mabel. Helen and Nel- son. His sister. Elizabeth, is the wife of Daniel Shaw and they reside in Oneida Co., N. Y., and are blessed with two children.
436
PAST AND PRESENT
Nelson E. Walters followed the mercan- tile business, carrying on a general store for some years in the town of Southfield in Massachusetts. He also engaged in the manufacture of whips. He came to Mich- igan in the year 1880 and located in the town of Monterey, Allegan county, where he still resides upon his farm. He is a man of sterling worth, of good business ability and much respected by his fellow men for his many good qualities of heart and mind. He has for many years been affiliated with the Baptist church, living and believing its teachings. In politics his views harmonize with the G. O. P., which to him clearly represent the idea of progress.
September 24, 1876, Will C. Walters was united in marriage to Miss Helen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Campbell of Mt. Washington, Mass. Mr. Walters was en- gaged in the manufacture of whips for two years after his marriage and later for five years was engaged in farming, when he closed out, and in the year 1885 settled in Allegan county and was employed as a book- keeper in a grocery store. He served as Deputy County Clerk of Allegan county for the term of six years. In the year 1894 he came to Mason with his family, opened up a first class grocery store and by strict at- tention to business has built up a large trade. He carries the largest stock in the city, keeps two clerks and a delivery and is a hustler in his line. It is a common expression : "If you can't find it at Walters' there is none in the city."
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walters, as follows: Robert N., May 5. 1878, is now in the U. S. Navy on the battleship Kearsarge and enlisted June 12, 1901. Robert has crossed the ocean four times and visited many foreign countries. He is gunner's mate. Robert has a good business education, supplemented with sev-
eral years of experience in his father's store. He is a graduate of the Allegan Business College and is therefore well equipped for successful business enterprise ; Theodore C., familiarly known as "Teddy," was born August 17, 1886, graduated from the Mason High School in 1904 and is employed in his father's store; Grace C., was born July 16, 1888, and is a member of the Mason High School, being in the tenth grade.
Politically, Mr. Walters adheres to the faith of his father and votes for the per- . petuation and perpetuity of the Republican party. He is a member of the K. O. T. M. in which he carries an insurance.
Mr. Walters started out for himself empty-handed, his fortune consisting of a good stock of business technic, coupled with pluck and energy and he has met with more than average success. He is counted among the solid business men of the city.
GEORGE WILLIAMS.
The future of our great commonwealth depends upon the stability and integrity of the young people of today, and among those who are contributing to the general progress is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and whose life thus far has been crowned with success. One of the young and enterprising agriculturists of Locke Township, his pleasant estate is located on section 16, where he is the fortunate owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land and is also heir to an estate of one hundred and fifty acres, his father's property.
Mr. Williams is now in the early prime of life, having been born July 5, 1873. He is the son of Eliphalet and Mary L. Williams, the father having been born in 1835. and the mother in 1848.
Our subject's father followed the pursuits of the farmer, and came to Michigan and
437
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
located in Ingham county, where the mother still resides, in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liams were married in Shiawassee county. Their first investment in this county was in one hundred and sixty acres of woods, which they cleared and there built a log cabin. Mr. Williams died here upon the home farm July 23, 1899. He was a supporter of Democracy.
George Williams is the second of five chil- dren, two of whom are now living. He ac- quired his education at Williamston. In 1896 he bought forty acres, near his father's estate, and started out for himself. Fortune smiles upon this young man, and he has met with success on every hand.
Jan. 9, 1895, our subject was married to Miss Maud, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rich- mond Hill, old settlers of Locke. Mrs. Wil- liams' father died Jan. 6. 1903, and the mother resides on the farm of forty acres in Locke township.
To Mr. and Mrs. George Williams have been born three children: Hattie, Jan. 2, 1896: Mary, born May 24, 1897, and Anson E., born June 26, 1900.
Mr. Williams was elected Supervisor of his town in 1903, and is serving his second term in this capacity. He is socially a mem- ber of the Elks at Lansing and of the Bell Oak Lodge of the Maccabees.
Mr. Williams is engaged in general farm- ing and devotes considerable time to the rais- ing of stock for the markets, and has good barns and out buildings, which a progressive farmer deems essential to the proper man- agement of his estate.
ARTHUR T. DAVIS (DECEASED).
Arthur T. Davis was one of the most re- spected and esteemed residents of Lansing and Ingham county owes much to him for what he did in behalf of the Michigan Mil- lers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
When he became identified with this institu- tion it was but in its infancy, and in a meas- ure in a neglected condition, but with char- acteristic energy and determined purpose, he developed it into one of the most pros- perous insurance organizations within the boundaries of the State.
Arthur T. Davis was a native of the Em- pire State, his birth having occurred in Carl- ton in 1837. He was the son of Thomas and Eliza (Waite) Davis. He pursued his early education in the common schools of the home district, which was supplemented by a course at the Ellisberg Academy. In 1855 he emigrated Westward, and first set- tled in Illinois, but shortly afterward, how- ever, he moved to Minnesota, and there re- mained until 1865, which year witnessed his arrival in Lansing. Eventually, Mr. Davis became identified with H. H. Larned in the crockery and queensware business. In 1882 his attention was called to the possible fu- ture of the Michigan Millers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with which he became identified in the capacity of secretary and manager. Beyond the least question of doubt, this institution owes its flourishing condition to Mr. Davis' individual efforts. Mr. Davis married Maria A. Jewell of Ober- lin, Ohio. She died in 1873.
In 1875 Mr. Davis was united in mar- riage to Miss Lucy Corbett, a daughter of Amasa Corbett, a resident of Farmington, Maine. This union has been blessed with two children: the eldest Lucy Corbett, re- ceived the degree of Ph. B. from the Uni- versity of Michigan in 1900. The second, Clara M., received the degree of A. B. in 1901, and later graduated from the U. of M. in the medical class of 1904.
In matters pertaining to the public prog- ress and upbuilding, Mr. Davis was very prominent and influential, a co-operant factor in many measures for the general good.
438
PAST AND PRESENT
Lansing owes much of its development to him and his efforts, as he was also for a number of years a director of the City Na- tional Bank. As a member of the Congre- gational church, he took an active interest in church work, acting in the official capac- ity of trustee for a number of years.
Our subject won success in his business and gained it so honorably that the most en- vious could not grudge it to him. In speak- ing of his demise, it is but just that we quote the words of one of his personal friends :
"The passing of Mr. Davis removes a prominent figure from the business, church and social life of Lansing. He has been identified with the Capitol City and its best interests so long, that his departure will be keenly regretted and his place difficult to fill. Since coming here more than thirty years ago, he has been a prominent factor in nearly every movement that tended toward the improvement of the city, both commer- cially and morally. Of excellent judgment, enterprising, conscientious and charitable, he proved himself a valuable citizen and earned the right to be esteemed and re- spected by all."
Our subject departed this life August 31, 1898, and is interred in Mount Hope ceme- tery.
W. M. WEBB.
By request of the publishers, Mr. W. M. Webb very kindly consented to write a few personal recollections, which he has done in a very readable manner. His biography will be found one of unusual interest, from the fact of his recollections being for the most part along the line of pioneer life.
I was born on section nine in the Town- ship of Aurelius on the 21st of May, 1838,
under better conditions and with more favor- able surroundings than many an Ingham county pioneer boy who was born about the same period. They were probably born in log shanties under a trough roof, while I was born in a board shanty under a bark roof. The corners of the house were three small trees, standing in about the right posi- tions, and at the fourth corner a post was set. The three trees cut off at the proper height, boards were nailed around and cov- ered the enclosure, covered with great slabs of elm bark laid upon poles.
There were beautiful and very extensive groves of beech and maple on four sides of the house and all of the lawns were covered in the spring with a very luxuriant growth of verdure known to the early settlers as leeks.
I was the fourth child born in the township so that being born in Aurelius had passed the experimental period and had become an established industry :
George W. Bullen, born August 18, 1837; Freeman Wilcox, born August 20, 1837; Charles Ranney, born April 20. 1838. We made a big team to help down the forest in an early day.
I was not born with an axe in my hands. but with a disposition to grasp one as soon as opportunity offered. My life, although considerably past the three score year mark, would not vary greatly, on the whole, from the average man, whose life of the same number of years has been spent in Ingham county and who has seen the country grow from the time of the "blazed" trail that marked the way in so many directions through the forest so dense and lone, and who has listened to the tinkle of cow bell through the woodland pasture and who in those early days sat around the cheery fire- side within the old log cabin home. Yet a few experiences of interest may come to
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 439
one varying somewhat from those that have come to others.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.