USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 74
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
tive and honored members of several fra- ternal organizations. Mr. Noyes is a mem- ber of the order of F. and A. M. of Mason. He is also a Maccabee in which order he car- ries an insurance for four thousand dollars, and also holds a membership in the Eastern Star and the Grange organization. The family have for many years been associated with the M. E. church at Mason to which · they contribute of their substance for its maintenance and support.
To Mr. and Mrs. Noyes have been born four children : Luella, is the wife of Willard E. Wilcox of Delhi township, engaged in farming ; Allie, born August 8, 1869, now the wife of Dr. Chas. G. Jenkins of Lansing ; Mary, born April 25, 1880, the wife of Earl H. Gregg of Toledo, Ohio, and the last born died in infancy.
Following the submission of this sketch for approval, at which time Mrs. Noyes ap- peared to be in the enjoyment of her usual good health, she was suddenly stricken down and passed away to her home beyond. This was the great bereavement in the life of Mr. Noyes and one in which he has the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community.
If the man who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before is a bene- factor to the race, then Beeri B. Noyes will be cheerfully given place among that num- ber.
A. G. MILLER.
Ingham county has few, indeed, if any more patriotic or trustworthy citizens than Asher G. Miller of Stockbridge. For more than forty years Mr. Miller has been identi- fied with the moral and financial develop- ment of the community in which he has lived, and is known as a man of probity of life and character. It is the good fortune of but few to enjoy public confidence in a
larger measure than has been awarded Mr. Miller.
Our subject was born in Luzerne county, Pa., August 27, 1847. He was the son of Esther Gaylord and Conrad C. Miller, who were united in marriage at Plymouth, Pa. The father was a native of Otsego county, N. Y., where he was born January 11, 1821. The mother was born October 19, 1818, at Plymouth, Pa.
The elder Miller moved with his family to Michigan in the year 1850 and settled upon a farm in the northeastern part of the Town- ship of Stockbridge. Here the family re- sided during the remainder of his life. He was known as a thrifty, enterprising farmer, and greatly improved the premises, erecting new buildings and clearing the land. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Miller, two only of whom are living : our subject and his sister, Mary Louisa, the wife of Arthur L. Soules. They were united in marriage on July 4, 1882. Mrs. Soules was born in 1845. Mrs. Soules is a lady of gen- erous impulses, and her contributions to benevolent, educational and religious pur- poses have characterized her as a friend of humanity, and one who esteems it a privi- lege to bestow upon others as she has been blessed. Of the others, three died in infancy. DeWitt C., born November 10, 1851, died April. 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Miller were exemplary members of the Christian church society, living and dying in the faith. Conrad Miller enlisted in August, 1864, as a member of the Ist Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. He was with General Sherman in the grand march "Sixty miles in latitude. three hundred in the main," as the invincible army swept across the country from "At- lanta to the sea." Soon after reaching Sa- vannah he was taken sick and sent to the hospital in that city, where he spent the win- ter, being sent in May to hospital in Phila-
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delphia, Pa., where he died June I, 1865, as truly for his country died as those who fell amid the rain of shot and shell. His re- mains were sent home and he sleeps in Oak Lawn cemetery at Stockbridge. The mother passed away February, 1857, and rests be- side her husband.
At the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, Asher G. Miller was too young to pass muster as a soldier. However, January 4, 1864, at the age of sixteen years, young Miller enlisted as a recruit in Co. B, 26th Michigan Vol. Infantry, at which time his regiment was assigned to the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 2d Army Corps-Army of Potomac. In the early spring campaign that followed began Gen. Grant's grand flanking movement on which line he proposed to "fight it out if it took all summer," which it did and until the 9th day of April follow- ing. Among the severe conflicts in which young Miller participated were the Wilder- ness, Coal Harbor, North Anna, Spottsyl- vania, here his regiment lost in killed, wounded and missing, nearly one-half the number engaged. He also was with his regiment at the siege of Petersburg from June 16, 1864, to April 4, 1865. The last eight months of young Miller's service he was confined to the hospital by reason of sickness ; he was mustered out and honorably discharged June 24, 1865, at Mount Pleas- ant Hospital, Washington, D. C., by reason of close of war.
Returning to civil life, although but a lad of seventeen years, he found himself, by the death of his father, obliged to assume the re- sponsibilities of a large estate, which, with his brother Dewitt, he successfully managed for a number of years, his sister caring for the home. In the meantime, feeling the need of better educational qualifications, Mr. Mil- ler attended the Howell high school for a time, and later spent eight months in the
west visiting the coast. August 6, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Janet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McKen- zie of St. George, Ontario. Mr. Mckenzie was a native of the Empire State, where he was born in the year 1806. His wife, Eliza- beth Burt, was of Scotch descent, having been born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1820. She was the mother of fourteen children; she died at the age of fifty-nine years, June, 1879. Mr. Mckenzie passed away in the year 1881. They were most estimable peo- ple and highly respected for the uprightness -of their lives. Data given respecting their family is as follows: Peter, December 25 1831; Elizabeth, May 12, 1833 (dead) ; Isabel, December 3, 1834 (dead) ; John, July 24, 1836 (dead) ; Daniel, November 30, 1837 (living) ; Robert, July 10, 1839, (dead) ; Dougal, January 10, 1841 (dead) ; Duncan, December 25, 1842 (living) ; Janet, June 26, 1845 (living) ; James, July 1, 1847 (living) ; Mary, June 21, 1849 (dead) ; William Burt, April 9, 1851 (dead) ; Mal- com K., July 25, 1855 (living) ; George B., July 23, 1857 (living).
To Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born two daughters: Nelly Isabel, February 4, 1879. Miss Nelly is a graduate from the Conservatory of Music at the State Normal College at Ypsilanti .. She is considered a fine musician.
Esther Gaylord, July 3, 1880. Miss Esther is a graduate from the Stenographic Institute at Ann Arbor, Mich. Both are still enjoying the pleasures of the parental home. Intellectual, cultured, and having been favored by travel, make them charming entertainers.
Mr. Miller has no ambition for local pub- lic positions, but has frequently been given preferment. He was for two years Town- ship Treasurer, and for three terms was chosen a member of the Board of Review.
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
He is an enthusiastic Grand Army man, was a charter member and is Past Commander of George H. Ewing Post No. 203, of Stock- bridge. Mr. Miller is a frequenter of both the State and National Encampment of the G. A. R. without regard to locality. He also affiliates with the I. O. O. F., of which asso- ciation he is now and was Treasurer for sev- eral years. The family are all loyal support- ers of the M. E. church.
Mr. Miller retired frrom active farm life some years since, erecting a large and com- modious brick residence in the Village of Stockbridge, where he is always at home to his friends. With an assured income suffi- cient to meet all necessary demands, and even to gratify the cultured tastes, Mr. Mil- ler and family can well afford to keep their hearts in tune for the Doxology. A comrade who fought with Mr. Miller on the front line, has said of him, "he was indeed a brave soldier boy; for him to know duty was to do it." And it can be truthfully added that his private life as a citizen has been above reproach, candid, conscientious, consistent. He is patriotically loyal, and loyally patri- otic.
Mr. Miller has recently added to his well established reputation for liberality and patriotism in the active and prominent part he has taken as a member of the committee in the erection upon the public square in the beautiful Village of Stockbridge, of a granite monument to the memory of her loyal sons who participated in the great struggle for human freedom and a united country.
To Mr. Miller, in this enterprise, and also in the placing of a mounted cannon by Geo. H. Ewing Post of the G. A. R., on the op- posite corner of the square from the monu- ment, is due more than to any other, the planning and carrying to completion these reminders of the trials and triumphs of the Union soldiers in the Civil War.
For ages they will remain and speak to the generations to come of the loyalty and public spirited patriotism of the citizens of Stockbridge.
. While Mr. Miller has always been aligned with the Republican party, he is a strong ad- vocate of the principles of temperance, and he would hail with delight a forward move- ment of his party along this line. In local politics he is always lined up with the tem- perance element, appreciating the fact that the organized liquor traffic is a menace to our Christian civilization.
JOHN B. DWINNELL (DECEASED).
For thirty-seven years John B. Dwinnell was one of the upright and respected citizens of Mason city and Vevay township. His friends were counted by the number of his acquaintances.
He possessed an exceptionally pleasing personality, always having a smile and cor- dial handshake for his many friends. He was a man of considerable business ability, and from the various enterprises in which he was engaged at different times during his life he acquired a sufficient competence to satisfy all reasonable demands. He was the son of Justain and Desire Dwinnell, born in western New York, January 24, 1836. He grew to manhood in his native state where he received a liberal common school education. His first adventure in business was in the city of Rochester. N. Y., where he established a boot and shoe trade which he conducted for one year. Selling this place he came to Michigan and pur- chased the farm now owned by O. W. Priest, Vevay township. Prior to this time he took the important step of his life by being united in marriage, April 27, 1859, to Maranda C., daughter of Richard and Laura VanDusen. Mrs. Dwinnell's father was a merchant of
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the old Granite State, where she was born September 17, 1838, and there spent the early years of her liffe.
Mr. Dwinnell remained upon the farm for fourteen years, but his health gave out and the opportunity presenting itself, he sold the place, moved to Mason where he built a comfortable home. He then purchased a saw mill located on section 12, Vevay township, and for several years was extensively en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber. In this he continued for some time, but eventually retired from active business life. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat and held the office of Justice of the Peace and was a mem- ber of the city Council. His was the tem- perament to enjoy the friendship which came from associations of fraternal organizations. He was a Knight Templar and also a K. of P. Mr. and Mrs. Dwinnell never had any children, and were indeed much to each other and whenever possible were in each other's society. Both kept their hearts young and enjoyed society gatherings. Mr. and Mrs. Dwinnell were loyal members of the Presby- terian society. He departed from this life on the first day of January, 1894. He will long be remembered for his many virtues. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Dwin- nell sold her large home and built a com- fortable and commodious cottage where she spends her summers, going to California and Florida during the winter months. She is also the possessor of a fine farm of 120 acres in Vevay township. This property she rents, it bringing her a desirable income.
PETER MCINTYRE.
There are few residents in the Township of Stockbridge better or more favorably known than the subject of this sketch. For more than half a century his life has been
as an open book before the people of his sec- tion of the country-a goodly portion of the time in public offices-yet few men have re- ceived less criticism upon their acts whether of a public or private character. He is a man his fellow townsmen always seem to de- light to honor. Modest and unassuming in manner, careful of the feelings of others, oftener seeking than giving advice, cordial. yet rather inclined to reticence, such are some of the well known characteristics of Peter McIntyre.
James McIntyre and his wife. Mary Mc- Coll, were both natives of the Empire State, where the former was born in 1802 and the latter in 1811. They were married in the year 1830 and in 1834 came to Michigan, settling upon a tract of one hundred sixty acres of unimproved land in the Township of Unadilla, Livingston county. A log house was rolled up and the felling of the forest and the improvement of the land began. Very crude and primitive was this first home in the wilderness. These thrifty, industrious people of whom we write, were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third. The father, a man of good report, lived to see the youngest members of his family grown to manhood.
In his farming operations and business enterprises he met with average success. The log house in time gave way to a substantial brick structure, the land was brought under subjection. The father died in 1871, re- garded with esteem by his neighbors. The mother departed this life in 1882. Their re- mains rest side by side in the cemetery at North Waterloo Cemetery, Jackson county.
Following is the family genealogy: Don- ald, born 1831, married Miss Olive Herrick, they have five children, four now living, they reside in Howell : Jane, born 1833, was the wife of John Rockwell and mother of one child, Dennis, she died in 1900; a pair of
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MR. AND MRS. PETER MCINTYRE
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
twins were born in 1839 and died in infancy ; Ann, born in 1838, married Peter Mckenzie of Stockbridge, they have three children ; Hugh A., born 1836, resides on the old homestead in Unadilla ; Flora, born in 1841, now the widow of Edward Bates, one child was born to them, Mrs. Bates resides in Lan- sing city ; Mary, born in 1843, now the wife of B. W. Sweet of Waterloo, they are the parents of three children ; James D., born in 1847, married Mary Youngs, they moved to Wisconsin, where he died in 1897, leaving a widow and one son; Nettie, born in 1849, lives with her brother Hugh on the old home- stead ; Eliza, born in 1851, died 1860; Ruth, born 1853, died at the age of six months.
Peter McIntyre received his "book learn- ing" in a log school house where he mastered the three R's. Mr. McIntyre first engaged in farming for himself on a small tract of land in Lyndon township, Jackson county, in 1863. This was during the progress of the great Civil War. Times were good, pro- (luce of all kinds brought a high figure, farming was then a profitable business. It was during the years of the war- and im- mediately after that many a Michigan farm- er laid the foundation that led to a comfort- able competence.
In 1868 Mr. McIntyre sold out and pur- chased his present home of one hundred sixty acres in the Township of Stockbridge. He has since erected a modern house, an elegant barn and other outbuildings, giving to the entire premises an air of thrift and enterprise.
In politics Mr. McIntyre has always been in harmony with the principles of the Repub- lican party. He cast his first vote for Gen- eral John C. Fremont for president and has voted for every Republican presidential candidate since.
March 3, 1863. Mr. McIntyre was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of Mr.
McCloy, of Waterloo, Jackson county. Mr. McCloy was a native of the Emerald Isle, where he was born in 1814, and her mother, whose maiden name was Margaret McIn- tyre, was born in 1818. The McCloys were a highly respected and intelligent family. industrious and thrifty. The father died in 1878 possessed of a farm of two hundred eighty acres, well stocked, besides other hold- ings. The mother was first to pass away. They were both highly respected members of the Presbyterian church.
Mrs. McIntyre was the fifth of a family of seven children, four of whom are still living. Their names in order of their birth. and other data concerning them is given as follows: The first born died in infancy ; Mary died at the age of ten months ; Joseph, born in 1833; young McCloy was a prac- ticing attorney at Grass Lake, Jackson coun- ty, at the breaking out of the war, when the 12th Michigan Infantry was being organ- ized. He recruited a number of men and was commissioned Ist Lieutenant of Co. D. October 10, 1861, was promoted to the rank of Captain September 1. 1862, and remained in the service and followed the fortunes of the 12th Michigan Volunteers in the field until the 25th of February. 1864, when he resigned and was honorably discharged. he died September, 1904: Jane, born 1836: Hugh, born 1840, died November 5, 1904: Abel, born 1842; to Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre have been born two children : Lizzie, born in 1863. now the wife of Fred Roepkie, they were married in 1898: Jennie was born in 1868, united in marriage 1894 to C. E. De Puy, a prominent and well to do business man of Stockbridge village. They have two children : Harold, born October 11, 1896: Olive M., born November 26, 1897. Mr. McIntyre has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for twelve years, was twice elected township treasurer and has also been
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elected Commissioner of Highways and Justice of the Peace.
Two brothers of Mr. McIntyre did valiant service for their country in the War of the Rebellion. Donald enlisted in 1861 with the Ist Michigan Engineers and served with his command until the close of the war. Hugh enlisted in 1862 in Co. K, of the 20th Mich- igan Infantry. He was with his regiment in several engagements and was wounded in action before Petersburg, June, 1863, and sent to the hospital, from which he was given a furlough. He remained in service until the muster out of his regiment at Jackson, Michigan, June 9, 1865. He participated in every battle in which his regiment took part to the date of his receiving his disability.
The facts herein recorded will be care- fully preserved by the descendants of the families herein represented and in later years will be cherished as a bit of valued family history.
Fabulous prices are being paid for scraps of family genealogy and will become more valuable as the years go by.
R. R. BULLEN (DECEASED).
Among the honored names in the archives of Aurelius township, none occurs more fre- quently than that of Bullen, and none is more closely interwoven into the political and ma- terial growth and development of the town- ship.
The subject of this brief memorial biog- raphy, during the early history of the coun- try was one of the active factors in its or- ganization. R. R. Bullen was a native of Worcester in the old Bay State, where he was born September 14, 1806. He bore the given name of his father, Reuben, who was born in the town of Pomfret in the Land of Steady Habits. Reuben Bullen, Sr., mar-
ried Miss Tanison Leavens, and to them were born four children, of which our sub- ject was the eldest son.
In the year of 1824 the elder Bullen with his family took up his residence in Wayne county, New York, where he lived until the date of his death in 1845, being in his sixty- eighth year. It is recorded of him that he was a successful farmer and a valuable citi- zen and identified himself prominently with Wayne county.
R. R. Bullen, at the age of twenty years left the parental home to win for himself a name and a place in the world, having forti- fied himself with a good common school edu- cation. In the year 1838, he found employ- ment at Wilkesbarre, Penn. It was at this time that the Pennsylvania canal was being constructed, and he obtained a position as foreman over a gang of laborers. For years following, up to 1835, he was variously em- ployed, and it may be inferred from his subsequent history that he made good use of his time and by his habits of frugality he laid by a nucleus to his late holdings.
The important event in his life was solemnized in his marriage in 1835 to Miss Elizabeth Vandenburg. In October the year . following, he arrived in Detroit with his family and temporal belongings. They pro- ceeded as far as Ann Arbor, then little more than a country village. Leaving the family, he plunged into the great almost unbroken forest, he found his way to Ingham county, and located eighty-three acres of land upon section 4 and commenced to carve out for himself and family a home. The following spring he made a permanent settlement upon the tract.
But two families had preceded him into the corporate limits of the township. The following from the History of Ingham County, published in 1880, referring to the FI
1
R. R Bullen
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
experiences of those early years will be read · with interest :---
The pioneer life of Mr. Bullen was one of hardship and many privations, but a robust constitution and resolute will overcame all obstacles. Those living at this day may have a faint conception of what the pioneers had to contend with, without roads, mills or bridges, and for supplies were frequently obliged to go to Ann Arbor, a portion of the distance through an almost unbroken forest, with roads that would now be considered impassable. The following incident is re- lated to show the difference between going to mill in 1836 and 1880. The first grist taken to mill by Mr. Bullen was thrashed over a barrel, the bundles being bound small for the purpose, and as there were no conveniences for winnowing the wheat, it was taken in the chaff by a bark canoe to Eaton Rapids where there was a fanning mill. It was then ground, placed in the boat which was poled down the river to Columbia, from which place Mr. Bullen carried it on his back to his home, a distance of some five miles, through the woods. In the organization of the town in 1838, Mr. Bullen took a promi- nent part. He was a member of the first town board, and has since occupied many positions of trust and responsibility. He has represented Aurelius upon the Board of Su- pervisors for a number of terms, and for many years was Justice of the Peace. To Mr. and Mrs. Bullen were born eight chil- dren : George, Richard J., James T., Phoebe A., Susan, Joseph, John E., and Samuel. Of those deceased, George W., the eldest son, was born August 18, 1837, married Lodema Wright in 1867, to this union was born Frank W., now a practicing physician at Eveleth, Wisconsin. Mr. Bullen died January 23, 1875, and his widow passed away August 7, 1878; Mr. Bullen was the
first white child born in Aurelius township; Phoebe A., born January 2, 1844, followed the occupation of a teacher, died February 18, 1867; Samuel died in infancy.
Mr. Bullen, while yet in middle life, was bereft of his wife, leaving him with a large family of young children, and while he never again married, he kept the family together and maintained a home till they were grown to man and womanhood. He passed away December 23, 1882, leaving to his family the rich legacy of an upright and useful life.
RICHARD J. BULLEN.
The members of the family of which our subject is a representative, have, for the most part, been tillers of the soil, and have made a success of the branch of the business to which they have devoted themselves.
R. J. Bullen was born in Aurelius town- ship, May 24, 1840. He was the son of Reuben R. and Elizabeth Bullen, the father having been born in Massachusetts. Reuben R. Bullen moved to New York when eight- een years of age and was married to Eliza- beth Vandenberg. They moved to Michigan in 1836 and settled on section 4 in Aurelius township, having obtained from the govern- ment eighty acres of land, which they partly cleared. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters. Four of the sons and one daughter are living today.
R. J. Bullen spent his boyhood days in Aurelius township, and here acquired his early education, which was supplemented by schooling in New York, after which he at- tended a select school in Lansing under the supervision of a Mr. Taylor. For a time Mr. Bullen was engaged in teaching east of Eaton Rapids, after which he went to Jack- son county and rented a farm for two years, then came back and bought a farm of one
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hundred and sixty acres, where he has since lived. The splendid appearance of this farm today is due to the energy, activity and per- severance of Mr. Bullen.
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