USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 75
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Christmas, 1864, R. J. Bullen was united in marriage to Miss Sarah, daughter of Spencer Markham of Delhi township. Mrs. Bullen was born November 22, 1845.
To this union have been born five children, as follows : Susan E., October 7, 1869, now the wife of Frank Lott of Delhi township: they were married August 25, 1891; they have three children : R. Lucele, born March 21, 1894; Esther C., born June 27, 1897; Sarah Dorothy, July 10, 1903; Ada M., the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bullen, was born September 12, 1872, married June 2, 1898, to Guy Raymond of Mason. The Raymond's have two children : Forest M., born September 21, 1900; Francis. B., born May 19, 1903; Amy V., born February 14, 1875, at home with her parents ; Hubert R. Bullen was born April 12, 1879, was united in marriage to Eva Myers, April 20, 1899. One child has been born to them : Harris R., May 1, 1900, they reside on the old home farm; Ward R. Bullen, born August 13, 1880, married December II, 1901, to Min- nie C. Marshall. One child, bearing the name of her mother, was born Sept. 24, 1902, five days prior to the death of her mother. All the members of the family are active in church work and associated with the M. E. church, with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Lott, who are members of the Presbyterian society. All are prominent in social circles, and may always be relied upon to the extent of their ability.
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Mr. Bullen has been strong in the coun- cils of his party. He was for many years a member of the Board of Supervisors, and for a portion of the time Chairman of the Board. He also served his township as Drain Com- missioner. He at one time received the nomi-
nation for Representative in the State Legis- lature upon the Republican ticket, but lack- ed the requisite number of votes for an election.
Mr. Bullen is a member of the Grange, the Royal Arcanum, and Ingham County Farmers' Club, to all of which he gives loyal support. He takes special pride in the record made by the Farmers' Club-it being gener- ally recognized as the best organization of its kind in the State.
For many years Mr. Bullen was officially connected with the Farmers' Mutual Fire In- surance Company, and he was for nine years its President and Treasurer. He was a dele- gate to the Farmers' National Congress at St. Louis, September 26-30, 1904, commis- sioned by Governor Bliss.
Beside the one hundred and sixty acres which Mr. Bullen bought as his first invest- ment in real estate, he has since purchased one hundred and five acres adjoining this, and his wife inherited one hundred and ten acres from the Markham estate.
Mr. Bullen is a self made man in every sense that the term implies, as he started out in life with no pecuniary assistance and nothing but a pair of willing hands to work his way through the world. As the years have gone by he has accumulated a handsome property and by his many acts of kindness and charity has won many friends among his neighbors and fellow citizens.
Mr. Bullen and family take an active in- terest in all matters that pertain to the best welfare of the township and county, and are never backward in lending a hand to any enterprise that will promote the temporal welfare or spiritual prosperity of their neigh- bors.
Mr. Bullen and sons have but recently in- vested $1,000 in a young Percheron stallion, "Romulus," bred by Frank A. Rowley of Lockport, Ill. This horse is considered by
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good judges an almost perfect type of his breed. He is dark grey in color and at three years of age tipped the scales at better than fifteen hundred pounds.
A visit to the Bullen farm, viewing stock, growing crops, modern labor saving ma- chinery, and premises generally, is an inspir- ation to any farmer. Mr. Bullen farms it for the profits and profits by his farming. Most men might well envy his rating finan- cially, socially, morally and intellectually- he ranks AI.
JAMES T. BULLEN.
Well known in connection with the local affairs of Ingham county during the past four decades, having been many times hon- ored by election to positions of trust and re- sponsibility, James T. Bullen is today recog- nized as among the foremost citizens of Aurelius township. He was born in the township September 6, 1843. Here he spent his boyhood and youthful days, his young manhood and middle life, and now as the shadows are falling toward the east, standing on the divide, he is able to look back upon a life of usefulness and helpfulness. Few men enjoy in a larger measure the confidence and good will of their fellow men.
A steel portrait of his father with a brief outline of his life's activities appears else- where in this volume.
In addition to a good common school edu- cation, Mr. Bullen attended the Taylor Academy at Lansing for some time. He re- mained at home until twenty-one years of age, and branched out for himself, first find- ing employment as a month hand on the farm. Having made good use of his school- ing privileges, he was granted a certificate. and for some time was engaged in teaching during the winter months.
April 15, 1864, Mr. Bullen was united in marriage to Miss Jane Eliza, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hulse of Vevay. Mrs. Bullen was born on March 23, 1846. The Hulse family were pioneers of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Bullen were born four sons, data respecting them is furnished as follows : Ernest L. B., born March 10, 1868, is a practicing attorney at Grand Rapids, is mar- ried and has two children, Merrie and Low- ell : Herbert D., born March 6, 1870, he re- sides at Lansing, is married and has three children ; Hermon J., born September 6, 1874, married, is a farmer in Aurelius town- ship, has one child. James C .; Claud C., born February 10, 1877, resides at Grand Rapids, is stenographer and clerk, is married, has one child, Claude C.
Mr. Bullen's entire life has been closely identified with every enterprise or organiza- tion having for its purpose the betterment of society and the material welfare of the town- ship.
For twelve years he has been honored by his election as Supervisor of his township. For two years he served as chairman of the board. In noting the changes that have come with the passing of the years, Mr. Bul- len states that only one man is now living that is paying taxes on the same description in his township that did so in 1847, when his father was supervisor. This distinction falls to the venerable pioneer, Micajah Vaughan, now a resident of Mason city. Mr. Bullen was for several years engaged in manufac- turing tile and lumber at North Aurelius at the same time he was engaged in the grocery trade, and was the postmaster at that place.
During the Spanish-American War, his son, Herman J., enlisted in the 32nd Mich- igan Volunteers, and served for six months, most of the time at Tampa, Florida.
Mrs. Bullen died in March, 1889, and was buried at North Aurelius. The family are
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consistent members of the Baptist church so- ciety of Mason.
Viewed from the standpoint of upright- ness of life and character, Aurelius has no better citizen than James T. Bullen.
JOHN BULLEN.
To enjoy the confidence of those who know us best, to have the good will and es- teem of our neighbors, is due always to our personal characteristics, rather than of those about us. John Bullen is a man who is in possession of those qualities of head and heart that insures for him the most kindly regard of his friends and neighbors. Genial, cordial, outspoken, one needs but a single introduction to get at the true inwardness of the man.
The influence for the upbuilding of so- ciety, morally and intellectually of the Bul- len family will live and be felt in Aurelius long years after the forms and features of each manly man has been forgotten.
John Bullen was a product of the town- ship in which he has held continuous resi- dence for more than half a century. His history in part may be read in the history of his father, Reuben R., and his brothers, R. J., James T., and Joseph, which are given in this volume.
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His birth dates from March 2, 1851. Gen- eral farming has been the business of his life. though he was for several years engaged with his brother James T. in the manufac- turing of tile and lumber at North Aurelius.
He was united in marriage October 26, 1880, to Miss Ada M. Presley, daughter of Thomas and Martha Smith Presley of Dex- ter, Washtenaw county, Michigan. Mrs. Presley was the pioneer teacher referred to in the sketch of Wm. M. Webb. Mrs. Bul- len was born December 27, 1858. Two chil- dren only, a son and a daughter have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Bullen : Ray L., April 5, 1883, now engaged as a rural mail carrier, and Maud, born November 23, 1884. Miss Maud is with her parents on the home farm. Mr. Bullen is industriously engaged in his farming operations, having abandoned all outside enterprises to which he has formerly given attention.
The history of the worthy Bullen family read consecutively, makes a somewhat re- markable record which the numerous de- scendants may study with a sense of just pride ; few communities comparatively have been blessed with so rich a heritage.
JOSEPH BULLEN.
The true estimate of the worth and character of the individual is not to be reached by the length of his biography, but rather by the trend of his life. To say that the subject of this brief memoir is an hon- ored member of the Bullen family of Aurelius township inspires confidence, and with this statement much may be read be- tween the lines. Having had a continuous residence in the township since his birth in the year 1848, Joseph Bullen's experiences have been those common to his brothers. A man of unimpeachable character, honest and upright in all his dealings, just before the law, living in peace and harmony with his neighbors, such are some of the well known characteristics of him of whom we write.
Mr. Bullen is the happy possessor of a good farm home in Aurelius township, well stocked and equipped with successful farm- ing apparatus, and better than this he is happy in his family and domestic relations.
His wife, Adeline, was the daughter of John S. Holcomb, a volunteer soldier, who gave his life for his country in the great Civil War. He enlisted in July, '61, as a private in the Ist Michigan Artillery, was
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mortally wounded at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, '62. He was taken to a hospital at St. Louis, Mo., where he died. His friends were never able to learn the nature of his wounds. A nurse writing from the hospital to the family, after relating some incidents with reference to his wounds and condition, added, "I have not told you all, he does not wish me to." Brave hero, that he was, wounded to the death, but in his latest mo- ments thoughtful to spare those he loved the pain that the full knowledge of his wounds would give. His name will be remembered by his descendants as one who cheerfully yielded up his life in defense of civil liberty and the overthrow of human slavery, in the "land of the free."
Mrs. Bullen was of a family of five chil- dren. Mrs. Charles S. Wilson of Aurelius, and Mrs. Alex McManamon of Lansing are her sisters. Her brothers, William E., and Edward S., are residents of the town- ship of Aurelius. Four children have been born to Joseph and Mrs. Bullen. The fol- lowing data has been furnished respecting them: Eunice, born 1872, married Arthur Clark, June 14, 1894, they had three chil- dren. Mrs. Clark died Christmas, 1901 ; Charles R., born February 25, 1876. He has to his credit 13 months service in the Spanish-American War, three of which was spent in Cuba. Sergeant Bullen was a mem- ber of Co. F, 31st Michigan Volunteers. He was for several years a member of the Ma- son company of the Michigan National Guards. A comrade of his command said of him, "He was a good soldier, and exception- ally popular with the 'boys.'" He married Mary Bell Dillingham ; they have one child. Vance. Floyd S., born August 16, 1884. He married Nettie Purdy, born August 4, 1883; the date of their wedding was Decem- ber 7, 1904. George W., born October 16. 1886. He is still under the parental roof
and assists his father in the management of their 120 acre farm. Any community would welcome families of the character of Joseph Bullen's.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullen have been for many years in full sympathy with the cause of re- ligion and give cheerful support to the main- tenance of the M. E. church of which they are members. Mr. Bullen is nearly always officially connected therewith.
ADDISON C. COLLINS.
The subject of this biography is a Wol- verine by birth, having first opened his eyes to the light of this earth in Washtenaw county, July 25, 1837. His parents, Selah Baxter and Parmelia (Green) Collins, were natives of the old Empire State, where his father was born in the year 1812 and his mother September 18, 1807.
S. B. Collins came to Michigan with his parents, Alpheus and Betsy Collins, in 1824. The family located in Pittsfield, Washtenaw county.
A. C. Collins' parents were married in the year 1834. December 12. His father secured about one thousand four hundred acres of land lying in Lyndon township, Washte- naw county, a level tract that was ever after known as Collins' plains. At that early datc. Indians were more numerous than the whites, and wild game was plentiful. S. B. Collins built a "shack" near Collins Lake. where he camped for a year until a house was erected for the family. This in time gave place to a brick structure built by Al- pheus Collins, the grandfather, who had made a purchase of four hundred acres of the land formerly in possession of S. B. Col- lins. The brick house is still in good repair. though erected nearly sixty years ago.
Our subject came into possession of the premises in the year 1865, and it was for
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many years his home. About six years since he moved to his present farm residence, about a half mile east of the Village of Stockbridge. This farm has been greatly improved under his management, the house having been thoroughly overhauled, new barns erected, giving the place an up-to-date and thrifty appearance. Mr. Collins has disposed of the old homestead.
In his early farming operations S. B. Col- lins broke up three hundred acres, built three log houses and one log and one frame barn. He was a man of a good deal of energy and rather inclined to speculation. Politically he sided with the Republican party, was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died April 19, 1891. His wife died June 26, 1883.
Our subject was the second of ten chil- dren born to his parents, five of whom are living. The following facts and figures con- cerning the family are here recorded for the information of future generations: Edwin O,. born December 11, 1835. died 1903; Addison C., born July 25, 1837 ; Marian E., born May 24, 1839, died June 27, 1852; William H., born August 4, 1841: Esther A., born September 6, 1843: Cyntha, born April 11, 1846; Lucinda, born February 28, 1849, died April 4, 1849; Josephine, born October 22, 1851, died January 22, 1853; Albert, born August 12, 1853, died August 26, 1862: Betsy, born April 15, 1857.
A. C. Collins' school advantages were those common to country lads in a newly settled country ; in brief, he finished his book education in a district school; but his years of experience and observation have greatly supplemented his primary school advantages. After all it is not so important as to how we came to know a thing-the important thing is to know it.
Mr. Collins remained at home until twen- ty-seven years of age. In 1864 he engaged
himself to a farmer for a year, but stayed fourteen months. He then purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres of his grand- father's homestead, partially improved. He cleared the balance of the land, and as be- fore indicated, lived there for over thirty years.
Mr. Collins has met with success, both in his farming and speculating operations, and has other valuable holdings besides his farm. He has real estate in Detroit, New Balti- more and Gregory.
Mr. Collins was united in marriage De- cember 25, 1846, to Jane McColl, a most es- timable lady, who proved to be a helpmate indeed. She was born April 1. 1839. Through the sunshine and shadow for more than forty years she was the sharer of his trials and triumphs. After a lingering ill- ness caused by a runaway horse, she died March 11, 1904. Mr. Collins was united in marriage November 9, 1904, to his pres- ent wife, whose maiden name was Gertrude Mills.
Alpheus and Betsy Collins were the par- ents of nine children, eight sons and a daughter. This was in many respects a remarkable family. 'Four sons became emi- nent ministers of the Gospel in the Method- ist Episcopal church, to which the parents were for many years loyal adherents. The sixth son, William W. Collins, studied medicine, graduated from the medical de- partment of the University of Michigan, and had an extensive practice extending over a long period of years. He died a few years since and was buried in Albion, Michigan, where he had successfully practiced his pro- fession for nearly forty years. Of the four brothers who entered the ministry. Rev. Wellington Harrison Collins was a member of the Michigan Conference, and at the time of his death was presiding elder of the De- troit district. He died August 8, 1858, while
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in the prime of life, at the age of forty-two years. He left a wife and four children, two sons and two daughters. Rev. Walter D., was for fifteen years a missionary among the Indians in Texas, the Choctaw tribe. His brother, the Rev. Isaac Collins, was as- sociated with him for a time. Rev. Walter D. Collins died December 1, 1856, aged thir- ty-eight years. He left a wife, whom he married in Texas, and two sons, Alpheus and Charles. After the death of his brother, Isaac Collins was transferred to Omaha, where he died and was buried. Rev. Judson Collins was the first missionary sent to China by the Methodist Episcopal church, where, after a few years of faithful service his health failed, and he died and was buried in the old family plot. A monument to his memory and service was erected on the cam- pus of Albion College, appropriately in- scribed.
On the old Alpheus Collins homestead is a family burying ground, where rest the re- mains of thirty-five of the original family and descendants.
A list of the names and such other data as could be obtained is here appended. Mr. Ad- dison C. Collins feels a deep interest in this sacred spot, where rest the remains of so many of his kindred, and is desirous of de- vising ways and means for its perpetual care during the years to come.
Alpheus Collins, the grandfather, died May 26, 1862, aged seventy-two years; Betsy (Hall) Collins, grandmother, died May 19, 1861, aged seventy-one years ; Selah Baxter Collins, eldest son, born 1812, died April 19, 1891; Josiah H. Collins, second son, born 1819, died 1888; Esther Collins, only daughter, born June 19, 1819, died at the age of twenty-eight years.
With the addition of the name of Sydney Collins, the youngest of Alpheus Collins' family and the only one living, the entire
family of eight sons and one daughter are accounted for in the foregoing record.
Other graves in the family plot are Mar- iam Collins, died January 27, 1852, aged twelve years; Josephine Collins, died Jan- uary 22, 1853, aged one year ; Albert, died April 26, 1862, aged eleven years; Lucinda, April 4, 1849, died in infancy.
All children of Selah B. and Parmelia Green Collins: the mother, Parmelia, died June 26, 1883, aged sixty-five years : Jane McColl, wife of our subject, born 1839, died 1904 : Henry, son of Josiah, born 1837, died 1855 ; Josiah, son of Josiah, born 1852, died 1854: Alpheus and Alfred, twin sons of Rev. Wellington N., died June 19, 1856, aged nine months; Mary Ann ( Ward) wife of Rev. Wellington Collins, died Sep- tember 6, 1862, aged forty-six years; an in- fant of Sidney Collins and Walter D., a son, died May, 1858, aged ten years ; Bertrand J. Harris, grandson of Rev. Wellington Col- lins, born June 4, 1875, died November 26, 1901 ; Joseph Elder, son-in-law of Sidney Collins : Hattie, infant daughter of Dr. W. W. Collins; an infant son of E. O. and grandson of S. B. Collins; Hiram Barton, son-in-law of S. B. Collins ; infant daughter and son of W. H. Collins ; brother of Addi- son C. Collins.
"What springs from earth dissolves to earth again, and heaven born things fly to their native seat."
HARVEY WILSON.
It is recorded of the father of Harvey Wilson that he was a man of strong com- mon sense, actuated by high moral princi- ples, while industry and economy were the cardinal principles of his life. These essen- tial elements that enter into the make-up of the best type of the American citizen have been transmitted in full measure into the life
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and character of his son Harvey. To the limit of his acquaintance, Mr. Wilson is known as a conscientious, Christian gentle- man. Industrious, progressive, conservative. From the date of his birth, which occurred August 2, 1845, to date, he has gone in and out among the people, and in all the arenas of life, whether in public or private, his record has been that of a just and upright citizen.
He is a product of the Township of Delhi, where he still resides, and where his father settled in the year 1837. The land at that time was in the primitive state of nature, heavily timbered, as was most of the lands of Ingham county at that early date. The real experiences of pioneer life in a new un- settled country remote from most of the conveniences of civilization came into the lives of the Wilson family in good measure.
The father, Joseph Wilson, a native of Yorkshire, England, was born May 30, 1801, and from early boyhood was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood. At the tender age of thirteen years he left the parental home and started out in life for himself, his stock in trade consisting for the most part of an indomitable perseverance and a robust constitution. He was thirty- one years of age when he landed at Castle Garden, New York. He found employment, and for eight years was a resident of Herki- mer and Ontario counties. In the year 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Skinner, a native of the Green Mountain State, where she was born June 3, 1806. Soon after uniting their fortunes, they turned their faces toward the setting sun and located in the then "far west" in the wilds of Michigan. Three years previous they had purchased from the government one hundred and twenty acres. Here they lived and loved, and toiled through sunshine and shadow, through the active years of their
united lives. They were rewarded in their labors and "blessed in basket and store."
The father died March 26, 1888, and the mother in November of the same year. The memory of their lives of love and service linger as a benediction upon their children, and childrens' children.
The father, while yet a young man in his native country, united with the M. E. church; the mother gave her allegiance to the Baptist society. Both gave their hearts and lives into the keeping of a loving Saviour.
Joseph Wilson was one of a family of ten children, and the last to pass away. His father's Christian name was John. To Mr. .and Mrs. Joseph Wilson were born four children.
Harvey Wilson was united in marriage April 16, 1868, to Susan, daughter of R. R. and Elizabeth (Vandenberg) Bullen. A brief sketch of the lives of these venerable pioneers are to be found in the History of Ingham County, published in the year 1880. Five children have come to bless and brighten the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, and the following data concerning them is not only interesting, but complimentary to their training and intelligence :
Robert H., born February 14, 1869, grad- uated at the Michigan Agricultural College, also has a life certificate for teaching from the State Normal College. Had experience as a teacher. He married Miss Emma. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Frink, worthy pioneer settlers of Delhi township. Robert and Mrs. Wilson have three chil- dren : Agnes, Harold and Louise. Mr. Wil- son is engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Asa B., born May 5, 1871, secured a good common school education, taught for a time, later attended the Michigan Agricultural College and State Normal. He married Miss Anna, daughter of John Dean and
JOHN HEMANS
MRS. JOHN HEMANS
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wife. They are very pleasantly situated in a country home.
Alice, born July 1, 1875, graduated from the Mason high school and for a time was engaged in teaching. August 15, 1900, she was united in marriage to Roy J. Robb, a resident of Vevay township. Mr. Robb is a graduate from the M. A. C. and a teacher of experience. Mr. Robb is a product of Ingham county and one of her most promis- ing young agriculturalists. The Robb's have' two children : Carl O. and Frank W.
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