Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 14

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 14

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He voted for the currency bill, remonetization of silver, and other financial measures, many of which, though defeated then, have since become the settled policy of the country. Owing to the position which Mr. Begole occupied on these questions, he became a "Greenbacker."

In the Gubernatorial election of 1882, Mr. Begole was the candidate of both the Greenback and Dem- ocratic parties, and was elected by a vote of 154,269, the Republican candidate, Hon. David H. Jerome,

receiving 149,697 votes. Mr. Begole, in entering upon his duties as Governor, has manifested a spirit that has already won him many friends, and bids fair to make his administration both successful and pop- ular.

The very best indications of what a man is, is what his own townsmen think of him. We give the fol- lowing extract from the Flint Globe, the leading Re- publican paper in Gov. Begole's own county, and it, too, written during the heat of a political campaign, which certainly is a flattering testimonial of his ster- ling worth :

" So far, however, as Mr. Begole, the head of the ticket, is concerned, there is nothing detrimental to his character that can be alleged against him. He has sometimes changed his mind in politics, but for sincerity of his beliefs and the earnestness of his pur- pose nobody who knows him entertains a doubt. He is incapable of bearing malice, even against his bit- terest political enemies. He has a warm, generous nature, and a larger, kinder heart does not beat in the bosom of any man in Michigan. He is not much given to making speeches, but deeds are more signif- icant of a man's character than words. There are many scores of men in all parts of the State where Mr. Begole is acquainted, who have had practical demonstrations of these facts, and who are liable to step outside of party lines to show that they do not forget his kindness, and who, no doubt, wish that he was a leader in what would not necessarily prove a forlorn hope. But the Republican party in Michigan is too strong to be beaten by a combination of Demo- crats and Greenbackers, even if it is marshaled by so good a man as Mr. Begole."

This sketch would be imperfect without referring to the action of Mr. B. at the time of the great calamity that in 188r overtook the people of Northeastern Michigan, in a few hours desolating whole counties by fire and destroying the results and accumulations of such hard work as only falls to the lot of pioneers. While the Port Huron and Detroit committees were quarreling over the distribution of funds, Mr. Begole wrote to an agent in the "'burnt district " a letter, from which we make an extract of but a single sentence : "Until the differences between the two committees are adjusted and you receive your regular supplies from them, draw.on me. Let no man suffer while I 'have money." This displays his true character.

MECOSTA COUNTY,

MICHIGAN.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

C. C. Haller

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MECOSTA COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ON. CEYLON C. FULLER, Judge of the 27th Judicial Circuit of Michigan, was born at Chardon, Geauga IO Co., O., June 25, 1832. Aside from his official em- " inence, his connection with O the history of Big Rapids and Mecos- ta County places him pre-eminent among the citizens of both. More- over, his stainless record, both in pub- lic and in private life, his allegiance to the obligations of his manhood, his solicitous interests in whatever coukl permanently affect the section where he has established his home and founded all that must be dearest to him in life, justly entitle him to a respect commensurate with the posi- tion he occupies.

It is a striking feature of our American institutions that what one man accomplishes reflects a luster on the career of others who serve their generation in other capacities. So it chances that a man may be reviewed in all his relations without detracting from the worth of other men, or reflecting upon their achievements, no less meritorious because less prominent in the same avenue. Representative men are the bulwarks of our

local as well as national structure, and in according to Judge Fuller the first place in the present work, its publishers but harmonize with the sentiment of the community which he so honors and which so hon- ors him.

He comes of sturdy yeoman ancestry in both lines of descent. He is the type of the element which underlies the true greatness of the British people ; no atrophy of aristocracy enfeebles, no taint of supersti- tion or ignorance poisons the stock of his origin, and in him are combined the best traits of his progenitors, fostered under our institutions and developed under the privileges of our country's dower to the humblest of her sons-American citizenship.

Judge Fuller is the second son of Edson and C'e- lira (C'anfield) Fuller. The father was born at Caze- novia, N. Y., in 1809, and died at Des Moines, la., April 4, 1879. His ancestors were among the early English emigrants to this country, bringing here a name illustrious because unblemished, and which has been handed down to successive generations untarn- ished. The record of Edson Fuller is inseparable from that of Big Rapids and Mecosta County, whither he brought his family in 1859, when the now thriving and beautiful Forest City showed only a nucleus of three houses and one small saw-mill. He grew to youth in his native State, and in the dawn of his

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earliest manhood went to Ohio. He was married there and remained until 1845. In that year he came to Grand Rapids, Mich., then but the hope and promise of its present splendid estate. The journey was accomplished in the manner common to that period, in a prairie schooner, drawn by an ox team, the days passing in slow but sure progress toward the point of destination, the nights in the restful solitude of the camp. Ten years of untiring energy and activity at Grand Rapids brought substantial reward, and in 1855 Mr. Fuller transferred his interests to Mishawaka, Ind., where, in 1857, the accumulations of years were swept away in the financial convulsion which wrecked the hopes and the resources of the business element of this land. From its foundations was the structure of fortune once more to be reared, and Mr. Fuller came to Big Rapids to begin again in a field that seemed to promise a reasonable degree of success. He opened the first store in the county. A description of the miscellaneous character of the merchandise he offered for sale would be as interesting as any other possible detail of the pio- neer history of Big Rapids. The stock was drawn from Grand Rapids over roads which the record declares " neither tongue nor pen can describe." The store was located at the corner of Elm Street and Michigan Avenue.

At the close of his commercial affairs, Mr. Fuller moved to a farm in the township of Green, where his family resided until 1877. In that year they returned to Big Rapids. In April, 1879, while visiting his eld- est son at Des Moins, Mr. Fuller died, ripe in years, leaving a wife and five children, who, individually, without exception, have sustained his name among men and glorified his memory in their lives of honor and usefulness.

The record of Celira (Canfield) Fuller is one that verifies the law of natural heritage and in the careers of her four sons and surviving daughter, her womanly worth and super-eminent intellectual qualities are perpetuated. Her earliest recorded ancestors were Huguenots, a fact which largely accounts for much of her personal annals. Her family name had its origin in the events which characterized the com- mingled history of England and France in the 14th century. A Huguenot family of Normandy, named Dephilo, received from the British crown a grant of land lying contiguous to the river Cam in England. The bestowal was for meritorious services, and such -

was the appreciation of the honor bestowed with it that the event was made memorable by abnegation of the old family cognomen, and the compounding of a new one which should perpetuate the memory of the act of the English Government to the reinotest gen- eration. Cam and Dephilo became Camphield, and the orthography remained unchanged until the death of Thomas Camphield, in the 16th century, when the name was spelled Camfield, remaining thus until 1720, when it became Canfield. Matthew Camfield came from England to New Haven, Ct., in 1639. When that province made haste to secure the favor of the British Government in the early days of the restored monarchy, the charter which the "scholarly young Winslow, the best and truest man" in all her borders, carried to King Charles, bore the name ot "Matthew Camfield" as one of the petitioners for a royal patent. Winthrop's tact and sagacity secured for the colony "the most liberal and ample" charter ever granted by an English monarch, and upon the people of Connecticut was conferred power to govern themselves and this without qualification or restric- tion. Under the provisions of this charter "Gold, Sher- man and Camfield" were appointed judges and vested with power to hold court at Fairfield, opening April 1, 1669. Mr. Camfield afterward went with part of his family to Newark, N. J., where he died and where his name is perpetuated by numerous descendants. The distinction of his name and position is also marked by the fact that his son Samuel (ist) was a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut in 1669. Samuel Camfield (2d) was born at Norwalk, Ct., in 1672, and ma.ried Abigail Austin, of Stamford, Ct., Aug. 1, 1709. Samuel Camfield (3d) was born June 4, 1710, at New Marlborough, Mass. His estate is yet in the possession of his descendants. Thomas Canfield, son of the last named, was born at New Marlborough, and married a lady named Burr. Oliver Canfield, son of Thomas, married Sally Sherman in 1782, and of this marriage was born at Tyringham' Mass., July 7, 1810, Celira, the mother of Judge Fuller.

Her father died when she was in infancy, and her mother remarried and went to Chardon, Geauga Co., O., where she grew to womanhood. She married Edson Fuller, Feb. 4, 1830. Her home in Ohio was with that of the pioneer element, and she had but little technical education, as she had the advantage of but ten weeks of school in her life. But she was ever a

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student The profession of medicine afforded deep interest to her alert mental organization and within her scope she pursued its practice both in Indiana and at Big Rapids, being signally successful in her efforts to alleviate suffering and baffle disease. She was ever prominent in educational, moral and religious movements. In 1850, '51 and '52 she was in charge of the primary department of the union school at Grand Rapids, Mich. She organized the first Sunday-school at Big Rapids, whose sessions were held in the old red school-house. In moral avenues her influence was sensibly felt among the pioneers of the village and vicinity and extended through the later years of her life, when Big Rapids had become a city incorporate, and her population had increased to thousands.

In 1873-4 she experienced a severe attack of ery- sipelas and vacillated for weeks between life and death. On her recovery she reviewed her situation while suffering under her terrible affliction, express ing her views in metrical language with vivid power and beauty. It is as follows :

" Heavy, and heavier still life's burden grew, Until at last my weary feet refused To hear me, and I laid me down in pain, So near the brink of the dark mystic tide That, as the surging waves rushed madly by, They dashed their fey spray full in my face: And my swollen features, soon so loathsome grew That even the eye of love in-t turn away. Earth's light went ont.and midnight darkness reigned While liquid fire seemed coursing through my veins. A death-like chillness tortured all my bones. Fire and ice. contending for the victory. Filled my whole frame with mortal agony. I prayed for patience to endure, and soon I thought I heard beyond the roaring flood A voice say. "Come and enter into rest." A momentary fear came over me. And tremblingly I asked, Is this the way? This awful door of torture must 1 pass, To reach my home upon the other shore ? I had for years felt sure that I could meet The last great Enemy, with tru-ting faith In Ilim, who met the tyrant of the race, And all his hosts, in his own dark domain. He seemed a captive.

All the power of Hell Reveled in one mad carnival, until the hour Appointed for the viet'ry. Then behohl! The gates of adamant, the bolted doors Of Death's dread prison open, and a king! A conqueror! Gloriously triumphant Ofer the vanquished hosts of death and hell, The Christian's Lord, the chosen Son of God. Come- forth in majesty from the dark tomb, Welcomed by all the retinne of Heaven. With living faith in his victorious power. I would serenely bid my friend- adieu, And leave my precious children in hiscare:

AAnd while I clasped their loving hand- in mine I'd bid them meet me in my father's house; But to go out in such sharp agony.

That all my word- were broken into groans Caused heart and flesh for one brief hour to fail. Then I remembered how this mighty prince. Though now by angels crowned, oner prayed alone. In such deep sorrow that great crimson drop- Fell on the garden sod. Ili- friend- asleep! Three times that pleading voice went up to heaven "If it be possible, let this cup pa --. "

Then meekly said, "Thy will. not mine. be done." All fear was gone, and my glad heart set up The full response. "Thy will, not mine. be done." Faith triumphed, and my soul was filled with peace. The deep, dark flood that filled me with such dread Was quiet now, and -cemed so narrow, too, That I could almost reach the hands of these Who beckoned to me from the other shore. While waiting. the willing to cross the stream. A may of earthly light came to my eyes Faint as the starlight at the morning dawn. But still enough to show what seemed to me In the uncertain light. a guard of men Standing beside my bed. I heard the names Of baby boys, who long, long years ago Hlad lain upon my breast, and heard these men Give answer to these names : and then I know They were my boys. now wearing manhood's crown. A whisper breathed on the electric cord Reached the far west where dwelt my eldest -on. And he, too, stood beside his brother- here. All hand in hand, guarding their mother's life: And girls .- well. call them women if you will. Who walk lite's toil-ome journey with my boy -. Were there with loving heart -. faithful and true. When the tierer fever burned, soft hands were laid I'pon my forehead; finger -. soft and cool As rose leaves sprinkled with the dow of June. Were on my throbbing temples gently pressed. And to my weary senses brought relief: And one whose earliest life was drawn from mine. Whose vein- were filled with the same purple tide That warm- my own. stayed by me during day- Of lingering, painful, convalescence.

And by her watchful care. cheered the dark way Through which my feeble and unrestful fort Must walk a little while .- God know- how long. le also knows that with a grateful heart 1 bless His holy name for the rich gift.

The priceless treasure of my children"- love.

And so I take again the burden of my life. With -tronger faith in Him who knows my heart Faith that can trust, in darkness a- in light. Faith that can claim the promises He made l'o his disciples.

And when the thick darkness Gather- round my way. I will remember That He said to all the heavy laden. "('ome unto me and I will give you rest."

Her religious ideas were in keeping with the sim" plicity and majesty of the Center of the New Testa- ment, and she fashioned them into articles for the press, which were fraught with her own ardor and strength. After the death of her husband she re- sided with her children. In November, 1882, she went to Des Moines to pass the remainder of her

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MECOSTA COUNTY.

life, and during its closing months her intellectual ac- tivity seemed to culminate. She commenced the preparation of a series of lay sermons for the Newaygo Tribune, the first of which reached its publishers July 9, 1883, and appeared July 25, in the same issue which contained the notice of her death. That event occurred July 12, three days after her communi- cation reached its destination. Her five surviving children watched the closing hours of her life and placed her in her pale sieep by the husband at whose side she walked in wifely dignity, in maternal beauty, in Christian consistency, for nearly half a century. In herchildren her earthty record yet lives; her sons are all in honorable walks of life, and her daughter, Mrs. Elma L. Hutchinson, of Des Moines, is a physi- cian in regular practice and standing, representing the one idiosyncrasy of the mother, as the sons typify the race from which she sprung in sterling merit, honor- able record and inflexible courage. Corydon E. Fuller, eldest son, resides at Des Moines, Ia., and has held his present responsible incumbency of Treas- urer of the Iowa Loan & Trust Company 12 years. William D. Fuller, resident at Newaygo, editor and proprietor of the Newaygo Tribune, is State Swamp Land Commissioner and Chairman of the Greenback State Committee. Orrin T. Fuller, resident at Des Moines, Ia., is the Interest Clerk in the office of the lowa Loan & Trust Company. Ellen J. M. Fuller died at Grand Rapids in 1850, aged sixteen. In her memory, parents, brothers and sister kept youth alive, and the oldest and youngest await the restoration of the household band in its entirety in the realms of perpetual morning.

Judge Fuller was in his thirteenth year when his parents went to Grand Rapids, and he attended the union school there until he was 18 years old, when he was sent to Hiram College, where James A. Gar- field was then a student. Between the two boys of 18 and 19 years, a warm regard ensued which never abated. They were room-mates at Hiram, and when the chief honor in the Nation's gift was laid at the feet of him whose tragic fate and heroic endurance chal- lenged the awe and admiration of the world, Judge Fuller hastened to offer his congratulations, and, true to the instincts which molded his matchless man- hood, General Garfield found time, in the midst of the haste and clamor of the opening campaign, to write a letter to his boyhood's friend, characteristic

in its kindly and grateful remembrance of him. Judge Fuller left Hiram and returned to Grand Rapids. He established himself in mercantile inter- ests with Daniel McConnell, A. G. Smith and Wm. H. McConnell, under the firm style of C. C. Fuller & Co. This connection was of brief duration, Judge Fuller selling out his claim. In the fall of 1856 he went to McGregor, la., organized a company and em- barked in the business of tanning leather, operating with the Daniels patent process. Of this concern Judge Fuller was treasurer and manager, but he closed his relations with it not long after its establish- ment and purchased a half interest in the North Iowa Times, a sheet of rank Democratic tendencies ; but, notwithstanding the variance between the prin- ciples of its proprietors, the journal was conducted with marked harmony and success. In 1858 he re- turned to Grand Rapids and in the winter of 1858-9 once more cast his hopes upon the tide of com- mercial life, forming a partnership with O. R. Wilmarth. In the fall of 1859 he decided in a change in his purposes, and sold his busi- ness interests to enter upon his preparation for the profession of law. He read under the supervision of Messrs. Ashley & Miller, of Grand Rapids, and in June, 1860, was admitted to the bar.

In May, 1860, he established his home at Big Rapids, where his personal experience forms a link in the pioneer history of the place, which contained then five houses, scattered among the trees of the forest. Judge Fuller bought a tract of land contain- ing four lots lying (now) on the corner of Linden Street and Michigan Avenue, and covered with tim- ber. With his own hands he cleared the land and laid the foundation walls of his residence, the first stone work laid in mortar in the village, said mortar being made from the first lime burned in the county, and which was bought from the producer, John Snyder, of Green Tp. He assisted personally in the erection of the building until its completion.

Judge Fuller's public life commenced in the fall of the same year. He was elected Court Commissioner and held the office until 1868. He was also ap- pointed Postmaster, in which capacity he acted un- til his removal in 1866, which was effected by Andrew Johnson for political purposes. In the fall of 1862, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Mecosta County and officiated two years. He was elected Judge of Probate in 1864 and acted in that capacity

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JECOSTA COUNTY.

four years. In 1868 he was elected to the State Legislature, and was a member of the Committees on Railroads and Engrossing and Enrolling. He intro- «luced several important local bills, also a bill to pro- vide for registration of electors in new townships.

While the county was yet new, Judge Fuller bought 240 acres of land in the south part of the Fourth Ward of the city of Big Rapids, 40 acres of which was platted as Fuller's Addition. He is still the owner of three acres, besides a number of city lots and a splendid residence. In 1873, associated with L. H. Green, he built the Opera block. The mone- tary crisis and shrinkage of values of that year over- whelmed the business interests of Big Rapids, the individual loss of Judge Fuller being about $40,000.

Judge Fuller is a Republican of no uncertain ten- dency, but his character and record have preserved his popularity with all classes regardless of party is- sues. His position before the people is evinced by the fact of his being successively elected to the best official positions. He was elected to his present po- sition as Judge of the Twenty-seventh Judicial Circuit in 1882, running against George Luton, of Newaygo, and receiving a majority of 651 votes. He is the first incumbent of the position after the formation of the Circuit by the Legislature of Michigan.

Judge Fuller was married at Davenport, Iowa, Nov. 9, 1858, to Frank A., daughter of John Mor- rison, an early settler of that city. She was born Aug. 31, 1838, at Gallipolis, Ohio. Of this marriage were born, at Big Rapids, seven children, six sons and a daughter. Louis MI. was born April 24, 1861, and is telegraph operator and ticket agent in the Big Rapids office of the G. R. & I. R. R. Herbert C. is a telegraph operator, and was born Jan. 24, 1863. Percy H. was born Feb. 17, 1866, and died Aug. 12, 1868; John E. was born Jan. 2, 1868; Ben H., Feb. =7, 1870; Frank M., Jan. 3, 1872; Daisy A., born Nov. 12, 1872. For the life given a life was taken, the mother passing to the spirit world Nov. 12, 187 2. The lonely little one soon sought the maternal pres . ence, winging her flight to heaven Aug. 4, 1873.

Judge Fuller was a second time married, at Ypsi- lanti, Mich., Jan. 5, 1876, to Sarah E., daughter of Isaac TI. and Eliza E. Voorhies. She was born at Trumansburg, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Ang. 2, 1849. Two sons, Charles E., born AApril 26, 1877, and Leslie L., April 14, 1879, have been born of this marriage

corge Risbridger, farmer. sec 1, Deerfield Tp., P. O. Altona, was born in England May 19, 1823. His parents, Isaac and Ann (Ridley) Risbridger, were natives of Eng- land and lived and died in their native country. Mr. Risbridger had his contest to make in the world single-handed and alone, and his early life in his native land was passed as a farmer. He came to America in 1850 when 27 years of age, reaching New York in the month of May. He went thence to Portage Co , Ohio, and was there engaged durirg three years in the manufacture of potash and pearl- ash. He next came to Kalamazoo Co., Mich., re- moving a year later to Barry County. There he bought 80 acres of unimproved land, built a house and cleared 70 acres, setting out an orchard of 150 trees. AAfter a residence of 15 years he sold his place and bought 200 acres of well improved land in Bed- ford, Calhoun County, where he resided 13 years. .Again disposing of his place, he came to Mecosta County and bought 40 acres of partially improved land, where he has since resided.

Mr. Risbridger was married March 2, 1850, in Eng- land, to Sabina, daughter of George and Hannah. Eager, also natives of England. She was born Dec 30, 1832, and died in Deerfield, July 12, 1883, leav- ing seven of ten children born of her marriage to Mr. Risbridger. Following is a record of their births: George I , Dec. 30, 1854; Hannah M., Oct. 24, 1857; Byron P., Aug. 29, 1859; Ida O., Dec. 4, 1863 ; Francis H., Oct. 23, 1865: Charles J., Dec. 2, 1867 ; Mary S., Feb. 2, 1869. Fanny, born March 19, 1851, died Sept. 4. 1853; Henry, born Nov. 23, 1852, died Sept. 10, 1853; Wm. W., born Aug. 1, 1861, died Oct. 27, 1863.

Mr. Risbridger has been actively interested in edu- cational matters for many years. He is a voracious reader; conversant with the affairs of the day and, mindful of all the circumstances which surrounded and baffled his ambitions in his native land, has ever been ready to lend his aid and influence to all re- formatory measures which promised to correct popu- lar evils and improve social grades. In politics he acts independently ; is a prohibitionist in principle and believes in the education of the masses as.a safe-

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Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 14

Author: Chapman Brothers Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 684

Author: Chapman Brothers
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 684