Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 16

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 16

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and built a store on Michigan Avenue, and embarked in the grocery and provision trade.

Mr. Lazell, in addition to his other business ven- tures, has operated in real estate to some extent, and is now in possession of 30 acres of land in the third ward of Big Rapids, and several small tracts of land in various parts of the county. He was appointed Postmaster during the administration of President Grant, for a period of six years, and in April, 1882, was elected l'olice Magistrate, a post to which he was re-elected in 1883. He is deservedly popular for the able and impartial method in which he dis- charges the duties of his incumbency.

Mr. Lazell was married in London, England, March 19, 1853, to Mary Ann Styles, a native of Chatham, Kent Co. She joined her husband in this county in 1862. Their son and only child, Harvey G. Lazell, mail agent on the G. R. K. I. R. R., was born at Grand Haven, and was the first male child baptized in the Presbyterian Church in that city ; he married Emma McNutt, and they have one child, George.

9.K.

ohn Q. A. Clark, farmer, resident on sec. 25, Morton Tp., was born March 5, 1829, in Allegany Co , N. Y. He is the son of Elijah and Sabra (Philips) Clark. At the age of 13 he left the paternal roof to enter upon his work in life. He found employment on farms, which he pursued in the laboring seasons and "worked for his board" while securing the benefits of several terms of winter school. On reaching manhood he learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked diligently 12 years.

Mr. Clark came to Michigan and settled in Tus- cola County, where he entered a claim of 160 acres of Government land, and there he lived and pros- pered fairly until the memorable fall of 1871, when that section of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan was devastated by fire, following so closely upon that of Chicago, that both are inseparably connected in the memories of men. The devouring flames swept away everything in and about the place, and as soon

as practicable Mr. Clark removed himself from all associations with that period of horror and loss. He came to Mecosta County and bought So acres of tim- bered land. The situation of his farm is' fine; it is level and lies somewhat higher than the adjacent country, and is proportionately dry and tillable. He has 15 acres cleared and under cultivation.

Mr. Clark was married Sept. 4, 1862, to Betsy Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have two children, the elder a daughter, Florella M., now wife of John E. Bristol, and living at Lake View. The younger, Homer, a boy of 13, resides with his parents.

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endall I. Pike, retired farmer, residing at Morley, was born in Concord, N. Y., April 3, 1817. His parents, James and Sarah (Day) Pike, were natives of New Hamp- shire and settled in Erie County, N. Y. The father left his wife and children in Concord and pushed forward to Michigan, then known as ' way out West." He located in Fentonville, Oak- land Co., built a grist-mill and was influential in or- ganizing and building up the town. He contracted yellow fever, from which he died. His wife was an invalid from lameness 15 years. The family remained in the State of New York, where the mother died.

Mr. Pike, of this sketch, was apprenticed at the age of 12 years to spend the remainder of his mi- nority in learning the trade of cloth manufacturer, which he pursued as a journeyman three years after he became of age, and then went to Canada, follow . ing his business about 20 years at Pickering, Ontario Co., where he built a woolen mill and had a prosper- ous trade. He was also engaged some years in the manufacture of bells at London, Can., in which he also met with success. Finally he encountered dis- aster in his transactions and his fine estate was swept away.

In the fall of 1855 he came to Michigan and rented a farm in Ionia County, which he managed , five years, and then bought 80 acres of unimproved land in sec. 28 of the Township of Deerfield, Me-

MECOSTI COUNTY.

costa ('o. He cleared it and erected buildings, put- ting the place in first-class rank among the farms of the county. He lost his barn by fire in the fall of 1880. He has now placed the farm in charge of a tenant and is passing the sunset time of life in retirement.

Mr. Pike was married to Mary, daughter of Asher and Susan (Stotts) Wilson, a native of Pickering, Ontario Co., Can. They have had seven children,- James 11., Sophia, Sarah S., Charles H., Lina and Anna E .; Margaret is deceased. The children are all married with one exception. The family are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pike is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

amuel S. Chipman, farmer on sec. 25, Deer- field Tp., was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., July 21, 1814. His parents, Fitch ard Sarah (Spafford) Chipman, were natives of Vermont. His father was a farmer and re- sided in Genesee Co. until 1836, when he came to Michigan and remained in Livingston Co. until 1844. He then went back to the State of New York and in 1854 again located in Livingston Co., Mich., where he resided until his death, Jan. 15, 1864. The mother died in Unadilla, Livingston Co., Dec. 26 1859

Mr. Chipman obtained a good education at the public school and at Wyoming Academy, remaining with his father until his twenty-second year, when he began farming on his own account in Livingston Co. Hle operated there about 20 years and in 1853 went to California, where he remained one year, and he returned to his farm. In 1854 he located in Everett, Newaygo Co .; March 14, 1860, he came to Mecosta County, and settled on the river near where Mor- ley now stands, removing a year and a half later to the farm where he now resides, consisting of 2440 acres, 125 of which is finely improved. He was elected Supervisor of Deerfield Tp. in 1861, serving nine successive years ; later he was again elected and held the position three years; has also officiated as Treasurer two years. Politically he adheres to the principles promulgated by the Republican party.

Mr. Chipman was married Feb. 28, 1836, to Alta II. Sutherland. She was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1816, and died July 15, 1856, leaving four children,-Henry C., Lemuel F., Ann Eliza and Francis J. The second marriage of Mr. Chipman occurred May 28, 1864, to Mary Eckert, a native of Germany, and born April 2, 1844. Three children of this union are living and three are deceased; the lat- ter were named Maud, May and Eddie. The former are Frank L., Samuel S. and Oscar M.

E. Gruber. M. D., physician and surgeon at Altona, was born in Clarion Co., Penn., Jan. 25, 1844. Ile is a son of Peter and Lydia (Mohney) Gruber, both natives of Pennsylvania, where the mother died March 7, 1853. The father came to Michigan in the fall of 1866 and located in Isabella County, engaging in mercantile business and farming, and where he is yet resident.

Dr. Gruber was a pupil at the common schools until he was 15 years of age, when he entered Rim- ersburg Academy, Clarion Co., Penn. He was there one year and then entered Glade Run Academy, Armstrong Co., Penn., and studied two and one-half years.

When he was between the ages of 18 and 19 the war broke out, and, yielding to the patriotic influences which swayed the entire North, he enlisted in Com- pany B, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and remained in the service one year. After his enrollment he was detailed from the regiment and sent West under General Custer as a scout. On the expiration of his period of enlistment he was honorably discharged and went home, where he remained two years and then set out on a somewhat extended tour of travel going through Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas. At Little Rock he entered the ser- vice of the Government as a scout, and was stationed at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory. He had head- quarters there for about one year, when he left the employ of the United States, and came North through Kansas, Missouri and lowa to Michigan, where he was a partner with his father in mercantile

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business, located at Salt River, Isabella Co. This re- lation existed about three years and closed by sale. Dr. Gruber then went to Clare, Clare Co., Mich., and continued to prosecute his medical studies, which he had done as opportunity offered for a long period. On the Ist of July, 1874, he went to Es- tella, Gratiot Co, and began the practice of his profession with his brother-in-law. Dr. F. S. Marvin. He operated there until the following April. At that date he carried out a long settled plan to make a per- manent location, which he did by fixing upon Altona as a field for future operations, and there began his career as a local practitioner, June 1, 1875. In ISSo he went to Chicago and entered the Rush Medical College and attended lectures with the class of '80 and '81. In October of that year he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and there attended the Medical College, receiving his diploma, March 2, 1882. Dr. Gruber has an enviable reputation as a practitioner, and enjoys the confidence of a large cir- cle of patrons and friends. His skill and attention to business has secured for him a satisfactory and in- creasing practice, and his devotion to his duties is such that he is sure to rise in his profession.

Dr. Gruber was married at Salt River, Isabella Co., Mich., June 2, 1870, to Sarah M., only daughter of David K. and Elizabeth (Fordyce) Frey. Their four children were born as follows: Edgar E., Jan. 26, 1872; Lillian M., June 24, 1875; Gertrude, March 22, 1878, and John F., Dec. 25, 1880. Dr. Gruber has held the office of Town Clerk two years. He was Postmaster under Grant, Hayes and Garfield, and resigned the post in the fall of 1882. He was Democratic candidate for the office of Probate Judge in 1875, but was defeated by a small majority.

In connection with his practice, Dr. Gruber owns and manages a drug store.

F. C. Wilson, of the firm of Batson & Wilson, marble dealers, Big Rapids, was « born in Sullivan Co., Mo., Aug. 27, 1855. He is thes on of Benjamin and Mary (Manley) Wilson. His parents came to Michigan in the year 1861 and settled at Grand Rapids, where they remained till 1866, when they went to Ionia. At

this place his father engaged in the marble business.

At 15 he went into the shop and there continued under his father's instructions until 18 years of age. The senior Wilson then disposed of his business in- terests and the son went to work for N. H. Batson in lonia, Mich., where he operated as a journeyman until the spring of 1879. At that date he came to Big Rapids and opened marble works in company with Wm. Batson. They fixed their business at 'its present stand Jan. 1, 1883, and their stock includes all varieties of foreign and American marble and gran- ite. One of the special lines of the firm is the gran- ite from South Ryegate, Vt. They have the monop- oly of their business in this city and compete with dealers at Grand Rapids, Adrian, Muskegon, Reed City and other places. Their stock is usually worth about $4,000, and they sell about $8,000 value of marble and granite yearly. The finest monuments in the city cemetery make a fair exhibit of the style and character of their work. Mr. Wilson is the local manager of the business interests of the house, Mr. Batson representing the firm on the road.

Mr. Wilson was married at Big Rapids, Nov. 2, 1881, to Alice M., daughter of Robert and Nancy Bate. She was born at Hudson, Mich., July 30, 1855.

lias S. Reed, farmer on sec. 7, ÆEtna Tp., was born in Oxford Co., Ban., Nov. 24, 1828. His father, Israel Reed, was born in Massachusetts, and his mother, Fanny (Lane) Reed, was a native of New Jersey. The parents both died within the same week at their home in Canada, aged 68 and 54 years, respectively. They had 13 children, five of whom yet live.

Mr. Reed remained with his parents until their death, and spent another year on the old homestead going to school a year, after which he apprenticed himself to a Mr. Smith, a harness-maker, at St. C'ath- erines, where he acquired the details of his business. He went to Grand Rapids in 1845, and there worked six months, going thence to Chicago, and three months later enlisted in the Second Illinois Vol. Inf., and, in 1846, went to Mexico, where he remained un-

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til July 4, 1849, returning at the close of the war to Chicago. After a brief stay he proceeded to Elk Horn, and Nov. 3, 1849, he enlisted in the regular army of the United States, going to Newport (Ken- tucky) Barracks, and there stayed until April 5, 1850, when he was transferred to Jefferson Barracks and thence to Leavenworth, Kan., setting out four weeks later across the plains to Sante Fe, New Mexico. Ilis next removal was to Adonana, a post on the Rio Grande, where he joined the Third Reg., United States Army. He served in this five years, and then ran a Government train six months, after which he returned to Canada and took possession of the farm left him by his father's will.

After farming two years he let the place and went to Stratford, where he entered upon the management of the Northwestern Hotel, and embarked in the livery business, keeping 22 horses. He had also a carriage shop, employing eight wagon-makers and a blacksmith. His business flourished about three years, when he found his misplaced confidence had destroyed his resources, and in 1859 he sold out his interests and came to Michigan, and was em- ployed several years in the lumber woods. In 1879 he purchased 83 acres of land, where he now resides. The family attend the M. E. Church. Mr. Reed is independent in political views.

He was married April 11, 1856, to Elizabeth M., daughter of Thomas and Catharine Gaffney, natives of West Main, Ireland. The parents came to New York and thence to Canada, where the daughter was born, May 7, 1837, and was married when she was 19 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had eight children-Mary J., born April 11, 1857 ; Kitty C, Aug. 11, 1859; Geo. W., May 7, 1861 ; Johnny, Feb. 29, 1863; Addie, June 30, 1865 ; Elizabeth, Oct. 1, 1867; Wm. J., Nov. 11, 1869. A son was born and died in 1872.

anford B. Wood, liveryman at Big Rapids, was born in Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. V., Feb. 12, 1822, two and one-half miles from Saratoga Springs. His parents, Benj. K. and P'hoebe (Hanford) Wood, removed to Hills- dale Co., Mich., when the son was 14 years of age. He spent his early youth on the farm of his

father, and at 18 bought a team and set out in life to make his way alone. Ile engaged in breaking land and was thus occupied two years.

He then purchased Go acres of land in Litchfield Tp., Hillsdale Co., and proceeded to establish a home. In 1862 he moved into Litchfield to take charge of the business of a deceased brother, and in '63 opened a livery stable, which he transferred in 1870 to Big Rapids, and soon after exchanged his property for a sash, door and shingle mill, and associated with Simeon Pomeroy in business. The latter took charge of the mill which went into operation in April, 1871, and blew up in October following. It was put in full repair and Mr. Wood gave the business his personal attention until the total destruction of the property by fire, which occurred in June, 1877 : loss, $13,000, and no insurance.

In 1878 Mr. Wood again embarked in the livery business, starting with four horses and no carriages. His trade has been successful and is now established on a permanent basis, with 22 horses, carriages and all the equipments of a first-class establishment. Mr. Wood owns his stables and two lots.

He was married at Mayville, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Feb 4, 1844, to Jane, daughter of Elijah Moore. She was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 29, 1821. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had three children, of whom two are living. Phebe, eldest daughter, is the wife of Harvey B. Eggleston, a farmer in Litchfield, Hillsdale Co., Mich .; Lucy, youngest child, married Charles B. Lovejoy, a book-keeper at Big Rapids. Marcellus, second child and only son, was killed by the kick of a horse when in his sixteenth year.

lijah Cole, farmer on sec. 23, Hinton Tp., was born in New York, Feb. 18, 1832. Hle is son of George and Catherine (Westbrook) Cole. The parents were both natives of New York, where the mother died. The father came to Morley, Mich., in 1877.

Mr. Cole passed his early life under the pater- nal roof, and until 16 was sent to school. He entered the employ of his uncle and was engaged two years in lumbering; going thence to Pennsylvania, he was

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there engaged in the same occupation ten years. Two years thereafter he was variously occupied, and in July, 1862, he enlisted in the 107th N. Y. Vol. Inf., serving three years lacking 16 days. At the battle of Antietam he was shot through the ankle. Eleven months after he was transferred to the Veteran Corps, there remaining until he received honorable discharge. In August, 1865, he came to Michigan and joined his family in Hinton Tp. Shortly after he went to Isa- bella County, and bought 249 acres of land and homesteaded So acres, making a farm of 329 acres. He built a log house, and cleared 20 acres of land and resided there until 1875, when he exchanged his property for a farm in Mecosta County, containing So acres of partly improved land, the place being known as the David Moulton Farm. This he sold in 1880 and purchased 40 acres of land styled the George Campbell Farm, now in his possession and to which he has added So acres.

Our subject is a Republican in political belief and action, and is a member of the Prohibition element. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Town- ship Treasurer. Highway Commissioner and was Constable while resident in Isabella County.

He was married in Chemung Co., N. Y., Feb. 2, 1857, to Betsey, daughter of David and Sally (Ben- nett) Moulton. The father of Mrs. Cole died in Mecosta County, and the mother lives with her chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have nine children, born as follows : Laura J., July 24, 1858; Alvina C., Jan. IS, 1861; Elijah B, Oct 30, 1862; James H. T., Feb. 16, 1867; George E. E., June 12, 1869; Annie M., Feb. 13, 1871 ; Hattie B., Dec. 9, 1875; Mabel M., Aug. 14, 1877; Ernest F, April 27, 1879. The family circle is intact, and long may it be before a single earthly tie is sundered.

8 yron B. Williamson, farmer on sec. 28, Deerfield Tp., P. O. Morley, was born e' in St. Joseph Co., Mich., Sept. 15, 1874. Britton Williamston, his father, was a native of Massachusetts and died in St. Joseph County; Mary (Smith) Williamson, his mother, was born in Michigan, where she died. They were pioneers of St. Joseph County.

Mr. Williamson lived in the county where he was born 28 years, and in the spring of 1875 became the possessor by purchase of 80 acres of wild land in Deerfield Tp. He has made fair progress in the process of reclamation, and has a good farm house and 55 acres of land in tillage. Responsive to his country's call for aid, he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, enrolling in the Eleventh Mich. Inf., and served about two years, receiving honorable discharge at the end of the war He is a zealous Republican. The family are attendants at the M. E. Church.

Mr. Williamson was married at Coldwater, Mich., March 9, 1870, to Amanda, daughter of David and Huldah (Wells) Hazzard, born in St. Joseph County, Jnne 18, 1851. One child died in infancy. Estella was born Jan. 24, 1871.

Ohn E. Morton, farmer on sec. 36, Morton Tp., was born in Nova Scotia, Nov. 5, 1820. He is son of Holmes and Christian (Web- ster) Morton.

Mr. Morton is, per se, the leading citizen of the township of Morton. His interest in and unflag- ging efforts for its founding, growth and progress, are recognized and perpetuated by the fact of its bearing his name. He came to Mecosta County in 1869, and in 1871 bought 160 acres of land in what is now Mor- ton Tp., then attached to Wheatland for judical pur- poses and local management Observing the rapid strides of civilization in adjoining townships and m the County, and the benefits accruing to the com- munities therein, he felt impelled to put forth all possible effort to secure for his own township the ad- vantages of organization and local government. He framed and circulated a petition, securing the re- quired number of names thereunto, and sent the same to the Board of Supervisors in the fall of 1876, suggesting that the township be named Hayes, in honor of the Presidential candidate then before the people. The Democratic voice in the Board defeated the proposition, but, in recognition of the services of Mr. Morton, the township received his name, which certainly was very appropriate and just.

M. Brown

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MECOSTA COUNTY.

The first township meeting was held in the River School-house, district No. 3, and the following officers were elected: J. E. Morton, Supervisor, Enoch Bartlett, Clerk, and Isaac Webster, Commissioner of Highways.

Mr. Morton was Supervisor of Wheatland one year previous to this. He is, and has been for eight years, Justice of the Peace. He belongs to the Order of Masonry.

Mr. Morton was reared to the calling which he has made the pursuit of his life. He was an inmate of the paternal home until August, 1843, when he went to St. Francis, N. S., to engage in lumbering and agriculture Five years later he moved to Aroostook Co., Me., and rented a farm, and also mill property, and operated in lumber, chiefly manufacturing short siding, shingles, etc. The mill was of double utility, and the business in milling products-flour feed, etc., -was considerable.

After a period of 19 years he came, in October, 1867, to Newaygo Co., Mich., settling in Mecosta County in 1869, and commenced operating exten- sively in lumbering, buying pine and putting logs into the East Branch of the Muskegon River, making his sales there. He was thus engaged four years, and in 1871 bought his farm of 160 acres on sec. 36. He has 35 acres cleared, with good house, barn and orchard, besides numerous minor improvements. The premises include 120 acres, he having disposed of 40 acres.

He was married in Aroostook Co., Maine, to Eliza- beth, daughter of John and Sophia Baker, born at Bakerbrook, N. B. Her father was an old settler in the province and the stream was named for him. Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Morton six are living : Amanda, wife of Charles Plaid, farmer in Mor- ton Tp .; Holmes (deceased); Christina (wife of Enoch Brumley, a farmer near Arcola, Mo.); Alice Mrs. Charles Heald, of Hinton Tp., and died in March. 1883); John E .; Clara (wife of Alfred Young, hardware merchant at Salt River, Isabella Co.); Adaline and Susannah.

The best possible tribute to offer to a man's char- acter is to name his services to the age and generation to which he belongs. In the lapse of years Mr. Morton's influence will never diminish ; the good he has accomplished is stable, and his efforts have

been exerted for the benefit of the future of Morton Tp., of which he will ever be a part.

on. Michael Brown, of Big Rapids, has been connected with the judiciary of Me- costa County since the year 1868, and has a long and honorable record in the munici- pal history of Big Rapids, and as attorney for the business concerns of whose legal intersts he is guardian and manager.

His parents, Ira and Sophia (Blew) Brown, were of Dutch extraction. He was born in Indian Creek Tp., Pulaski Co., Ind., April 20, 1841. He was reared on a farm, and attended winter terms of school until 16 years of age, when he was sent to the college at Franklin, Ind , and subsequently to that at Crawfordsville, Ind. (The latter institution, in 1876, conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.)

One month after he attained his majority he en- listed at Indianapolis in Co. B, 2d Ind. Cav., Capt., John B. Edwards. He was in the Union service three years, and was under fire at Stone River, Chick- amauga, Mission Ridge, Siege of Knoxville, Mossy Creek, Dandridge, and May 9, 1864, was taken pris- oner at Dalton, Ga., and confined at Andersonville in the stockade prison, whose unmitigated atrocities he suffered five months. He weighed 90 pounds when transferred to the prison-pens of Florence, where (and at Charleston) he spent four more dreary months under rebel surveillance. He was mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment at Nash- ville, Tenn.

In 1866 he came to Michigan, and in October entered the Law Department of the University at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in March, 1868. Ile settled at Big Rapids in September of the same year and commenced practice as an attorney, estab- lishing his desk in the office of John F. Brown & C'o .. lumber dealers. In the spring of 1869 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, serving one term. In 1873 he was elected Mayor of the city of Big Rapids, hokling his incumbency one year. The Com- mon Council of the city appointed him to revise the municipal charter, which he did in 1875, and on the

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Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 16

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