USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 22
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Mr. Gray was united in marriage, at Uniontown,
Penn., April 21, 1848, with Margaretta, the daughter of John and Margaretta Hill, born in Northumber- land Co., l'a., Aug, 12, 1827. Their four children are all deceased save one. Antha, eldest daughter, born April 8, 1849, in Rock Run, Il., is the wife of Sylvester H. Gray, senior member of the firm. (See sketch.) The others were Ida May, William B. and an infant child.
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amuel S. Mitchell, farmner and lumberman, resident on sec. 28, Hinton Tp .. whose portrait we give in this Album, was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., June 5, 1819 He at- tended school winters and was engaged on his father's farm summers until 25 years of age. At the age of 22 years he assumed entire charge of the family, which consisted of his parents, two broth- ers and a sister. His father and mother removed with their children to Allegany Co, N. Y., in 1829, and went thence to Steuben County. In the fall of 1844, Mr. Mitchell came to Livingston County, ac- companied by his parents, and the family remained there together seven years, going thence to Newaygo County, where he left the father and mother in the personal care of his brother William; after this they resided together, Mr. Mitchell providing for their needs, until the last few years of their lives, when William Mitchell assumed entire care of them. Sain- tel S. remained in Newaygo County nearly 20 years, there owning a farm, which he managed in connec- tion with lumbering until the spring of 1869. He then came to Mecosta County and bought 80 acres of wild land in Hinton Tp., with but few improve- ments. He now resides thereon and has about 25 acres under good improvement. Mr. Mitchell is in- dependent in politics. He has held the office of Road Commissioner four years, and repeatedly been offered other positions of trust in his township, but has presistently declined. Himself and wife belong to the First-Day Adventists, and Mr. Mitchell belongs to the Order of Masons.
He was married in Livingston Co., Mich., Dec. 31, 1848, to Agnes, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Rossman) Brockway. Her parents were natives of
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Pennsylvania, where she was born March 21, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have had ten children, Har- riet E., wife of Henry Moulter, born April 17, 1850; Helen E., wife of Luther Bemis, born Aug. 7, 1852; Robert P., born May 3, 1854; Charlotte A., wife of Alden Bailey, born Sept. 14, 1856 ; Kate, wife of John Right, born March 12, 1859; Clara, wife of Henry A. Mann, born Sept. 2, 1861; Annette, wife of El- bert Trall, born Nov. 4, 1863; Jessie I)., born Dec. 25, 1865; Arthur, born April 10, 1868, and died April 17, 1868; Edgar D., born Aug. 17, 1869, died Oct. 31, 1871.
As a prominent and representative citizen of Me- costa County we give Mr. M's portrait in this . Album.
enry R. Gilmore, resident on sec 34, Aus- tin Tp., was born in Niagara Co., Ontario, ents Oct. 15, 1832, and is a son of Henry and Mary A. (Hartsell) Gilmore, who were natives respectively of New Jersey and Massachusetts, and were of German and Irish extraction.
Mr. Gilmore began at the age of 18 years to learn the carpenter's trade, devoting his leisure to study in the district school, and by dint of much exertion he managed to secure a fair education. He went into the country, where he pursued his trade some years, and was married to Elizabeth A., daughter of Alfred and Betsey (Cleveland) Butler. Her parents were natives of Maine, where Mrs. Gilmore was born in Somerset County, Feb. 17, 1831, going thence to On- tario, Can., with her parents and there resided until her marriage, May 14, 1851.
'They settled in the town of Elgin, where Mr. Gil- more was busy with his trade till the spring of 1853, when they came to Newaygo County and settled on the Muskegon River, and there he followed his trade seven years. In 1860 they removed to Austin Tp., and Mr. Gilmore purchased 80 acres of land and de- voted his attention to farming. The entire place is under cultivation.
Mr. Gilmore belongs to the National party and cast the first Greenback vote in the county. He has been Justice of the Peace 12 years, Highway Commis- sioner two years, and has been a member of the Sani- tary Board some years, besides having held other offi-
ces. Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore have been the parents of 12 children, six of whom are living. Following is their record : Franklin P. was born Nov. 1, 1852; James H., June 15, 1856; Angela M., May 13, 1858 ; Ulys- ses G., Oct. 17, 1864; Rosa L., Nov. 4, 1867; Mar- shall N., May 11, 1877; Sarah N., Dec. 1, 1862, died March 14, 1879. Five children died in early infancy. Mrs. Gilmore is a member of the M. E. Church.
eorge Waldo, farmer on sec. 8, Mecosta Tp. (P. O. Big Rapids), was born in Spring- field, Otsego Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1830. His parents, Samuel and Sally (Cowen) Waldo, were born in New York and Ireland respect- ively.
He accompanied his family to Ohio when five years old, and at nine years of age left home to en- gage as a stage driver, and pursued that calling seven years, driving continually on one route. In the fall of 1847 he came to Saginaw, Mich., and there en- gaged in lumbering six years, going in 1854 to Kent Co., where he was similarly occupied four years. His next remove was to Jackson, Mich., to work on a Government contract, and there operated until the wave of civil warfare swept over the land and for the time being obliterated private projects and aspira- tions. Mr. Waldo enlisted Oct. 19, 1861, in the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. His terms of enrollment entitled him to the position of road con. structor, but he was in active service at Perryville, Ky., and Stone River, Tenn. and Shiloh. He was made Sergeant in 1862 and continued his services until he was discharged at Atlanta, Ga., in Oct., 1864.
He returned to Mecosta and has since been en- gaged in farming and lumbering. Soon after again settling in the township he bought 40 acres of land, on which he built the first house erected in this sec- tion. Mr. Waldo is a Democrat and has served several terms as Constable, with entire satisfaction.
He was married at Grand Rapids, April 29, 1846, to Mary J., daughter of John and Jane (Campbell) Smith. She died July 6, 1865, leaving one child, Charles W., born Jan. 10, 1861. Mr. Waldo was a
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second time married Nov. 12, 1865, at Cedar Springs, Kent Co., to Mrs. Kate Wilcox, daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Acers) Skillman. She was born June 30, 1842, and was first married in 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo have seven children, born in the following order: Orpha E., Feb. 6, 1867 ; Samuel, Aug. 26, 1868; Henry, March 9, 1871; George, March 18, 1873; Bertha, March 26, 1875; Alma, Aug. 13, 1877 ; Walter, May 15, 1880.
dam Friedel, farmer, sec. 12, Morton Tp. (P. O., Mecosta), was born at Darmstadt, & Germany, March 27, 1846. His parents left the " Faderland " when he was a lad, and located in Waterloo Co., Can., where they re- mained about seven years, and then came to Mecosta County in the year 1862, the first settlers in Mecosta. They made the journey hither via Ionia Mich., and cut their way through the woods 15 miles. The father (Justus) entered a claim of 80 acres of land under the Homestead act. The selection of locality proved judicious, as the D., L. & N. R. R. traverses the entire width of the farm, and the enter- prising village of Mecosta has been located one mile west. The primeval forest was in its original condi- tion. The nearest inhabitants were two miles dis- tant, located like themselves in a dense forest; their place of supply was Greenville, Montcalm Co., 40 miles away-solid woods intervening-and at Big Rapids, the civilization center of Mecosta County, the work of improvement was in its swaddling clothes. To the original 80 acres of land 40 acres have been added by purchase, and 80 acres are under the plow.
The " Vater und Mutter " are the central figures of the household. They have reached the respective ages of 73 and 72, retain their old country habits of early rising, and the wholesome hilarity that char- acterizes their race. "Shermany " is warmly re- membered ; but they rejoice in their prosperity here and the rapid strides of Mecosta County toward a fair rank with the other counties of the Peninsular State.
1872, to Catherine, daughter of Sebastian and Chris- tine Erich, a native of the same place with her hus- band, and was born June 20, 1852. She came to the United States in 1861. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Friedel six children have been born : Frederick W., George Adam, Louise Catherine, Maria, Adam Jacob and Ernest.
Mr. Friedel has officiated two terms as Treasurer of his township, has been Supervisor, and is now Highway Commissioner . He owns 25 head of good cattle, and five horses.
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ohn E. Harrington, farmer, sec. 12, Mor- ton Tp., was born May 13, 1854, in Wood- bridge 'Tp., Hillsdale Co., Mich., and is a son of John D. and Ellen S. (Sickler) Harring- ton. His mother died when he was seven years of age, and his father lived on the place in Woodbridge Tp., two years, then removed to Day Tp., Montcalm Co., Mich., where he bought a farm, and is now a resident of that township. J. C. Harrington found pioneer life somewhat distasteful, and went back to his native county, where he readily found employment, and was engaged until fall in farm labor, when he took advantage of an opportunity to work nights and mornings for his board, and go to school through the winter. This arrangement pre- cluded the necessity of using his hard-earned wages, and he loaned his money at a fair percentage. In the spring he bought a cow, took her to Moutcalm Co., and gave her to his father. In the spring of 1872 he went to Grand Traverse Co, Mich., where he bought 80 acres of land in a primeval condition. and began to clear a farm, working in true pioneer method. Hle built a log house 12 x 14 feet, covered it with hemlock bark, and secured a home (though it was little more than a shelter), of which he took possession with the utmost cheerfulness and courage.
He was married March 7. 1875, to Emily Stow- ell, daughter of Robert and Mary Stowell, who was born in Kent Co., Oct. 16, 1855 ; after which event he settled on a farm near Stanton, Montcalm Co., where he resided until June, 1882. At that date he
Mr. Friedel is now the proprietor and manager of the property described. He was married May 14, . purchased his present farm on sec. 12, in the village
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of Mecosta, where he has made rapid progress in improvements, clearing away timber, cultivating the land, erecting farm buildings, and putting the place in the best possible state for farming. Although he has been resident but a year, the work accomplished seems incredible.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrington are the parents of five children : Cora E., born Feb. 14, 1876; Edith I., born Oct. 10. 1877; Ethel L., born June 23, 1879; Leona E., born Feb. 14, 1881 ; Edwin D., born Feb. 10, 1883.
alvin Royce, farmer and carpenter, resid- ing on sec. 34 of Deerfield Tp. (P. O., Morley), was born Aug. 28, 1817, in Charles- ton, N. H. He is a son of Lemueland Eunice (Hoadley) Royce, natives of the "Old Granite State," where they lived all their lives. The father died at the age of 98.
Mr. Royce acquired a good education in the public schools of New Hampshire and attended the New- bury (Vt.) Seminary. He taught school winters and worked as a carpenter summers until of age. In the fall of 1845 he went to the State of Pennsylvania and labored as a carpenter and farm hand a number of years. He came to Deerfield, Mecosta Co., in the spring of 1865 and became the owner of 120 acres of land, all in an unimproved state. He erected a frame house, since his home, and at once entered upon the task of reclaiming his land. He retains but 40 acres of his original purchase, having disposed of 80 acres. His farm is all under tillage.
Mr. Royce was married to Mary J., daughter of Warren and Ruth (Hoag) Jenkins, natives of the State of New York, where her father still resides. Five of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Royce are living-Eunice, Gertrude, Alice, Osmon C. and Elva. The name of the deceased child was Ida ; she died aged one year.
Mr. Royce was a delegate to the first Republican Convention held in Tioga County for the purpose of organizing that political element within its limits, and has since Leen active in the interests of the
party. He has held several important positions in the affairs of his township.
9E enry Hearn, farmer on sec. 20, Austin Tp. (1). O., Stanwood), was born in Oxfordshire, Eng., Oct. 1, 1834. He is a son of Benja- min and Sarah (Hearn) Hearn, both natives of England, where they lived and died.
Mr. Hearn remained at home only till he was seven years of age, when his boyish aspirations impelled him to go among strangers and secure what seemed to him the greatest boon on earth-personal liberty. He was variously employed until he was 20 years of age; the last year of this period he spent in the stables of English sporting men. In 1854 he came to the United States, landing at the city of New York and remaining there but a short time. He came on to the city of Detroit and found employ in the immediate vicinity as a farm laborer for 10 years. He then went to Shiawassee County, and thence to Austin Tp., in the spring of 1868, where he purchased 80 acres of land, and has since added 40 acres, making 1 20 acres of wild land, of which 60 acres are now under first-class improve- ments.
Mr. Hearn was married in England, May 15, 1855, to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Rolfe) Frost, both English by birth and inseparably wedded to their native country. The daughter was born Oct. 6, 1832. She accompanied her husband to the United States and went bravely through all the trials and privations of the pioneer days of the township. She died April 11, 1872, leaving a large family and a multitude of friends to mourn her irreparable loss. Her seven sons and daughters all survive her. Their record is as follows : Florence G. was born July 18, 1856; Mary E., Nov. 28, 1850; Sarah A., March 4. 1862; Alfred W, May 8, 1864: Edward H., June 15, 1866; Lucy E., Oct. 4, :868; Martha T., Nov. 27, 1870.
Mr. Hearn and wife were members from youth of the Church of England, and Mr. Hearn is still an adherent to belief in its tenets. He is a Democrat and has always sustained the issues of his party.
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elson V. Adair, farmer and carpenter, sec. 6. Deerfield Tp., was born in the State of New York, Feb. 15, '46. He is a son of Hemy and Mary (Vantyle) Adair, who was born in the State of New York, in Seneca Co., where the father died. Feb. 14, '81 ; the mother is still living, in the Empire State.
Mr. Adair remained an inhabitant of his native place until 1869. and in the spring of that year he came to Shiawassee Co., Mich., where during two years he followed his trade ; coming thence to Mecosta C'o., he bought So acres in the town of Deerfield. It was partly improved and has since been his home- stead.
Mr. Adair was married in Seneca Falls, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1866, to Mary, daughter of Alonzo and Re- becca (Woolsey) Randolph. Of this marriage one child was born-Henry R., Dec. 20, '69. The mother died in Mecosta Co , Dec. 20, '74, and Mr. Adair con- tracted a second marriage July 4, 77, at Big Rapids, to Emily H., daughter of Magnus and Christiana (Ashman) Ulrich. The parents of Mrs. Adair were natives of Germany. The family now includes two children .- Jennie H., born Dec. 9, '79, and Lillian M., May 18, '81. Mr. Adair is a Republican in po- litical sentiment and has held the office of Supervisor two terms. Himself and family attend the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.
ZFFFFFFi uther Bemis, farmer, resident on sec. 29, Hinton Tp., is a son of Aaron and Lovice (Holcomb) Bemis, the father a native of Springfield, Vt , and the mother, of the State of New York. Mr. Bemis was born in St. Clair Co., Mich., Oct. 9, 1843. He was thrown upon his own resources for suppor! at 13 years of age, and was first employed as a carpenter's assistant; then for six years worked by the month. In December, 1861, he enlisted in Co. 1, Berdan's Sharp-shooters, and after about eight months' service was discharged. On his return to private life he went to lonia County.
and there remained about 18 months in quiet en. deavor to recruit his health. He was then engaged in teaming for five years, then purchased 40 acres of land in Montcalm County, where he lived eight years. The financial stress of 1873 plunged him into mis- fortune, and in the winter of 1874, when he came to Mecosta County, he had scarcely a dollar He toiled and persevered and in the fall of 1875 bought 40 acres of wild land. He has put the place in a fine state of cultivation, with good buildings. Besides the rest of his obligations, that he discharged in a becom- ing manner, was the support of his parents and sis- ters while in St. Clair County, where his father died. The mother is still living, in Montcalm County.
Mr. Bemis was married in this county, Oct. 16, 1873, to Helen E., daughter of S. S. and Agnes (Brockway) Mitchell, of Hinton Tp., who was born in Kent County, Aug. 7, 1852. Mr. Bemis is a Re- publican.
imon G. Webster, County Treasurer. ies- ident at Big Rapids, was born at Concord, Jackson Co., Mich., Aug. 24, 1843, and is son of Roswell and Harriet ( Townsend) Webster. Ile alternated farm labor summers with school duties winters until he was 16 years of age, and three years later came to Big Rapids. He found employment as a clerk and teamster, and at that period his and another team drew all the goods that were sold in Big Rapids, from Grand Rapids, via Newaygo, each trip consum- ing from a week to ten days. Mr. Webster was him- self a driver for two years.
In February, 1864, he enlisted at Big Rapids, en- rolling in Company M, 3d Michigan Cavalry, under Capt. Ives. The regiment was detailed for special service among the bushwhackers of the West, and proceeded thence to Texas, where he was mustered out on special order in November, 1865, at San .An- tonio. Mr. Webster came back to Big Rapids, and was employed in the general merchandise establish- ment of G. F. Stearns, who discontinued the business in the spring of 1866. He then went to Middleville, Barry Co., Mich., and again engaged as clerk. In 1868 he began mercantile business for himself, in
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partnership with F. H. Degolia, continuing until 1871, operating with success. In the year named, because of the impaired health of Mr. Degolia, the firm dis- posed of the stock by sale. Mr. Webster returned to Big Rapids and opened a grocery and produce store, managing alone one year, then admitted J. F. Clark to an equal interest ; they closed their business in 1876. In 1877 Mr. Webster received an appoint- ment as Under-Sheriff with Col. Vincent, and held the position until January, 1881 ; was elected Super- visor of the Fourth Ward in 1875, and remained the incumbent of the office until 1882 ; served two years as Chairman of the Board. In 1882 he was Repub- lican nominee for County Treasurer, running against C. B. Hannum, candidate of the Fusion party. The vote stood 1705 to 950, in favor of Mr. Webster. He is a member of the Order of Masonry, and is at this writing (1883) Commander of Pilgrim Commandery, No. 23 ; has held the place of Captain General of the same division three years. He is also an active and prominent member of the Fire Department; was Chief Engineer, and organized the Alert Hose C'o., which took the second national prize at the tourna- ment at Chicago in 1877. The prize included $300, and the cart which was manufactured for the Cen- tennial Exposition by the Silsby Manufacturing Co.
The marriage of Mr. Webster to Alice McDowell took place Dec. 25, 1867. She is a daughter of Ad- dison and Lavina McDowell, of Allegan Co., Mich., and was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have one daughter, Ethel M., born May 10, 1872, at Middleville, Barry Co., Mich,
M. Trussell, proprietor of the Mecosta County Advance, and also of the Morley Ad- vance, was born in Jackson, Ohio, July 12, 1857. He is a son of Jasper S. and Sarah A. (Stout) Trussell, and until the age of 16 years was a student at school. He was early dis- posed to his present calling, and at the age named he went into a printing-office in Clifton, W. Va., and remained there several months, afterward becoming local editor of the Ironton (Ohio) Commercial. He went from Ironton to Pittsburg, where he again en- tered a printing-office to complete his knowledge of
the details of the business. His next advance was to the position of proof-reader, and in 1881 he became reporter for the Daily Chronicle, published at Pitts- burg. In August, 1882, he came to Mecosta County, and September 1, following, he became proprietor by purchase of the Mecosta County Advance. He is- sued the first number of the Morley Advance, a popular local journal, April 13, 1883.
The Alccosta County Advance was founded by F. W. Harrison, the first number being issued April 7, 1881. It was an eight-page sheet, but was afterwards enlarged to a five-column quarto. Upon the failure of the proprietor's health he sold out to Mr. Trussell. The paper has always been well received and now has a circulation of 600 copies.
oseph B. Barto, farmer, sec. 20, Austin Tp. (P. O. Stanwood), was born in Lower Can- ada, March, 1836. He is son of John and Beatrice (Covena) Barto, who were natives of France, and emigrated to this country, settling in Canada.
Mr. Barto commenced his single-handed contest with the world at the age of 15 years and worked as farm assistant until 17, when his father died, and he left the Dominion, joining his brother in New York, and there engaged winters in the lumber business, laboring summers on farms. He was married in Es- sex Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1856, to Matilda daughter of Isaac and Mary (Layno) Bennett, both of French descent. Mrs. Barto was born Ap il 19, 1842, in Essex Co., N. Y. After their marriage they remained in the State of New York until 1872; Mr. Barto meanwhile engaged in lumbering. They removed to Michigan, where Mr. Barto was engaged in logging in Osceola County for one year, coming then to Big Rapids, where he stayed until 1874. He had purchased a farm of 80 acres in Austin 'Tp., of which he took possession, and now has 15 acres under improvement. Mr. Barto and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. He is a Republican and ardently devoted to the is- sues of the party. The French language is com- monly spoken in the family and taught to the chil- dren, of whom seven survive, bon as follows:
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Lewis, Sept. 7. 1857; Mary 1 .. , Nov. 25, 1862; Ida R., April 15, 1864; Flora E., Aug. 29, 1866: Robert 1., Oct. 5. 1868; Frank E., March 5, 1874; Caroline M., Nov. 6. 1876. Five children are deceased ; James, born Feb., 1859, died March 2, 1859; Nelson, born Dec. 30, 1860, died in infancy; Joseph, born Dec. 18, 1871. died July 14. 1872 ; Francis, born Jan. 29. 1872, died Feb. 14, 1872; Frank, born Jan. 29, 1872. died Feb. 24, 1872. (The twolast were twins.)
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John Davis, farmer, sec 27, Mecosta Tp .. was born May 8, 1826, at Belfast, Ireland. His parents, William and Mary (Laverty) Davis, were born in Ireland ; the father died in 1852, the mother in 1851. When he was ten years old, Mr. Davis ran away to sea, shipping asa cabin boy on a sailing vessel. His career as a sailor continued 22 years, and during the time he passed several promotions; and at last, in 1844, be- came first mate, which post he held until 1848, when he abandoned a seafaring life. The recital of his adventures sounds like a romance. He traversed the Atlantic Ocean under all circumstances, and in every possible direction, and visited all the seaboard towns of Europe, and the countries lying on the Mediterranean, as well as the ports open to com- merce on the Asiatic shores and Africa, and the islandsof the East Indies. He was at Alexandria dur- the Turkish war, at Canton, China, while the Chinese war with England was in progress, and at Calcutta, India. While the Kaffir war of 1842 was going on in Southern Africa, his vessel was at Cape Town. One of his reminiscences is a visit to what was the home of Napoleon while an exile at St. Helena.
In 1850 Mr. Davis came to America, and passed a season on the lakes. In 1851 he came to Michigan and purchased 160 acres of land in what is now Mecosta Tp., locating on sec. 27, where he has since resided. He was one of the two white men who first came to this county and settled permanent- ly. He built the first barn-a frame building -- in the county, in 1856, and afterward erected a residence, at that time the largest in the county. He has bought considerable land since he made his original purchase, his estate now aggregating 385 acres, 225 of which
are in cultivation. The reminiscences of Mr. Davis contain a complete history of the growth of Mecosta Co. About the time of his settlement, John Parish located a mile below the point where the "Lower Bridge " at Big Rapids spans the river, and until the following year they had no other "neighbors." Mr. Parish left his first location, and to Mr. Davis belongs the credit not only of being the first settler in this county, but also of still holding his original tenure of land.
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