USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 24
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In this family are four children living: William 11., Dec. 4, 1857 ; Almeda E., July 22, 1860 ; Eliza J., Feb. 21, 1867; Sivillian, July 13, 1871 ; Sarah A., born Sept. 12, 1858, died March 8, 1861. Mr. Olin is a Democrat, and has served his township as Treasurer six terms. Himself and wife are active members of the M. E. Church.
dwin R. Roe, farmer, residing on sec. 14. Hlinton Tp., is a a son of George P. and AAsenath (Hamilton) Roe, former a native of England and the latter of Ohio. They first re- moved to Indiana, and soon after came to Ber- rien Co., Mich., where the father died in 1867 : the mother was again married and went to Missouri, and there died. Mr. Roe was born in St. Joseph Co., Ind., April 14, 1838, and in early youth ac- companied his parents to this State, where he resided until he was 28 years oldl, meanwhile learning the trade of carpenter and also the art of telegraphy, and working at intervals on the farm. In the fall of 1 867 he came to this county, where he had previously
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bought 40 acres of wild land, in Hinton Tp., on which he now resides. Mr. Roe is a Republican in politics and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln. He has held the post of Highway Commis- sioner six years. He was married in Berrien Co., Mich., Aug. 7, 1861, to Dimmis, daughter of Nelson and Almira (Pierce) Bromley. Her parents were natives of New York, and removed thence to Cook Co., III., and afterwards to Wisconsin, thence to Michigan, where the father died, in 1872. The mother is still living, in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Roe have had four children: Louie A. was born July 24, 1862 ; Orie M., Dec. 26, 1864; Lizzie V., March 30, 1868, and Cora D., Nov. 10, 1870.
ames H. Rogers, lumberman and farmer, resident on sec. 14, Mecosta Tp., was a na- tive of Broome Co., N. Y. His father, Abraham Rogers, was of English-Dutch descent and was born in Canada. His mother, Han- nah D. (Stickney) Rogers, was of pure English descent and born in New Hampshire. Mr. Rogers remained at home until he was 21 years of age and received as good an education as possible at the com- mon schools, and attended a term at the Alfred Academy in Allegany Co., N. Y. On arriving at his majority he left home and went into the lumber busi- ness, which he prosecuted until the fall of 1854. At that date he came to Newaygo County and pur- chased a tract of land, including 500 acres of heavy timber, lying on the Big Muskegon. Soon afterward he engaged in the business of locating land, which occupied him until 1856 and was a lucrative pursuit. He abandoned it after two years, and came to Me- costa Township to locate roo acres of land. Here he hired men and their families, established lumber camps and gave a large amount of attention to the trade in lumber, which was at that date the germ of nearly all settlements made in this section of the Peninsular State. During this time the State road was in process of building, and Mr. Rogers was appointed Commissioner by Gov. Blair, and held the post three years. He has been appointed special Commissioner several times since. From 1865 to 1870 Mr. Rogers was actively engaged in the joint
pursuit of managing a country store and hotel, in which was also established the local postoffice, and in connection, a large lumber interest. The store of Mr. Rogers was opened in 1865, and was the first mercantile establishment in the township.
On the completion of the railroad to Big Rapids in 1869 Mr. Rogers closed his mercantile operations and hotel business, and as the lumber trade dimin- ished he devoted his attention almost exclusively to farming. His homestead includes 350 acres of land, with 120 acres in fair tillable condition. He has al- ways been active in politics and is a zealous Republi- can. At the organization of the township he was made Clerk, and held the post several years. He has been School Superintendent and Inspector, and has held various other official positions.
Mr. Rogers was married Feb. 14, 1867, to Sarah B., daughter of Willard and Lois (Roberts) Salisbury, natives of New York and of English descent. She was born in Broome Co., N. Y., May 9, 1842. She went to McHenry C'o., Ill., where she remained until the fall of 1866, at which time she came to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have two children : Carrie E., born May 8, 1869, and Edgar R., born Sept. 25, 1873.
Facob Snider, farmer, sec. 26, Austin Tp. was born in Ontario, Can., Feb. 9, 1827, 500) of Jacob and Rachel (McReady) Snider, natives of New Brunswick, and of German and French ancestry. Soon after their mar- riage they went to Toronto, Can., and thence to Ontario. Mr. Snider spent his early youth in acquiring his education at a select school in the vicinity where he lived, and assisting on his father's farm. At the age of 27 years he was married to Teakles, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (McReady) Halliday, natives of New Brunswick and of Irish de- scent. Mrs. Snider was born in the same province, June 6, 1829, and was educated in the common schools of her native town. Mr. and Mrs. Snider established a home on 100 acres of the homestead, where they carried on farming until their removal to Michigan, in the winter of 1864. They lived a few months at ('roton, Newaygo Co., coming thence to Austin Tp., where they purchased 80 acres of
James Hp. Rogers.
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timbered land, and entered upon the lives of pio- neers, beginning with the usual log cabin and small clearing, which gradually assumed larger proportions until broad, fertile fields stretch out where everything was formerly hidden by intricate forests. To the original tract of land Mr. Snider has added another So acres, and now owns an entire quarter section of well improved land. He has recently finished a beautiful residence, at an expenditure of $1,500. All his farm fixtures and appurtenances are of a class to increase its value and attractiveness.
Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Snider, six are living: Rachel, born July 13, 1863, and died May 28, 1864; Wellesley H., born Sept. 9, 1857: Adaline S., Ang, 21, 1858; Lillie A., Sept. 17, 1860; Jennie R., Jan 11, 1861 ; Herbert A., Aug. 19, 1865; Gideon C., Aug 19, 1867.
Mr. and Mrs. Snider have been members in full standing of the M. E. Church for 25 years. Mr. Snider is a radical Republican; has been Supervisor of his township two terms, Justice of the Peace four years, Treasurer, etc. His eldest son, W. H. Snider, was married Oct. 18, 1877 ; his wife died Sept. 1. 1878.
C. Lincoln, wagon and carriage builder, at Big Rapids, was born in Ticonderoga, Es- sex Co., N. Y., Dec. 27, 1844 ; son of Rufus and Samantha (Bissell) Lincoln. At the age of 17 he went to learn the trade, which he has made the business of his life. He located at Big Rapids in the fall of 1867, and a year later he opened a shop; formed a partnership with Peter Com- stock, which continued 18 months, when he bought out the interest of his partner. One and a half years af- terward he sold a half claim to Eli Frederick, and in the autumn of 1879 they came to the stand now occu- pied by Mr. Lincoln. They purchased three lots and erected their shops, four in number. The wood shop is 22x50 feet in dimensions, and the blacksmith shop 24x50 feet. There are besides, the paint shop and lumber room. A force of five blacksmiths are usually employed, Mr. Lincoln and his brother doing the wood work. Jan. 1, 1883, Mr. Frederick with drew from the concern, selling his interest in the business to the present proprietor, who is now doing
a very prosperous and steadily growing business. Mr. Lincoln was married in Essex Co., N. Y., March 24, 1867, to Sarah J. Hunter, a native of Montreal, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln have had three chil- dren : Frederick, born March 20, 1869 and died Oct. 6, 1880; Charles H., born Aug. 15, 1873, and died Oct. 6, 1880. George L., sole surviving child, was born Feb. 11, 1883.
annibal Hyde, farmer, resident on sec. 10, Mecosta Tp., is the son of James and Eunice (Puck) Hyde, natives of Connecti- cut ; they settled in Vermont where the son was born in Orange County, Nov. 5, IS10. On reaching his 2 1st year he set out to seek his for- tune. His first exploit was to walk to Glens Falls, N. Y., 90 miles distant, and thence to Albany, but he soon retraced his steps and engaged in lum- bering for a few months, finally finding regular em- ployment on a farm at Sit per month. At the expiration of his engagement he went to work in a saw-mill, where he was occupied some months. In the summer of 1835 he left Glens Falls with a vague determination to make his way westward. He set out with several companions but became dissatisfied with appearances and took his own route back to Rochester, N. Y., and returned to Detroit, via Buffalo. In company with seven others he chartered a team to take him to White Pigeon, Mich. Mr. Hyde with several of his fellow travelers went to Indiana, whence they shortly returned to Niles. Not yet satisfied with the outlook he continued his prospecting to St. Joseph County, and pushed on to Chicago. His own state- ment is that he was "disgusted with the awful windy little village" and left in a few days for Sheboygan. Wis. He was there engaged eleven months in the / management of a saw-mill. His next remove was to Chicago, making the journey partly on foot and partly by sail-boat. He worked there a short time as a car- penter, then came to Muskegon Co., Mich. He arrived in this State in the summer of 1837 and went to work on the river. The winter following he came to Newaygo County, and managed a saw- mill one year, when he decided on a visit to Vermont., where he spent some months, going thence to New York,
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and thence to St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky. This rambling existence he continued until 1844, when he was married and made preparations for a permanent settlement in life. He purchased So acres of wild land in Newaygo County, where he lived and pursued agriculture until 1856. In that year he settled in Mecosta Tp. That section was then in its infancy. The township was unorganized and settlers were few especially permanent ones. Lumber interests invited transient comers, but for a period of ten years there were few who consid- ered the place as having claims upon their in- terest, and no steps were taken toward arrang- ing the municipal affairs of the township for five years after the settlement of Mr. Hyde. He was one of the most active in the movement for the organization of Mecosta, as he had been in that of the townships of Newaygo County. He is the oldest living inhabitant of his township, and his youngest son was the first white child born within its bo ders.
Mr. Hyde was married in 1844, to Sophia Russell, who was born in April, 1829, and reared in Newaygo County, in the vicinity of the Big Muskegon River. Mrs. Hyde became the mother of seven children. She was a member of the Catholic Church, and died Sept. 4, 1881. Three children who survive her were born as follows : Daniel, Oct. 4, 1845; Francis E., Jan. 19, 1850; Miranda J., March 20, 1858. The deceased children were Eunice, Amanda S., Amos HI. and James. Mr. Hyde is an adherent to the principles of the Democratic party.
homas Hanifan, of the mercantile firm of Hanifan & Harmon, at Big Rapids, was born at Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich., March 4, 1847. He is a son of William and Kate (Cane) Hanifan, and was reared to the age of 15 years on his father's farm. At that period he became a clerk in a dry-goods store, and has been assistant or principal in the same line of business most of the time since. During the first three years he spent a part of the time in school. In 1870 he went to Vernon, Shiawassee Co., Mich., and entered the employ of W. D &. A. Garrison, dry-goods mer- chants, is clerk, and remained until 1881. In May,
1882, he came to Big Rapids and entered into part- nership with Willard W. Harmon, and commenced commercial transactions in the Fairman & Newton Block, where they are carrying a fine assortment of dry goods, carpets, etc., valued at $15,000; annual sales amount to $35,000.
Mr. Hanifan was married in Farmington, Oakland Co., Mich., Jan. 28, 1881, to Emma, daughter of Daniel and Bridget Lapham. She was born in Farmington in 1854, and died at Big Rapids July 14, 1882.
elvin A. Wells, farmer, sec. 26, Deerfield, Tp., is a son of Nelson and Jane (Austin) Wells. The parents were natives of New York and settled in Washtenaw Co., Mich. about the year 1838, afterward going to St. Joseph Co., Mich. There the senior Wells died at Centerville, May 11, 1881. The mother died May 7, 1863.
Mr. Wells was born in Freedom, Washtenaw Co., Aug. 6, 1848. He remained in the paternal home until 22 years of age, occupied in farming and acquiring his education.
He was married in Ellenburgh, Clinton Co., N. Y., Dec. 5, 1863, to Mrs. Ellen Jerome Wells, widow of Henry Wells and eldest child of Lewis and Lucy (Dragoon) Jerome. It falls to the duty of the com- piler of personal records to transcribe much that bears the impress of a deathless sorrow, but it is rarely incumbent to record the loss of nine children in one household, as in this instance devolves. Mrs. Wells had laid away from her motherly arms, one after another, eight infants, a mercifully rare event Can one believe that her terrible experience lessened the weight of sorrow when another child, the joy and hope of the household, passed away at the dawn of her early girlhood, when life and health seemed as- sured ? Louise B. Wells, born June 14, 1868, died, of diphtheria, Aug. 16, 1881. She is not forgotten ; the anniversary of her death is kept and sacredly ob- served by the parents and sisters to whom her mem- ory will ever be a living presence. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have three children living: Lucy J., born Aug. 5, 1866; Idella, Aug. 25, 1870; and Cora, April 21, 1872.
Mr. Wells is an earnest Republican and was a sol-
yours Truly Janis Joan.
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dier of the Union in the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Third Mich. Vol Inf., Oct. 14, 1864, and received honorable discharge in September 1865.
ewis Toan, Clerk of Mecosta County, and one of its representative citizens, resident at Big Rapids, was born in Ledyard 'T'p.,
Cayuga Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1835. llis parents were natives of the Empire State, as were their ancestors. His father, Lewis Toan, was born Feb. 8, 1788, in Ledyard, on the same farm where his children were born, and where he lived and died. He married Betsey Welsh, April 5, 1810, and by this union became the father of four sons and six daughters. Of these, one son, Harrison Toan, and one daughter, Mis. Sally J. Squires, survive him, the former resident at Elmira, N. Y., the latter living in Seneca Co., N. Y. The mother died Dec. 15,. 1833. The father was married Feb. 26, 1835, to Mrs. Olive (St. John) Aiken. Of this marriage three children were born: Lewis, of this sketch, Mrs. Mary A. Chapin, and Mrs. Frances E. Langan, both resid- ing at Des Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Toan was born Dec. 31, 1803, and was married at Cayuga Co., N. Y., to Ebenezer Aiken. ller children by this marriage are yet living-a son in Dakota, one daughter at Des Moines, lowa, and one daughter, Mrs. Lewis C'ar- man, in Millbrook, Mich. Lewis Toan, Sr., died March 29, 1842. Hle was a soldier in the war of 1812, with the rank of Captain; was a farmer by occupation, and held the office of Justice of the Peace 14 years, the incumbency ending with his death. This fact is mentioned as evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-townsmen. His death left all the family cares and responsibilities upon the mother and widow. The son, who feels that all he is or may be he owes to her faithful, wise and judicious management, places upon record on this page his sense of all she was in her strong, earnest life, rearing her fatherless children in all wisdom and gentleness and self-sacrifice, and how precious to him is her memory, crowned with what she achieved on earth, and glorified by her entrance into the land of the redeemed. She was married a third time in
1860, to Zimri Allen, and died at Des Moines, la., Jan. 24, 1882.
Mr. Toan was seven years old when his father died. His mother left the farm and he was sent to school. In 1848 he went to live with an uncle- Thomas Toan-in Wyoming Co., N. Y. A year later he rejoined his mother, and the family went to Olena, Huron Co., Ohio, where, associated with her brother, she purchased a half interest in a steam saw- mill, where the son was engaged chiefly summers, and went to school winters. In the summer of 1855 he went to Milan, Erie Co., O., and worked in a ship- yard and mill. In the spring of 1856 he went with a half-brother-E. M. Aiken-to Bowen's Prairie, la., to assist in the management of a steam saw mill. Returning in the fall of that year to Ohio, he bought the interest in the mill held by his mother, retaining it until he disposed of it by sale in 1859. In the winter of 1860 he rented a farm in that vicinity and managed it during the year. His next business ven- ture was in the winter of 1861, when he formed a partnership with Otis Smith, an old school-mate, and went to Jackson Tp., Seneca Co., Ohio, built a steam saw-mill, and while engaged in its construction the intelligence of the assault upon the national flag at Fort Sumter electrified the world. Physical dis- ability precluded Mr. Toan from going to the front to aid in bearing the burden of defense, and to take the chances of war; but the services he performed are on record, and his efforts in raising recruits and sup- plies for soldiers in the field, and exertions to protect their interests at home, were as meritorious and conducive to the successful prosecution of the war as those of others who brought their efforts to bear upon the issue on the field of action.
His association with Mr. Smith terminated at the end of two years, when he became sole proprietor by the purchase of his partner's claim. The mill was burned a year later, and in order to be able to re- build, Mr. Toan formed a partnership with Daniel Cox. In 1866 he sold his half of the concern to Robert Adams. During his residence at Jackson he held the position of Postmaster three years, and was Township Clerk one year.
Mr. Toan came to Southern Michigan, in the fall of 1866, and settled near Quincy, Branch Co., where he had purchased So acres of land. Within the year following he sold the farm and purchased another in the vicinity of Allen's Prairie, Hillsdale
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Co., Mich. In the fall of 1869 he exchanged this property for a farm near Jonesville, of which he was the possessor but a short time, as he made another transfer, and secured a faim about two miles from Allen's Prairie, of which he was owner until 1872. In that year he came with his brother-in-law, Lewis Carman, to Millbrook, Mecosta Co., and built a steam saw-mill, selling his interest therein two years later to Mr. Carman. He there engaged in mercantile affairs with Messrs. Main & Decker. The dissolution of the firm took place in the spring of 1877, and in the fall of that year Mr. Toan went to Arkansas to obtain a practical idea of the South, returning the following spring.
Mr. Toan has been a Republican from the outset of his political life, and considers himself honored in the record that his first Presidential vote was cast for the illustrious and martyred Lincoln. In the fall of 1878, after his return from the South, his pub- lic career commenced, his party nominating him for the office of County Clerk. The opposition candi- dates were W. O. Lake, Democrat, and George Got- shall, Greenback. Mr. Toan received 1,102 votes, Mr. Lake 452 and Mr. Gotshall 681. The general opinion of Mr. Toan's discharge of the duties of his position was clearly manifested in the circumstances attending his second nomination in the fall of 1880, when his name was put on the ticket by acclamation. He received 1,849 votes, his opponent, Gregg B. Dou- gall, receiving 861 votes on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Toan was again elected in 1882, receiving 1,481 votes, in opposition to C. A. Munn, Independent Republican nominee, and Richard Ladner, the popu- lar Democratic candidate, who received 295 and 884 votes respectively. Probably the best index of a man's status among his fellows is the record of his local vote. On his first election he received S1 votes of 100 cast in the Tp. of Millbrook; on his second nomination he received 102 of 124 votes in the town- ship, and the third time, of an aggregate of 164, he received 125 votes,-facts which attest that political opponents supported him, and which were made more significant because he had held many important town offices. He was Town Clerk in 1873-4, Super- visor in '75-6. was Township Superintendent of Schools two years, and Village School Director three years.
Mr. Toan was married n Olena, Huron Co., Ohio,
July 5, 1858, to Melissa M., eldest daughterof Nathan H. and Lousia (Barhite) Spencer, Rev. E. Jones of- ficiating. Mrs. Toan's father is a resident of Oler.a. He was born in New Jersey and is a blacksmith by vocation He is an honored citizen in the commu- nity to which he belongs, is a Presbyterian in religious faith, and has occupied a number of prominent po- sitions in religious and political relations. Her mother died in 1859, after a useful and noble life. Mrs. Toan was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 2, 1840. Of the children born of her marriage, eight are living : Ida L., Grace E., Frank M., Clyde L., Fred W., Ernest B., Olive F. and Bessie M. Grace E., second daughter of Mr. Toan, was married Sept. 17, 1882, to John A. Melton, and resides near her parents. Mr. T. is peculiarly fortunate in all his domestic relations, the character and influence of his wife rounding and perfecting the fabric of his life, molded and directed by the clear prevision of his mother.
In January, 1859, Mr. Toan became a member of the M. E. Church, and has since been prominently and actively interested in all that pertains to its prog- ress and interest. He has always been connected with the work of the Sunday-school, and been several times Superintendent. He is also a zealous advo- cate and promoter of temperance, and is the present W. C. T. of the Big Rapids Lodge of Good Templars. We place the portrait of Mr. Toan in this work, as a representative citizen of Mecosta County.
mos S. Johnson, President of Mecosta village and general merchant (G. Gilbert & Co.), is the son of Stanton and Eliza (Gilbert) Johnson. He was born in Wy- oming Co., IN Y., Nov. 24, 1847. When he was an infant his father died, leaving a widow with seven children. He was brought up on a farm, attending schools winters. At 20 years of age he came to Michigan and engaged with Messrs. Wood & Gil- bert in Stanton, where he remained two years. He then formed a'partnership with his employers and established a branch business house at Sherman City, Isabella Co., of which he was head manager. At the end of two years, this business connection ceased, and Mr. Johnson became sole proprietor of the concern by purchase, conducting its affairs
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singly. He owned in addition a farm of 240 acres, with good buildings, fences and promising crops, all of which were destroyed by the cyclone of Sept. 19, 1878. The farm fixtures, and the store with its con- tents, were swept away, and Mr. Johnson was well- nigh overwhelmed with financial ruin.
In May, 1878, he came to Mecosta as agent for the Village Company, real-estate brokers, etc., and is still representing their interests. In March, 1880, in partnership with E. L. Wood, he established a mercantile house, located at present near the depot. A year later Giles Gilbert was admitted a member of the firm. Their stock is valued at $to,ooo, and includes lumbermen's supplies, shelf and heavy hardware, etc. They also handle all kinds of lum- ber, shingles and saw-mill products, and have a yearly trade amounting to $75,000.
Mr. Johnson was Supervisor of the Township, and held the post since he came here until 1883; is also County Drain Commissioner; and when the village was organized in the spring of 1883 he was elected President.
He was married at Elkhart, Ind., March to, 1871, to Stella Russell, born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., March 10, 1848. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic Order, and of the A. O. U. W.
dward A. Romig, M. D., of the firm of Woolley & Romig, Big Rapids, was born in Bristol, Elkhart Co., Ind., Sept. 23, 1852. His father, Adam Romig, was a merchant and died in 1860. His mother, F'lavilla L. (Adams) Romig, is yet living, at Moberly, Mo. Dr. Romig was a student at school until he was 14 years old, after which he spent two years as a farm assist- ant. He passed the next four years as a teacher, and commenced to read for his profession in the office of Dr. C. Earl, of Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich. After a year of study he went to Ann Arbor and became a private student under Prof. A. B. Palmer, completing his preparation by three terms in the Medical De- partment of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in March, 1877. He entered at once upon his practice at Clarkston, Oakland Co., and es- tablished a lucrative and popular business. He stayed there nearly four and a half years, and in the
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