USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 37
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State of New York, and their children are,' Vesta, born May 22, 1868; Mice, July 31, 1870; Frances W., Oct. 17. 1876; James E., July 8, 1880. Ger- trude is deceased.
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lijah Carr, farmer on sec. 6, Hinton Tp., was born in New Jersey, Oct. 21, 1834. His parents, Samuel and Catherine (Wise) Carr, were born in New Jersey, and were pio- neers in Oakland County, removing later to Greenville, Mecosta Co., where they died Mr. Carr was but four years old when his parents became residents of Michigan. He obtained his education in the common schools, and worked on the farm until he was 22 years old. In 1856 he bought So acres of timber land in Greenville, Montcalm Co., and soon after purchased a similar acreage. He was a resident of the place for 22 years. He sold it in 1878, and bought 160 acres in Hinton Tp., now his residence and under his management.
Mr. Carr was married in Oakland County, Dec. 13, 1846, to Mrs. Mary H. Stewart, second daughter of John and Amanda (Jordan) Clark. Her parents were natives of Vermont, and in 1834 came to Mich- igan, settling in Montcalm County, where the mother died, June 5, 1849, the father dying several years later. Mrs. Carr was born in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Aug. 2, 1835. The family circle includes six chil- dren : Ellen E., John L., Alice M., Josephine B, Frances E. and Avery G. Mr. Carr is an adherent to the principles and issues of the Democratic party. Mrs. Carr's first husband was Charles Stewart, and of that marriage one child was born-Sophia A.
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ohn B. Gingrich, farmer, sec. 8, Wheatland Tp., is a son af Jacob and Barbara (Burk- is hart) Gingrich, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, and in early youth went to Canada, where they were married and reared their fam- ily. Mr. Gingrich was born in Waterloo Co., Can., May 2, 1847. He was married Nov. 15, 1866, to Mary J., daughter of John and Jane (Cathcart) Bellamy (see sketch), who was born in Wellington Co., Can., Aug. 17, 1846. Mr. Gingrich took his
wife to the home of his parents and lived with them one year, coming in the fall of 1867 to Michigan and locating on sec. 8, where he secured 120 acres of wooded land, with an old log hut thereon, which had been previously built and which the family occupied five years. The pioneer dwelling has given place to one more pretentious and comfortable; and 20 acres have been added to the farm, which now aggregates 140 acres, with 100 in first-class improvements and furnished with ample and suitable farm buildings.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich are as fol- lows: Barbara J., born June 17, 1867; Rebecca, Feb. 28, 1869; William J., born Aug. 27, 1870, died Sept. 2, 1871 ; Joseph, born July 17, 1872, died Sept. 8, 1881; Susan, born July 1, 1874, died Sept. 17, 1881. The two last named died of diphtheria, nine days intervening between their deaths. Mr. Ging- rich belongs to the Democratic party, and has held the post of Constable six years. The parents are mem- Lers of the M. E. Church.
B yron S. Davenport, Paris, Green Tp., was born Jan. 2, 1862, in Barton, Newaygo C'o., Mich , and is the youngest son of William and Jemima (Stanley) Davenport. The father was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Sept. 24, 1824, and is a son of Jesse Davenport, a native of England and a millwright by vocation. William Da- venport moved to Columbia, Fayette Co., Ind., in 1845, where he engaged three years successfully in mercantile business. In 1856 he went to Barton. and has since resided there, pursuing his trade of millwright and mechanic. He purchased a half section of Government land, which his sons cleared and placed in good farming condition, leaving him to pursue his trade. Jemima Stanley was born Oct. 7, 1824, in Richmond, Ind., of English descent, and was married July 31, 1842, to William Davenport. They are the parents of one daughter and five sons.
Mr. Davenport, of this sketch, acquired his ele- mentary education in the schools of Barton and in the high school of Big Rapids, finishing his studies at the Commercial College of Grand Rapids. In 1881. in company with his brother, he established himself in business in Paris, which connection con- tinned nearly a year, and was brought to a close by
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the unfortunate management of his brother, who in- volved their affairs in a hopeless intricacy and took his departure. Mr. Davenport adjusted matters as well as he was able, sold out the business and en- gaged, May 20, 1882, as salesman with D. Levy, of Big Rapids. A few months later he entered the em- ploy of B. E. Hutchinson & Co., of Paris, as sales- man, and remained with them until Feb. 22, 1883, when the concern failed and he was appointed by the assignee to sell out the stock. After this he engaged with W. D. Hopkinson as book-keeper and salesman, in which capacity he is still acting.
enry H. Moore, farmer, sec. 20, Hinton Tp., was born March 28, 1849, in the State of New York, and is the youngest of a family of seven children. His father, Hiram Moore, was a native of New Hampshire, and went to New York when a boy, where his father was one of the first pioneers. The mother, Ann ('Terrey) Moore, was born in the State of New York, where she was married in 1829. Her husband was unable to labor for 35 years before his death, having become disabled by over-exertion. Hle was cared for by his children during the later years of his life, and was the especial charge of his son, H. H. Moore, some years previous to his death, which occurred March 13, 1873, of cancer of the stomach. He was of a radical character, and during all his life was a consistent Christian man.
Mr. Moore of this sketch was 23 years old when his father died, and on the occurrence of that event removed to Kenosha Co., Wis., and was there occu- pied as a carpenter six months, moving thence to Janesville, and three months later to this county. In the spring of 1874 he bought 160 acres of unin- proved land in Hinton Tp., worth at that time $1,000. He built a frame house, and the first year cleared 20 acres; he now has 60 acres under improvement.
He was married in the State of New York, Nov. 23. 1869, to Emma L., third daughter of Asa and Louisa (Dow) Robbins, born in the Empire State, Jan. 26, 1848. ller parents were natives of Ver- mont, and were married in New York, where her
father died Dec. 8, 1876. Her mother is yet living, in Hinton Tp.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore are both persons of stable character. Their tastes and inclinations lead them into the best avenues of thought and action, and they are intimately associated with all popular move- ments and reformatory issues, whether social, moral or religious. Both were school-teachers, fond of books, and are correspondents of several local papers. They belong to two distinct temperance organizations, and are actively interested in the M. E. Church, in which Mr. Moore has been a Class- Leader most of the time since the organization of the society to which he belongs.
He is an inflexible Republican, and has officiated in several township offices, and failed of appointment to others only because of his radical temperance views.
eter B. Gingrich, farmer on sec. 7, Wheat- land Tp., is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Burkhart) Gingrich, natives of Pennsyl- 3 vania and of German descent, who went to Ontario, Can., in their childhood, where they were afterwards married. Mr. Gingrich was born in Waterloo Co., Can., Aug. 25, 1839. He had fair educational advantages, and in 1858 he appren- ticed himself to F. G. Locknar, of Hawksville, to learn the art of blacksmithing. After serving his full time, three and one-half years, he became manager in the same shop where he had been instructed, and con- ducted the business two years. He was married Oct. 4, 1860, in Waterloo County, to Mary, daughter of James and Leonora (Newton) McDonald, natives respectively of Scotland and New York, who went early in life to the Dominion, where they were mar- ried and where the daughter was born, Sept. 3, 1841. After marriage Mr. Gingrich went into business on his own behalf in the town of Flora, Ont., where he pursued his trade until February. 1862, when he went to Winfield, Wellington Co., Ont. . After oper- ating there for a time his health became impaired and he sold out, starting in the spring of 1863, on a prospecting tour to Michigan, and worked to some extent at his trade. Prospects were not very flatter- ing and he returned home and worked on a farm un- til the fall of 1867, when he again resolved on seck-
C. H- sternelle.
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ing a home in the Peninsular State. Himself and brother exchanged 100 acres of land in Ontario for 240 acres in Wheatland Tp., Mr. Gingrich becoming the possessor of 120 acres, to which he has made an addition of 20 aeres more. Of this, 75 acres are now as well improved as any. in the county, and the owner has recently erected some very fine farm buildings thereon.
The family of Mr. Gingrich includes six children, bom as follows: Leonora, July 5, 1861 ; Samuel A., Aug. 3. 1864; William A., Jan. 20, 1868; Henry W. B, Aug. 8, 1870; Franklin P., Jan. 31, 1875; Lillie G., May 25, 1878: Lavinia N., born Aug. 3, 1873, ‹lied Dec. 6, 1881.
In polities Mr. Gingrich is a staunch Democrat, and has held nearly every office of any prominence in the local government of his township. He is act- ively interested in the work of the society of Good Templars, to which he belongs, and in which he oc- cupies the chair of P. W. C.
hristian W. Wernette, resident at Me- costa village, Morton Tp., is a son of John and Mary (Veitheimer) Wernette, and was born June 15, 1851, in Waterloo Co., Canada. When he was 10 years of age his parents sent him to Berlin, in his native country, to college, with the view of educating him for a Romish priest ; but his natural tastes were so decidedly averse to such a life that he left school at the end of the first year. In 1863 he came to Mich- igan and engaged several years as a farm laborer, and in 1865 went back to New York and enlisted in the State militia, but was not called into action. He was the youngest and the tallest man in the company. His regiment was mustered out of the service in the spring of 1866, when he returned to Mecosta County, and was employed about six months in the lumber woods. His next engagement was with the Chicago Lumber Co., cutting timber in the vicinity of the Manistee River. In 1875 he bought a farm of 290 acres, three miles southeast of Mecosta village, where he lived until that place was platted. Foresceing the promising future of the rapidly growing and plucky little village, he bought a lot on Main street, and built a saloon, which he still carries on, holding a stock of about
$3,000, embracing all articles common to his line of business, his annual sales amounting to about $11,000. He acceded to the possession of the Wilson House, Sept. 15, 1882, which he afterward rented to R. H. Duly for three years, and in the spring of 1883 he bought the building where the Mecosta Advance is published, which is rented to the proprietor of that journal. July 1, 1883, he bought a half interest in a meat market adjoining his saloon, which is well patronized under the firm name of Reed & Wernette. His residence on North Franklin street was lately erected, at a cost of $1,200; is handsomely fitted up with modern appurtenances, and is an ornament to the place. On his farm southeast of the city, he has built a large and commodious barn, which he has so plan- ned as to have one of the finest water privileges in Northern Michigan. His place is stocked with a fine lot of blooded cattle and China pigs. He owns, he- sides, a 40-acre farm one mile north of Mecosta vil- lage ; has also 40 acres of pine land, which he values very highly. He also owns a blacksmith shop on Main street, occupying two lots near the Town Hall.
Mr. Wernette is a Democrat in political faith. He has officiated as Supervisor of Morton Tp., and in 1880 was nominated for Representative from his district on the ticket of his party, but declined the position on account of ill health. Mr. Wernette has always been active in the interests of his township and of the community of which he is a member. To him belongs the credit of securing the establishment of mail privileges at Bingen (now Remus).
He was married July 3, 1875, at Grand Rapids, 10 Mary Pickette, daughter of a prosperous farmer of Kent County. Mr. and Mrs. Wernette have three children : Lillie R., Joseph W. and Jessy J.
Among the portraits of prominent citizens present- ed in this volume may be found that of Mr. Wernette.
R oland D. Reed, marketman (firm of Reed & Wernette), Mecosta, Morton Tp., was 3w. born in Hainsville, Medina Co., Ohio, Sept. 23, 1849. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Holcomb) Reed, are both deceased. His father was a native of Medina Co., Ohio, was a miller by trade, and died in lonia, Mich., Nov. 10, 1861, aged 31 years, and his mother
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died in Niles, Mich., May 1, 1873, at the age of 41 years.
In 1877 Mr. Reed engaged in the meat trade at Six Lakes, Montcalm County, and operated there with success three years, closing his business in March, 1880. In May following he opened a similar busi- ness at Mecosta village. July 1, 1883, he admitted C. W. Wernette as partner, and their business now amounts to $r,ooo per month. Mr. Reed is a mem- ber of the Maccabees' society. He owns his shop and slaughter-house grounds, comprising 18 acres and situated half a mile from town.
He was married March 24, 1876, to Millicent, daughter of Sydney and Elizabeth Edie, born at Lowell, Kent Co., Mich.
rs. Mary A. Dutcher, residing on sec. 29, of Green Tp., was born in Liverpool, Eng., Aug. 16, 1820. She is a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Fowle) Hudson, na- tives of England. They came to America in 1823 and landed at St. John, New Brunswick, on the ninth of May. They were residents there until their death. Mrs. Dutcher was married Dec. 26, 1840, to Alexander McPhee, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia. They went to Canada West and in 1861 moved to Michigan, locating in Mecosta County, where the husband followed farming until his death, which occurred May 21, 1864. The widow was a second time married in 1866, to Simeon S. Dutcher, a native of Greenbush, N. Y. He died June 30, 1880. Mrs. Dutcher has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 20 years.
ohn Clink, farmer, sec. 33, Deerfield Tp., is son of John and Catherine (Brown) Clink. They were natives of New York, and after their marriage emigrated to Tuscola Co., Mich., where the mother is yet living; the father is deceased.
Mr. Clink was born in Canada, Nov. 19, 1843, and there grew to man's estate. In the autumn of 1862 he came to Deerfieldl township and purchased 80 acres of unbroken forest land, now the homestead of
George Helms. On selling his first landed estate, Mr. Clink bought So acres, where he now resides and has 20 acres under cultivation.
The marriage of Mr. Clink with Charlotte, fourth daughter of John and Anna (Nunn) Sanger, took place Feb. 23, 1862. Mrs. Clink's parents were na- tives of Canada, and there remained resident until their death. The seven children born of this mar- riage are recorded as follows: John H., born May 10, 1866; Millie, June 22, 1868; Devilo, May 24, 1870; Thomas, April 21, 1872; Clyde, March 15, 1875; Annie (dec.), June 21, 1864 ; Wm. (dec.), Nov. 19, 1881.
Mr. Clink has been Constable in Mecosta County nearly to years; was re-elected, and also chosen Drain Commissioner in the spring of 1883, but de- clined the positions. He is a Democrat in political principle.
harles E. Warner, farmer, sec. 20, . Etna Tp., was born in Summit Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1842. He is a son of Andrew and Laura (Riley) Warner, who were born in New York and recently died in Michigan. When four years old Mr. Warner was taken to the home of an uncle, where he remained until he was 19 years of age, when he returned to his childhood's home. After a brief sojourn there, he set forth with strong determination to make his way in the world, and was variously occupied for several years, when he came to Michigan and found employ in the mills at Grand Rapids for some time. Meanwhile he took advantage of a good opportunity to purchase a farm near that city, on which he located in 1878. After a few years he resolved on making another change, and went to Indiana, where he remained some years, operating summers as an engineer and spending the alternate winters in lumbering. He had, during this time, invested some money in a farm in zEtna Tp., where he took up his residence in 1878. The place contains 120 acres.
Mr. Warner was married March 26, 1866, to Etta A., daughter of William and Susan J. (Reed) Hill, a native of Massachusetts, born April 26, 1859. Their children are Frank E., Dora B., Wm. E., Homer R., Harris 1 .. , Charles C. and Bertha M. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are members of the M. E. Church. Mr.
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Warner has been identified with the Republican party since the beginning of his connection with politics.
ames Mitehell, farmer, sec. 10, Atna Tp., was born Feb. 7, 1815, in the State of New York, and is a son of Zephaniah P. and Annie (Sexton) Mitchell, natives of the Empire State. He remained in his native State until the fall of 1845, when he came to Wayne Co., Mich., and spent five years as a farm laborer, coming thence to Sparta, Kent Co .; and a year later he went to Nottawa, St. Joseph Co., and bought 80 acres of land, which was in his possession ten years. In the spring of 1861 he came to Me- costa County and settled in zEtna Tp., where he took 40 acres of wild land under the swamp act. He built a log house and entered upon the labor of clearing the land. In 1868 he bought 40 acres lying adjacent to his original purchase, making an aggre- gate of So acres, 60 of which are under cultivation, and on which he fixed his residence. He was mar- ried to Susan, daughter of Jonathan Western, who died in 1863, and four of their seven children sur- vive: Nathaniel, Oliver, Asa and Adeline. In 1865 he was again married, to Kate, daughter of John and Ellen Gilluly, natives and life residents of Ireland. The family belong to the Catholic Church, and Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat.
ohn MeKewen, farmer, sec. 27, Deerfield Tp., was born in Canada, May 14, 1855. . He is a son of Michael and Julia (Levick) McKewen, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Canada. In 1871 the parents moved to Shiawassee Co., Mich., where the father died, in February, 1882, when the son was 16 years of age. Six years later, John came to Deerfield Tp., and bought 40 acres of land on sec. 28, then in a wholly unimproved condition, and has since pur- chased 40 acres on sec. 27, where he is now resident. Ile was married Oct. 30, 1880, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Martin) O'Neil. In
the following year Mr. McKewen took a journey West on account of the health of his wife, but all ef- forts were unavailing, and she died Aug. 20, 1881, of liver disease, from which she was ill eight months.
In politics Mr. MeKewen is independent; in re- ligion he is a Roman Catholic.
atthew Roben, retired merchant, residing at Big Rapids, was born at Ryegate, Cale- donia Co., Vt., Sept. 1, 1814. Ile comes of a long line of Scotch ancestry, originating in Renfrewshire, Scotland, and traceable for many generations-a family of means and in- Auence in their native country. Ifis great-grand- father, Walter Roben, was born in 1719, at Renfrew, and died in 1784. His wife was Isabella (Gardner) Roben. His son, Matthew Roben, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to this country with his family in 1803. He was one of the original founders of the Scotch colony in Caledonia Co., Vt., which is perhaps the most extensive Scotch settlement in the United States. He was also a Mason of high degree, and a prominent organizer of Masonic lodges in Vermont at that early day. His wife was Jean (Harvey) Roben, born near Glasgow, Scotland, and of a family of prominence in that locality.
Walter Roben, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, near Glasgow, in 1786, and died at Ryegate, Vt., Aug. 13, 1867, at the age of 81 years. He was a farmer by occupation. Ilis wife, Polly ( Thomas) Roben, mother of Matthew, was born in New Hampshire, in 1788, and died at Ryegate, Vt., in her 85th year.
Mr. Roben was reared on his father's farm, and obtained a common-school education, which was supplemented by attendance for a considerable time at the Vermont Wesleyan University at Newbury.
Ile came to Ohio in 1835, where he engaged in teaching school, at first in Tuscarawas County, and afterwards in Morrow (then a part of Richland) County. After several years be purchased a farm in Morrow County, near the village of West Point, and engaged in farming. Later, he added another farm to this, and built a store in West Point, where for some time he sold a general stock of goods, and at the same time attended to the management of his
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farms. In these business operations he was quite successful.
Having been elected County Recorder of Morrow County, he removed to Mount Gilead, the county seat, where he continued to reside during the re- mainder of the time he lived in Ohio, a period of 18 years. Mr. Roben was a resident of what is now Morrow County about 35 years in all, and was thoroughly identified with the early growth and inter- ests of that county.
Having contracted the asthma, and his health being poor, he removed with his family in 1872 to Cassopolis, Mich., where he resided one year; but not finding his health much improved by the climate of that place, he removed to Big Rapids, in .May, 1873. Soon afterward he built a store and residence on State street, and in 1874 went into mercantile busi- ness again, carrying on a general store, and doing a safe but limited business, such as his health would permit. In 1881, he retired from business.
Mr. Roben was married in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1840, to Esther Albach, who was born in Northum- berland Co., Pa., in 1819, and came with her parents' family to Ohio when a young lady. Her father was John Albach, a wealthy farmer, a leading citizen, and an early pioneer of Northumberland County. Mr. and Mrs. Roben have had seven children-two sons and five daughters. Their eldest son and daughter died in childhood. Their surviving son, Douglas (see sketch), and four daughters reside in Big Rapids. Two daughters are married, and of the two remaining unmarried, one is a teacher, and the other an artist. Mr. Roben belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows, (an Encampment member), and is a Royal Arch Mason.
mens ottleib Staab, farmer, on sec. 20, Green Tp., was born Aug. 3, 1816, in Wurtemburg, Germany, and is a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Wilder) Staab. He was educated and lived in the "Faderland" until 1847, when he sailed for the New World, and landed on the shores of this continent April 20 of that year. He remained awhile in Pittsburg, Pa., going thence to Wheeling, W. Va., and from there to Ohio, where he labored as a farm hand. Later on he bought 40 acres of land in Wheatland, Ind. After pursuing
agriculture there six years, he sold and came to Bar- ton, Newaygo Co., Mich., where he bought 160 acres of land. He lives there three years and cleared 20 acres, after which he sold out, and in the spring of 1860 settled on section 20 of Green Tp., where he now owns 82 acres of land, with about 50 under till- age.
Mr. Staab was married in 1848, in Wheeling, Va., to Sophia Colder, who was born in Germany, and died June 10, 1874. In 1878 Mr. Staab went to Germany, returning in the fall of 1879. He was married in 1880 to Christina Guge, who died June 2, 1883. Mr. Staab is a Republican in politics.
ohn Wiseman, Big Rapids, dealer in pic- tures, picture frames, wall paper, brackets, " etc., combines a news depot with his busi- ness, and makes a specialty of undertaking, being a funeral director. He was born June 29, 1830, in Columbiana Co., Ohio. His father was a farmer, and he was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and acquired a common-school education. In 1846 his parents removed to Marion County and bought a farm. There Mr. Wiseman was married, April 25, 1852, to Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Susan Merrick. Of their two children, one-Morris -grew to maturity, and is engaged in the restaurant and boarding-house business at Stanton.
In 1854, Mr. Wiseman moved to Ottawa Co., Mich., where he bought a farm of 160 acres. Ilis wife died in 1857, and he afterward married Jane McGinnis. Charles, Emily and John are the names of the three children born to them. The daughter is a tailoress and dressmaker in Coldwater, Mich. The youngest son is dead. The mother died Feb. 25, 1864. Mr. Wiseman was married a third time in Ottawa County, to Eliza Waters. Emmet and Linda are the names of their two children.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Wiseman came to Big Rapids, and opened a store for the sale of general merchandise, which he transferred to a grocery busi- ness. This he sold in 1872, and established himself as an undertaker and dealer in furniture. He closed the latter and added the merchandise mentioned. His establishment is tastefully arranged, and pre- sents all the features of a first-class art and news
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