Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 52

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 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Kenrick acquired the rudiments of an educa- tion at the common schools, where he was a student until 15 years of age. He entered the grammar school at Hillsdale and afterward the college in that city, where he studied five years. He completed his educational course at Bryant & Stratton's Commer- cial College at Chicago, where, after a year of study, he graduated, receiving his diploma in November, 1866. To allow his twin brother to complete his college course he returned to Hillsdale County and for two years managed the farming interests of his father.

Mr. Kenrick went to Ohio in September, 1868,

and engaged in general merchandise at Pioneer, Williams Co., forming a partnership with A. C. Mar- shall, under the style of Marshall & Kenrick. Dur- ing the three years of their combined business engagements, circumstances impelled them to take an interest in a lumber mill owned by G. R. Joy & Co., which they held some months. In the spring of 187 1 Mr. Kenrick sold his interest in the mercantile branch of the concern, and confined his efforts 10 the prosecution of lumber manufactures. Radical changes had placed the mill property in wholly dif- ferent conditions, and it was now operated under the style of Sweet, Kenrick & Co.

A few months later Mr. Kenrick embraced an op- portunity to sell out his mill property, and at once embarked in the drug trade, three years of his col- lege course having been taken with a view of grad- uating as an M. D. Mr. E. N. Skinner, of Hillsdale, Mich., became a partner, and they operated under the style of E. H. Kenrick & Co. The firm entered upon the prosecution of the business and operated one year, when Mr. Skinner sold to the senior part- ner, who conducted the affairs of the concern alone until the spring of 1878. He then sold out his en- tire property in Pioneer, Ohio, and in May of that year he came to Mecosta County, located at Mill- brook and became by purchase the proprietor of the small stock of drugs owned by Dr. E. B. Tucker, at that time the only representative of that line of trade between Stanton, Montcalm Co., and Big Rapids, north and south, and Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., and Morley, east and west, thus covering a diameter of more than 50 miles. At the date of writing, the drug establishment of Mr. Kenrick ranks favorably with any other in the same line north of Grand Rapids, and he is engaged in a thriving, prosperous business, conducted on commercial principles of acknowledged uprightness, which have secured him a large confi- dential patronage. A special branch of his business is the manufacture of a "diphtheria cure," which is swallowed, and is considered an antiseptic for this dread malady, and is claimed to be the first medicine ever given internally for this disease. He ships large quantities of the medicine to all parts of this country and to England.

lle was married at Adrian, Mich., Dec. 24, 1866, to Caroline A., daughter of David C. and Abigail T. (Jackson) Fuller. She was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., May 9, 1846. They have one child, Maud

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C., who was born at Pioneer, Ohio, March 14, 1871. Mr. Kenrick has always been a Republican, and in 18So was a delegate to the State Convention at Jackson; but he is a practical business man, intensely devoted to his private interests, and, as he says, " has Yankee blood enough in his veins to make him love a good bargain more than political advance- ment."

He is a Knight Templar, and made the " Pilgrim- age " to San Francisco in 1883, and devoted more than three months to the journey, "doing" not only the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains, but the whole Pacific coast as far north as British Colum- bia; and on his return delivered several lectures on " What I heard and what I saw in a Journey of 10,000 miles." He also wrote a series of letters de- scriptive of his trip, which were published in the the Big Rapids Current and were well received.

We take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Kenrick in connection with this sketch.

Charles H. Crane, Abstracter, Notary and Conveyancer, Big Rapids, was born in East Smithfield, Bradford Co., Pa., May 30, 1858. He is a son of Stephen R. and Lorinda W. Crane. His father was born March 15, 1822, in Port Byron, N. Y. ; is a blacksmith by trade and is still residing in Ulster, Pa. His mother was born in East Smithfield, April 16, 1822, and was married there Sept. 12, 1844. She became the mother of eight children, born as fol- lows : Ezra H., Oct. 14, 1846 (died Aug. 6, 1850); Lucy J., Oct. 17, 1848; Lewis E., Oct. 9, 1850; Ella J., April 27, 1853; Almira E., Dec. 11, 1855 ; Charles H., May 30, 1858; Harlo G., Nov. 1, 1860 ; T. Cornell, Aug. 14, 1864. The parents removed to Columbia Cross Roads in 1860, and in 1873 Mr. Crane of this sketch went to Troy, l'a., and was there employed two years as clerk in a hardware store. At the expiration of that time he came West to Lansing, where he entered the employ of Jones & Porter, real-estate and insurance agents. Two years later he entered the office of J. H. Moores, dealer in pine lands, etc., and a year after returned to the employ of Jones & Porter, remaining with them until April, 1882, when he came to Big Rapids

and engaged, and is at present, with Joel Perry. The set of abstracts in their possession was made originally by J. M. Colby, and has been supple- mented and brought down to present date by Mr. Crane. They are complete in every respect, and are the only set in Mecosta County. Abstracts of any property within the limits of the county can be fur- nished.

Mr. Crane was married in Lansing, Dec. 15, 1881, to Ada M., daughter of D. K. and Mary A. Fuller, born June 12, 1860. Mr. Crane is a member of the Big Rapids Lodge of Sons of Industry.

A. Verity, senior member of the grocery house of C. A. Verity & Co., Big Rapids, was born in Kimball Tp., St. Clair Co., Mich., March 3, 1856, and is a son of Will- iam B. and Maria L. (Adams) Verity. The latter was a lineal descendant of John Quincy Adams. His father was a native of New York, of German lineage, and followed the calling of a farmer all his life; he died in Oshtemo Tp., Kalamazoo Co., June 28, 1872, at the age of 51 years. His mother was also born in the Empire State, and died in Osh- temo, Oct. 19, 1871, at the age of 49 years.

Mr. Verity was taken to Kalamazoo County by his parents when he was nine years of age. He found himself an orphan at 16, and went to Kalamazoo, where he attended school two years, and afterward entered the grocery and crockery store of Barrett & Torrey, where he operated two years, going thence to Sturgis and engaging about six months in the same capacity. His next employ was with L. E. White, dry-goods merchant, and he continued to serve in the house as a clerk two years, after which he obtained a situation with L. G. Twitchell. Six months later he opened business for himself at Kalamazoo, selling groceries and provisions about seven months.

He came to Big Rapids Jan. 1, 1879, where he en- tered into a business connection with W. H. Swift in the sale of groceries. The relation existed about eight months, when Mr. Swift sold his interest to E. R. Keith. Two years later Mr. Verity became sole proprietor, by purchase, changed his location and operated alone until Feb. 20, 1882, when he admitted William Fish, his present associate. The firm

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carries a stock valued at $2,500, and transacts an annual business of $30,000.

Mr. Verity received the appointment of agent for the U. S. Express Co., Sept. 15, 1880, and is still managing in that capacity. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and belongs to the Royal Templars of Temperance.

ohn Lonsdale, farmer on sec. 16, Green Tp., was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England, May 1, 1819. His parents, Ed- mund and Martha (Hindle) Lonsdale, were English by birth; father was an engraver by profession, and was employed in the manufac- ture of designs for calico printing. The family came to America in 1842, and located in Providence, R. 1. Some time later they went to La Salle Co., Ill., where the father died.

Mr. Lonsdale passed his boyhood in the manner common to the youth of his class in his native land, acquiring such education as he could, and at 14 commenced to prepare himself to follow the business of block-printing for calico. He came to America with his parents in 1842, and in 184.| was married to Ellen Wilson, an English girl, daughter of John 11. and Agnes Wilson. He became acquainted with her in Pawtucket, Mass., where he worked at his trade five years, and as an engraver two years. In 1850 he went to Manchester, N. H., where he engaged in the technical business of roller etching and polishing for the Manchester Print Works. He passed a year in that capacity, and then went to Lawrence, Mass., where he was four years in the employ of the Bay State Manufacturing Company, and worked two years in the Pacific Mills.

He came to Mecosta Co., Mich., in 1856, and bought a farm in Green Tp., which he at once began to improve. He has added to his first land invest- ment until he now owns 320 acres, with 90 acres un- der the plow. The privileges and progress possible to all men under a republican form of government are exemplified in the career of Mr. Lonsdale. He came to this country to find a remunerative field for the practice of the craft to which he succeeded by heri- tage and training, as is customary in England. Our institutions plant the germ of advancement in the

heart of every foreigner who sets his foot on our free borders, and foster the growth with such equality of rights and advantages as he has earned by honest industry and self-respect.

In 1871, Mr. Lonsdale took a trip to Florida for the benefit of the health of his wife, and in Septem- ber, 1875, went to California; returning in 1876, he spent a brief time in Philadelphia at the Centennial, passed the remainder of that year at the East, return- ing in the spring of 1877 to Michigan. Mr. Lons- dale has held the position of Treasurer two years and officiated as Justice of the Peace four years. He was a Whig in early life, and joined the Republi- can ranks on the organization of that party.

Robert Wilson Lonsdale is the only child of the household. He was born July 27, 1846, and married Marion Simons, of Salem, Mass. Mrs. Lonsdale died Sept. 9, 1883, after a long and painful illness.

nsel Rowley, farmer, sec. 14, Grant Tp., was born Dec. 28, 1836, in Winstead, Litch- field Co., Conn. His father, Elias Rowley, was born March 22, 1798, in Winsted, and there died in 1875. His mother, Lura Row- ley, was born in East Hartland, Litchfield County, and died in 1870, at Winsted. The ances- tral descent of Mr. Rowley on the side of the father is English, and on that of the mother, Scotch. IIe passed the years of his minority with his parents in the "land of wooden nutmegs," and after leaving home worked for some time as a farm assistant. In 1860, he went to work in a carriage-bolt factory, where he remained three years.

Sept. 1, 1863, he enlisted for one year in the United States Navy, and reported for duty aboard the "Commodore Hull," Capt Joslin, which was assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and cruised chiefly along the coasts of North and South Carolina, on special duty, to search for rebel torpedoes. That fleet will be a subject of Ameri- can history for all time, as it dispatched the torpedo boats that destroyed the rebel ram " Albermarle " at Plymouth, N. C.

In July, 1864, an order was issued from the Naval Department discharging such recruits as had less than three months to serve on their periods of enroll-

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ment ; and, having been in the service nine months and eight days, he received his discharge papers. He went to Orwell, Vt., where he remained three years, coming to Michigan in 1868. He entered and proved a claim under the homestead law, of So acres of choice land, which he has placed under good cul- tivation, and has a comfortable house and farm buildings.

Mr. Rowley was married Sept. 12, 1857, to Delia R. Rogers, of Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., who was born in Orwell, Vt., Aug. 12, 1841. Her father was born in 1809, and is yet living; her mother was born in Benson, Vt., in 1821, and died in Orwell in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Rowley have five children; Estella D., born Feb. 22, 1859 ; Carrie A., Nov. 12, 1863; Kate S., Feb. 16, 1861: Leman E., Aug. 23, 1870; Jen- nie L., Sept. 6., 1873. Mrs. Rowley is a member of the M. E. Church. Politically, Mr. Rogers is a Re- publican, and belongs to Post French, No. 28, G. A. R.

ohn Frederikson, Jr., of the firm of Beu- thien & Frederikson, proprietors of the German House, is a son of John and Char- lotte Frederikson, and was born in Copenha- gen, Denmark, Aug. 13, 1852. His father is a seaman and owns a trading vessel, of which he is himself Captain. The son was trained to life on the sea on board his father's ship until the age of 18, when he shipped as an able seaman on the U. S. man-of-war, " Plymouth," and belonged to her crew three years.

He came to Big Rapids in 1873 and followed vari- ous vocations until July 5, 1883, when he associated himself with Mr. Beuthien in the management of the German House, where he is engaged in a prosperous business. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

bram Lockman, farmer and blacksmith, sec. 12, Wheatland T'p., was born in Ham- ilton, Ontario, Can. His father, Abram Lock- man, was a native of New Jersey, and his mother, Rachel (Patterson) Lockman, of Pennsylvania. When Abram was eight years old his father died, and he went to work, obtaining

such remuneration as a boy of that tender age might receive, and managed to procure his living. At 17 he apprenticed himself to Henry Buckner, of Lancas- ter, Ont., and served four years. On the termination of his indentures he went to work for himself. In the spring of 1855 he came to Ionia, Mich., and there passed 14 years in vigorous prosecution of his trade, going thence to Stanton, where he operated one year. In 1870 he sold out and came to Mecosta County, where he has since worked at his trade. In the fall of 1875 he purchased a farm containing 160 acres. He sold So acres, and has improved the remainder until it is one of the best farms in that part of the county.

Mr. Lockman was married Sept. 7, 1874, in Isa- bella Co., Mich., to Mrs. Lura Brown, daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Hall) Shepard, natives of Ontario, Can., where Mrs. Lockman was born April 13, 1843. The family includes nine children. Mr. Lockman has four by an earlier marriage, three girls and one boy. Of her first marriage Mrs. Lockman has one son, and four children have been born of her mar- riage with Mr. Lockman-Maud A., June 15, 1875 Edmond, April 20, 1876; Earl, Jan. 28, 1878; Edith, Aug. 31, 1882.

In politics Mr. Lockman is a Republican, and be- longs to the Order of Good Templars.

Charles D. Crandell, Postmaster at Big Rapids (1883), was born at Bridgeport, Conn., Dec. 5, 1845. His father, Stephen W. Crandell, was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1800, of Welsh lineage. He was engaged nearly all his life in mercantile busi- ness in the city of New York, residing meanwhile at Hoboken. He began his commercial life as a com- mission merchant in West Washington Market, in that city, and afterward established himself in the whole- sale grocery trade on Vesey street. He was a man of most positive character. He possessed abilities of much more than ordinary type, and fixed himself firmly in all his connections, basing his views upon an instinctive understanding of his obligations to himself and humanity. He died at a period that roused to active life all the best impulses of a man who cherished home and country, and realized the

M. 8. Hobart

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peril of both in view of the issues that were ap- proaching culmination in the national affairs. He understood that safety lay only in the watchfulness of the generation of that day, and in rearing his children he instilled into them both by deed and word that lives were worse than worthless unless guided by inflexible principle and moral courage. Mr. Crandell, Sr., was an active politician and a zeul- ous abolitionist. He was no demagogue, never held or sought the emoluments of office ; but, recognizing the fact that the strength of a republic lies in the people, he strove to do what he believed the incum- bent duty of every man under the protection of the national flag,-to uphold whatever was right and just in the institutions of the Government, and to throw all his influence against the evils which threatened the life and prosperity of the nation. He was killed by the cars Jan. 9, 1865, at Chatham Four Corners, Columbia Co., N. Y. The mother, Sarah Ann (Conklin) Crandell, was a member of an old English family, and was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., in 1810. She died at Chatham, Sept. 29, 1861.

Mr. Crandell of this sketch was in early childhood when his parents removed from Bridgeport to Ho- boken. In 1855 his father placed his family at Chatham to secure for them the salubrity of that well-known section of the Empire State, and to re- move them from the multitudinous dangers to health and morals in and near the great city where he con- tinned to push his business interests. Mr. Crandell acquired his elementary education at the public schools of Chatham, and was placed for a few terms of study at the Seminary at Armenia, N. Y. His father designed to fit him for the profession of law, and in 1864 he was sent to Ypsilanti, Mich., to at- tend the union school preparatory to a collegiate course of study. This purpose was frustrated by the accident which deprived him of his father and he was compelled to abandon the career which had been marked out for him. lle left school and re- turned to New York, where he passed the ensuing three years.

Mr. C'randell came to Big Rapids April 28, 1868, and connected himself with the Tioga Manufactur- Co., becoming a stockholder and interesting himself actively in its operations as accountant. He con- tinned this relation until June, 1874.

His public career in Big Rapids commenced two years earlier. He was elected City Treasurer in

April, 1872, and served three successive years. lle received his appointment as Postmaster, Feb. 16, 1875, and has continued since in the discharge of the duties of that position, aided by his half-brother, Stephen R. Crandell, and two assistants. The affairs of the office are conducted with systematic energy, and its affairs are managed to the entire sat- isfaction of the public.

Mr. Crandell is conspicuous among the multitude of meritorious citizens of Big Rapids, from his ac- knowledged inflexibility in adherence to principle. One of the best evidences of the esteem and ap- preciation in which he is held is the outspoken esti- mate of his political opponents. No imputation of vacillation or uncertainty of purpose lies against him. No vagary of political advancement can lure him from his undeviating pursuit of duty in the light of principle. In thought, word and ac- tion he invariably "hews to the line." He is a born and bred Republican, and in every political issue follows his innate convictions unswervingly and regardless of possible advantage to be derived from the casuistry which is so marked a feature in the management of local and national campaigns.

Mr. Crandell was married at Big Rapids June 26, 1874, to Joanna, daughter of Timothy H. and Joanna Lee, born in Dedham, Mass., Oct. 9, 1839.

arl E. Hobart, photographer, Big Rapids, was born at Ann Arbor, Mich , July 27, 1845, and is a son of Horace O. and Frances A. (Monroe) Hobart. In early youth his time was devoted to acquiring a con- mon-school education. At 21, he commenced the study of medicine, in the office of Dr. Breakey, after which he entered the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in the spring of 1871. Meanwhile he had acquired the photographic art, for which he had a great liking. and in the fall of 1871 came to Big Rapids to engage in it as a business. He bought the stock and inter- est of W. F. Louckes, who was located neatly opposite the Opera block, where he continued three years, re- moving in 1874 to where now stands the Morrissey & Stickney block. After a year he went to Texas and established his business at San Marco, Hays Co., where he operated nine months, going thence to

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Longview. His stay there was brief, and in 1876 he returned to Big Rapids and opened a gallery on Michigan avenue, in the building now occupied by J. Wiseman. Two years later he established his business on the southeast corner of Maple street and Michigan avenue, his present quarters. He is a popular and successful artist in his line, doing an annual business of $5,000.

Mr. Hobart was married at Big Rapids, July 12, 1882, to Lucy E., daughter of General Stephen and Amelia (Barker) Bronson, born in Chicago, Ill. (See sketch of Gen. Bronson.) Mr. Hobart belongs to the Odd Fellows, and to the A. O. U. W.

A portrait of Mr. Hobart is inserted on another page of this Album.

lisha A. Brigham, farmer, sec. 2, Chip- pewa Tp., was born in Fayston, Washing- ton Co., Vt., Dec. 21, 1821. His father, Elisha Brigham, was a pioneer of that section of the Green Mountain State. His mother, Sophronia (Ryder) Brigham, was a descendant of the Chase family, well known and widely esteem- ed in the eastern part of the State.

The Brigham stock is traced back to Northumber- land Co., England, which adopted the family patro- nymic under one of the appointments of the Dooms- day Book. The name has been upheld in honor through descending generations, and is represented at Grand Rapids by Dr. G. N. Brigham, who has been established in that city since 1879. He is a gentle- man of considerable literary standing, being a con- tributor to several medical publications and to a large number of leading newspapers in various sections of the country.

Mr. Brigham was reared to the calling to which he has devoted his life's energies, and was a member of the paternal household to the age of 26 years. In 1847 he invested his time and entire capital in a saw-mill, and on the termination of the enterprise five years later, had lost both.

In 1852, he went to Franklin Co., N. Y., where he remained seven years, engaged in farming, removing thence to Nebraska, where he resided about IS months. He returned to Michigan, and remained near Grand Rapids until the fall of 1867, when he

came to Mecosta County and bought 40 acres of land in the then unorganized township of Chippewa. Here he accomplished pioneer service in a forest so dense that the work of removal seemed impossible.

Mr. Brigham was married June 20, 1849, to Celia Baxter, daughter of Eber H. Baxter. She was born in Moretown, Washington Co., Vt., March 16, 1826, the third of 14 children born to her parents. Mr. Bax- ter was an esteemed citizen of Fayston while he was a resident there, and in 1851 removed to Michigan, with ro children. One child died in infancy and two remained in Vermont. Twelve of the children born in this family survive. Ira C. Baxter, sixth son, yielded up his life for the Nation's redemption from disruption, Sept. 20, 1863, on the field of Chicka- mauga. Seven of the fraternal band have become more or less known through their literary work. Al- bert Baxter, of the Grand Rapids Eagle, has been a resident of Michigan since 1845. Mrs. Brigham has been a poetical contributor to the current press many years. Her work is imaginative and graceful, with a spiritual tendency, which adds largely to its merit and beauty. Her sisters, Mrs. Cadwell, of California, Mrs. Cooper, of Evart, Osceola Co., Mich., and Mrs. Corman, of Lowell, Kent Co., Mich., wield facile pens ; and Uri J. Baxter, a lawyer in Washington, D. C., is no less distinguished for poetical genius and literary ability than the other members of this gifted and accomplished fraternity.

Mr. and Mrs. Brigham have had four children : Rosa May, born April 4, 1859, died Jan. 5, 1868. Ziba W. was born May 8, 1850; Elisha K., Dec. 23, 1851; Edwin B., Oct. 1, 1857.

Mr. Brigham is a Republican and a member of the M. E. Church. On the organization of Chippewa Tp., he was the first Clerk, and has been Justice of the Peace 19 years.

F. McElroy, veterinary surgeon, Big Rap- ids, was born at Tullmore, Queens Co., Ireland, May 28, 1848. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Smith) McElroy, came to the United States when he was six months old, settling at Syracuse, N. Y. In May, 1850, they went to Elgin, Ill., where they now reside.

Mr. McElroy learned his business of his father, and practiced with him until 1876. In that year he

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came to Grand Rapids, where he operated in the same profession. In the fall of 1879 he came to Big Rapids and established his business, which he has since prosecuted with success and growing popularity, the custom covering an area of 50 miles square.

Mr. MeElroy was married at Spring Lake, Ottawa Co., Mich., May 27, 1874, to Emmeline, daughter of Duncan Stewart, a farmer of Gratiot Co., Mich. Two children have been born of their marriage, -- William J. and Mary E.

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Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 52

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