USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 54
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73
Gertie. G. Knapp.
MECOSTA COUNTY.
513
1
of Warren avenue and Oak street, and two lots on State 'street.
Mr. Stearns was married in Ellisburg, N. Y., to Elizabeth Coburn ; she died at Ellisburg, April 10, 1829, leaving two sons, Chester E. and Samuel C. Mr. Stearns was a second time married, at Ellisburg, to Elizabeth Martin. Of this marriage eight chil- dren were born : George F., Sarah E. (dec.), Francis C., Martha H. (dec.), Daniel E., Mary C., Alfred P. and Albert S. (dec.). The mother died in 1863, and Mr. Stearns was again married in 1871, to Mary Gollady.
bel B. Knapp, farmer, sec. 2, Grant Tp., was born Dec. 13, 1843, in Bronson, Huron Co., O., and is a son of Adolphus G. and Hannah (Richardson) Knapp, both na- tives of New York. The father is a son of Brundage Knapp, a native of Massachusetts, and was born Feb. 19, 1820; in early life he went to. Salem Tp., Westchester Co., O., and afterwards to Huron County, where he was married Nov. 12, 1842. The mother was born Sept. 22, 1824, and accom- panied her parents to Ohio when she was eight years of age. She became the mother of seven children, all of whom are living in Michigan. The senior Knapp, in the course of his active life, had frequent occasion to change locality, and a singular fact resulting was that in passing alternate periods of his life in Michigan and Ohio, three daughters were born in Michigan and three sons in the Buckeye State, alternating in order. In January, 1859, the family removed to Wright Co., Mo., but the secession element governed that portion of the State and they returned to Ohio, and finally, in 1866, came to Me- costa Co., Mich., settling in Grant Tp., where the father secured 80 acres of land. One of the sons bought 60 acres in Chippewa Tp., and Mr. Knapp of this sketch entered a claim of 80 acres in Hersey Tp., Osceola Co. The mother died March 26, 1879, of pneumonia, followed by heart disease, after an ill. ness of a week. Her children hold her memory sacred, and speak in loving remembrance of her motherly devotion, her unselfish, sacrificing spirit and hei lovely character.
Mr. Knapp of this sketch remained under his
parents' supervision until he was 18 years old, when he was released by his father to become a tanner and currier. He worked at his trade until January, 1864. He is now a stalwart, sinewy man, but he was in youth of light build and matured slowly. Repeated efforts to enlist when the war broke out were futile ; the examining surgeons were inflexible and he suc- ceeded in enrolling as a soldier for the Union only at the date named. He enlisted in 1863 in Green- ville, Huron C'o., but did not weigh 100 pounds, and was rejected. The following year he was successful, and was credited on the quota of Mansfield, Rich- land Co., as a recruit. He joined Co. L, 10th Ohio Cav., at Chattanooga. The regiment was ordered to La Vergne, Tenn., and went into winter quarters. A detail was sent to Nashville for horses, and the time was spent in drill until spring. The regiment joined the command of Kilpatrick at Ringgold, Ga., and made its first acquaintance with set battle at Resaca. After the victory there the roth Ohio was ordered out light mounted and spent a day in hot action, fighting from nine a. m. to five p. m., repulsing a charge and retiring to the morning's position. The same orders were repeated the following morning, and they were on the scout five weeks without over- coats, blankets or haversacks, and some without can- teens. Regular rations were not served during the entire period. Food depended on success in forag- ing, and on one occasion Mr. Knapp was without food three days and four nights. On the morn- ing of the fourth day he secured a piece of mutton, which he devoured raw and without salt, the bloody juice streaming meanwhile from the corners of his mouth. Regular rations were first served at Adairs- ville. The next battle was at Kingston, and they afterwards went into camp at Gillam's bridge on the Etowah River, where they kept up cavalry service, foraging and scouting, until Kilpatrick set out on his remarkable raid. Mr. Knapp was ill and, instead of taking a part in the brilliant action of his command, as he anticipated, with all the relish of a true soldier, he was ordered off on sick leave to Chattanooga, and 48 hours later was on his way to Nashville, where he was ill two months with malarial fever and camp diarrhea. Later he went to Jeffersonville, Ind .. where he was furloughed for 30 days. The rebellion came to a virtual close, and he was discharged from the service at Camp Dennison, Ohio, May 31, 1865. Ife returned to Peru, Ohio, where he worked at his
5 14
MECOSTA COUNTY.
trade for a time, and, determining on a permanent settlement, he journeyed through Indiana, Ilinois and Iowa, prospecting, and came at length to Me- costa County, whither his father's family had come shortly before, and reached Big Rapids in September, 1866.
He located land in Hersey, Osceola Co., in its orig- inal state, and there entered upon the career of a pio- neer, spending five years in the manner common to the early settlers in this portion of Michigan. In 1872 he bought the land on which his father settled in 1866, and So acres adjoining. His homestead in- cludes 160 acres, with 120 acres cleared. It is con- sidered a first-class place, lying in a hard-wood belt, with soil a mixed clay and sandy loam, capable of producing the justly celebrated Michigan crops. In connection with his labors as a farmer Mr. Knapp has engaged in lumbering since his settlement in Northern Michigan, acting in behalf of other parties, scaling logs, managing corps of lumbermen, operat- ing as foreman, etc., finding ample field for his efforts at Sioo per month. His farm has good buildings and a new barn, built in 1883, at a cost of $1,500. He makes a specialty of raising fine grades of draught horses, and at the fair at Evart, Osceola Co., in the fall of 1883, took three premiums on colts and single horses. He has been active in town matters since he located in Grant, and served the township as Supervisor in 1874 and 1882. He joined the M. E. Church in 1878, and has been one of the officials of the society since. He is one of the prominent citizens of Mecosta County, and foremost among the active workers for its progress and sub- stantial improvement. The neighborhood in which he is located is designated by his name, and he has been the responsible member of his father's family for years. Ile was a Republican from the beginning of his political career until the establishment of the National party, when he became its adherent, and in 1876 was the candidate for Sheriff on the Greenback ticket, in opposition to Col. N. H. Vincent, Republi- can nominee.
Mr. Knapp was married Oct. 29, 1877, to Gertrude E., daughter of Calvin and Mary J. Royce, of Deer- field Tp. (see sketch), born Nov. 12, 1855, in Del- mar, Tioga Co., Penn. When she was 12 years old her parents came to Deerfield Tp. She devoted herself vigorously to obtaining an education, and at 16 com- menced teaching at Millbrook. She taught 12 terms
of school, all in Mecosta County save one, the Bar- ton school in Winfield Tp., Montcalm Co. She be- came a member of the M. E. Church in 1875, and was active in all avenues where a laborer was needed. She has served as Superintendent of Sunday-school and lent energetic and judicious aid wherever need- ed. She is a lady of fine acquisitions and generous impulses, a valuable member of her social sphere and warmly regarded by her intimate friends.
The elder sister of Mr. Knapp, Mary A., wife of Nelson A. McCord, lives in St. Louis, Gratiot Co., and is the mother of three children. Franklin B. Knapp is a minister of the United Brethren Church, located at Salt River, Isabella Co. He is married and is the parent of three children. Phebe A., wife of Wm. Cook, residing in Chippewa Tp., has four children. John A. Knapp is unmarried and lives in Grant. Josephine J. (Mrs. Owen Bentley) has three children. Vernor G. Knapp resides with his brother in Grant.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp may be found in this work.
ilbert W. Smith, lumberman, of the firm of Foster, Blackman & Co., Big Rapids, was born in Vernon, Conn., May 15, 1852, and is the son of Amos and Angeline (Keith) Smith. His parents removed to Brighton, Livingston Co., Mich., in 1857, and soon after to Howell, where his father was engaged as a dealer in boots and shoes about 15 years. He attended the schools of Howell until he was 18 years of age, when he went to Ann Arbor and entered the Literary Department of the University, where he was graduated with the class of 1874. Immediately after that event he became a member of the lumber firm of Galloway, Blackman & Co., of Howell.
In the spring of 1877 the present business house was constituted, consisting of Chapin C. Foster, of Indianapolis, Hudson B. Blackman, Elias D. Gallo- way, and W. W. Smith, of Howell. The interests of the new association were established at Big Rapids at the same time, with Mr. Smith as resident mana- ger. They are operating extensively in lumber, hav- ing a steam saw and shingle mill at Edmore, Montcalm Co., where a laboring force of 100 men is
MECOSTA COUNTY.
515
commonly employed, and the product amounts annu- ally to about 10,000,000 feet each of shingles and lumber. At Baldwin, Lake Co., the firm owns a steam saw-mill, and employs about 100 men in the mill and woods, cutting about 10,000,000 feet of lum- ber yearly. They own about 3.500 acres of pine land in Lake County, where Messrs. Morton & Tea- chout have just completed a mill contract for 4,500,- ooo feet at Lumberton, Newaygo Co. Their ship- ments are commonly made to Indiana and Ohio, and to some extent to Eastern markets.
The firm have suffered considerable losses by fire ; one, which occurred at Edmore in 1881, resulted in the destruction of their mill and lumber to the value of $14,000, partly remedied by $9,000 insurance. Aug. 20, 1883 (current year), they suffered a loss of 2,500,000 feet of lumber, valued at $25,000, with an insurance of $18,000.
Mr. Smith was married in Lapeer, Mich., June 10, 1875, to Elizabeth I'., daughter of Rev. Gustavus L. and Hannah (Pettingill) Foster. The father of Mrs. Smith was a clergyman of repute in Presby- terian circles in the State of Michigan for many years, and at the time of his death his labors exceed- ed in continuity those of any other minister in that denomination. Mrs. Smith was born in Clinton, Len- awee Co., Mich., March 27, 1853. One child has been born of her marriage, Gustavus, May 19, 1876, at Howell, Mich. Mr. Smith was elected City Alderman in the spring of 1883; he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
-
erbert Ladner, lumberman and farmer, on sec. 34, Big Rapids Tp., was born in the county of Cornwall, Eng., June 15, 1839. XIX His parents, James and Jane (Chirgwin) Lad- ner, came to America when he was nine years of age, and settled on a farm in the township of Cannon, Kent Co., Mich., where he remained until the age of 25 years He bought 80 acres of land in the same township where he grew to manhood, and continued on it five years. In 1882 he bought a farm containing 80 acres on sec. 34, Big Rapids Township.
Mr. Ladner was married July 1, 1869, to Huklah, daughter of Robert and Catherine Ganong. She was born'in the State of New York, June 22, 1848,
and died in Big Rapids Tp., March 12, 1874, leaving two children, Albert W., born in Big Rapids, March 5, 1871, and Vernia B., born in Osceola County, March 18, 1873.
Mr. Ladner contracted a second marriage in Big Rapids, Oct. 13, 1880, with Sinia E. De Tarr, born Aug. 7, 1856, in Lee Co., lowa.
eorge P. Corneil, lumberman, Big Rapids, was born in Ekfrid Tp., Middlesex Co., Can., Jan. 22, 1840, and is a son of Philip and Letitia (Parker) Corneil.
Mr. Corneil was a farmer until he was 22 years old ; since that age he has been chiefly engaged in lumbering. He left the Dominion in 1865, coming in December to Big Rapids, where he at once interested himself in the leading pursuits of that period, getting out logs, not long afterward ris- ing to the position of foreman, a post he filled in the interests of different parties for some years. In 1869 he embarked in business on his own account. In 1870 he commenced getting out ties and bridge tim- ber for the G. R. & I. R. R. Co., under a contract, with which he was occupied until the fall of 1873. He went to Cadillac and formed a partnership with R. McDowell, of that place, where they embarked in the grocery trade and also operated as contractors " putting in " timber. Two years later Mr. McDowell sold his interest in the lumber business to his brother, A. McDowell, Mr. Corneil selling his claim in the grocery at the same time to his partner. The new association continued three years, Mr. Corneil be- coming sole proprietor by purchase. He managed alone one year, continuing to buy and sell pine lands, as he had been doing on his own account. He went to Minneapolis, Minn., and spent two years specula- ting in farming lards. He returned to Big Rapids in 1882, and, on the first of October, became associated with his brother, A. C. Corneil, which relation still exists. A month later he formed a connection once more with A. McDowell, with whom he operated as contractor in lumber, and grading track on the G. R. & I. R. R., doing a heavy business, with a working force of 70 men on the railroad and 35 men in the woods. Corneil Bros. employ an equal number in their lumber operations.
516
MECOSTA COUNTY.
Mr. Corneil owns a farm of 90 acres in the Third Ward of Big Rapids, which is all in an advanced state of cultivation, with the exception of eight acres of timber land. He also owns a half interest in two vacant lots in the Fourth Ward. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Knights Templar.
Mr. Corneil was married in Cadillac, Mich , Aug. 31, 1876, to Annie, daughter of Aaron and Almira Aldrich, born near Sharon, Washtenaw Co., Mich., Aug. 3, 1855. They have one daughter, Susie Clara, born Jan. 23, 1881, at Minneapolis, Minn.
Charles W. Cunningham, book-keeper in the Big Rapids National Bank, was born in Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 13, 1858, and is son of John and Sarah A. (Adams) Cunningham. His father was ticket and freight agent for the Michigan Central Rail- road Company at Dexter about 12 years, and died at Vicksburg, Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where his mother is yet living.
When he was 12 years old, Mr. Cunningham was engaged for a year as clerk in a store. His parents removed to Battle Creek, where he attended the graded schools until the age of 15. They removed the next year to Vicksburg, where Mr. Cunningham learned telegraphy in an office on the Chicago & Grand Trunk railroad. After acting as relieving agent on that road six months, he was stationed at Bellevue and remained there one year. In Novem- ber, 1875, he came to Big Rapids, where he was en- gaged as telegraph operator and ticket clerk in the office of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad of- fice, then located in the Mason House, where he operated four years. The next two years he was em- ployed as operator and ticket agent at both depots of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, situated at upper and lower Big Rapids. In August, 1881, he engaged as general agent for the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railroad at Big Rapids, where he operated until January, 1883, when he resigned and en- gaged as traveling auditor for the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad. June 1, 1883, he accepted the position he now holds. In the spring of 1881 he was elected Recorder of the City of Big Rapids on the Republican ticket, which post he held two years.
Mr. Cunningham was married in Big Rapids, Sept. 24, 1879, to Jennie, daughter of Alfred S. and Amanda Mason, born Jan. 5, 1859, in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have one child,-Charles A., born June 3, 1881.
B enjamin F. Brown, M. D., Morley, was born in Portage Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1840. His father, Jacob Brown, was a native of Ohio, and his mother, Lavinia (Bombarger) Brown, was born in Pennsylvania; they now reside on the "Western Reserve," where the father is engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. At the age of 18 years Dr. Brown became a student at Hiram College, under the management of James A. Garfield, its President, and continued his course two years ; going thence to a high school located at Brim- field Center, Portage Co., Ohio, where he was in attendance three terms. In 1860 he began his prepar- atory course of medical study at Mogadore, Portage Co., under the direction of Dr. J. C. Ferguson, study- ing with him at intervals for three years. Dr. Brown had a brief army experience during the civil war, enlisting Sept. 6, 1861, in Co. C, Ninth Ind. Vol. Inf., and serving as Hospital Steward until July, 1862, when he was honorably discharged. He returned to Ohio and resumed his studies for his profession. In the winter of 1862-3 he attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical College. His next removal was to Akron, Ohio, where he entered the office of Dr. S. W. Bertys, as assistant. In the fall of 1865 he came
to Michigan and settled at Muir, lonia Co., and there engaged for a brief time in lumbering. He there owned an interest in a planing-mill, which was totally destroyed by fire and entailed a loss of $10,000. This circumstance crippled him so severely that he was for some time virtually out of business. He en- deavored to re-establish himself in lumber projects at Big Rapids, but his ill fate again supervened and he determined to resume his medical studies. In October, 1876, he went to the University of Michi- gan, at Ann Arbor, and entered the Department of Medicine and Surgery, there prosecuting his studies until April, 1877. He then came to Big Rapids, but only acted in auxiliary practice until February, 1878, when he began his career as a practitioner at Morley.
J. J. Escoth
519
MECOSTA COUNTY.
Dr. Brown is well and favorably known in his busi- ness and ranks fairly with the profession in Mecosta County. Ilis business is already extended, and in- creasing with encouraging rapidity. He owns a farm on sec. 30, Deerfield Tp., of 120 acres, with 55 acres under tillage, which he bought in March, 1881.
Dr. Brown was married Jan. 3, 1866, in Lyons, lonia Co., Mich., to Amelia Ross, who was born in the State of New York, Dec. 29, 1842. The Doctor is a member of the Order of Masonry.
-
Joseph T. Escott, capitalist, farmer, and rep- resentative pioneer citizen of Big Rapids, was born Jan. 25, 1836, at New Rochelle, Westchester Co., N. Y. He is of a clear line of English descent, both parents being born in England of ancestors native in that country. His father, Joseph Escott, was born in Bristol, Glou- cestershire, Feb. 23, 1806, and is a son of Thomas Escott. The latter was born at Bampton, Devon- shire. He was left an orphan at four years of age, and was bound to a farmer. When he reached the age of 21 he went to Bristol, and lived there con- tinuously until his death at 84 years of age. Up- wards of 30 years of his life was passed as a foreman in a brush and bellows factory. Joseph Escott be- came a shoemaker, and varied that trade with the labors of a market gardener.
In 1827 he married Betsey Tyler, born Feb. 9, 1808, at Lower Easton, one and a half miles from Bristol, where her parents were engaged in market gardening. Joseph Escott came to the New World with his family, making the passage in a sailing ves- sel, consuming 37 days in the trip. They landed July 30, 1830, at New York, and the husband worked there about nine months at his trade of shoemaking, removing thence to Westchester County, residing successively at Port Chester and New Rochelle, occu- pied with his trade and keeping a turnpike toll-gate. In June, 1839, he came to Michigan, and moved from Detroit to Grand Rapids in a wagon, over the old Territorial road. At Fentonville, the eldest boy fell from the wagon and broke his leg, necessitating a delay of five weeks. Grand Rapids was a small village, provisions of all kinds sold at high rates, and, to add to the discomforts of poverty in a strange
country, the entire family (parents and four children) contracted the fever and ague, which confined them to the house nearly all of the first year.
In :842, the senior Escott pre-empted So acres of Government land on the east half of the northwest quarter of sec. 15, Walker Tp., Kent Co. This he bought afterwards, cleared and improved, and resid- ed thereon about 30 years, occupied in farming and gardening. The family increased to eight children, three of whom died in early life, and five grew to mature years on the home place. Two sisters and two brothers of Mr. Escott of this sketch yet survive. The father and mother came to Big Rapids Nov. 9, 1872, to pass their declining years with their son. The mother was suffering from an incurable disease, which she bore uncomplainingly and with Christian fortitude for years. She died Oct. 29, 1879, after a life of usefulness and merit. The father is yet living, in comparatively good health, in his 78th year.
Mr. Escott was first sent to school at 10 years of age, and spent the winters of his life until he was 19 obtaining an education, walking a mile and a half to the old red school-house at Walker Center. He never studied more than four months in a year, and did the chores on the farm while his father worked at his bench. At 19 he taught a term of school in the Colton district, in Alpine Tp., Kent Co., " boarding round," and enjoying all the " perquisites " of a pedagogue of that period. He taught seven terms of school in the vicinity of Grand Rapids.
On the Fourth of July. 1859, he was married to Sarah A. Louckes, daughter of John and Susan (Thompson) Louekes, farmers, resident in Walker Township.
John Louckes was born in Highgate, Franklin Co., Vt., June 4, 1806. His parents went to Mallahide, Middlesex C'o., Ont., when he was 14 years okl, and he was married there Jan. 30, 1827, to Susan Thomp- son, a native of Niagara District, Ont., born Aug. 15, 1810. Mr. and Mrs. Louckes spent the succeeding 27 years in the Dominion, engaging in pioneer labors, and enduring the privations of the place and period. In 1854 they moved to Kent Co., Mich., and bought a farmon sec. tr. Walker Tp., where the father died July 4, 1881. The mother resides on the homestead with her son. Mrs. Escott is one of a family of 12 children, of whom three sisters and five brothers are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Escott entered upon their married
520
MECOSTA COUNTY.
life with hearts buoyant with hope, and in their apparently promising prospects anticipated a career of comfort, with no more hardship than is common to people in health, with energy to follow up a success- ful entry upon a contest with the world. Mr. Escott bought, of Jackson Rogers, a land contract for a tract situated in the western part of Alpine Tp., Kent Co., built a house and cleared 48 acres of heavily timber- ed land. He sowed 30 acres of wheat, and saw the season advancing in hopeful content, when he found he had trusted in a broken reed. Only a verbal con- tract held the man of whom he obtained his right to the land, and he transferred the title to a party with whom Mr. Escott could make no terms. In six months he found himself destitute, and with a heavy load of debt.
The succeeding four years they lived in Tallmadge, Ottawa Co., and in Walker Township. Prospects did not brighten, and in April, 1863, they came to Big Rapids, in the hope of building up their shattered fortunes. If an adequate picture could be drawn of the country through which they traveled and the condition of the roads, some idea of that journey might be conveyed ; but no pen can do it justice with words. The household effects were piled on a wagon, and the mother with one precious baby rode a part of the distance, dismounting to walk over the worst places. They came by way of Newaygo and Big l'rairie, and fifteen miles of the distance from the latter place was unbroken forest. The journey occupied three days, and the wagon tipping over once. bringing ruin to some of the crockery, was the only disaster of any account. They found Big Rapids in its early youth, having two stores, and a small com- munity of whole-souled people, whose uniform cir- cumstances placed them on a social level, which added materially to the general comfort.
-
Destitute of means, but young, healthy and not afraid of work, Mr. Escott found his strength and energies in demand at remunerative rates, and the money he earned as a day laborer and was enabled to save through his wife's economy and good manage- ment, soon cleared his indebtedness and placed him in comparative ease. He began the purchase and sale of land contracts, still working at whatever paid best, and finally bought So acres of land in Green Tp., (now the property of James Dalzell), and built a small house, into which the moved before it was
fitted with door or window. The first summer he cleared two acres, and sowed 25 cents' worth of ruta- baga seed, which crop he sold on the ground for $180. Later he sold his farm and secured a position as teamster with B. E. Hutchinson, one of the mer- chants of Big Rapids. His duty was to drive to Grand Rapids, via Newaygo (70 miles), buy goods, do numberless errands, and bring back his purchases to supply the demands of the country trade. He commonly started Monday morning with an empty wagon (save chance passengers), consume two days en route, spend one day in collecting his load, and three more in driving back to Big Rapids, if fate was propitious ; but often the round trip occupied two or three days more. This business he followed IS months, at satisfactory wages.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.