USA > Michigan > Mecosta County > Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 56
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and a Baptist minister. Her great-grandsire was a British officer in the war of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Manning have eight children: Addison A., Celia, Lydia A., Bertha M., Ellen M., William G .. Wallace P'. and Lewis H.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Manning resided in Canada until 1862, when they came to Michigan and located in St. Clair County, near Memphis, Macomb County. In 1865 Mr. Manning connected himself with the Dryden (Lapeer Co.) Conference, and entered upon his labors as a Christian minister. He was licensed to preach in 1850, while he lived in Canada. He was a licensed exhorter of the Dryden Circuit one year and then went to Dansville, Ingham Co., and was connected with that circuit for a year, and afterward supplied the Wheatfield mission one year.
In November, 1869, Mr. Manning came with his family to Mecosta County and located in Chippewa Tp., where he entered and proved a claim of So acres of land under the homestead law. He has been dil- igently engaged in farming, and has continued to preach at intervals as opportunity has served or oc- casion demanded. He is a Republican in politics.
ohn F. Mann, farmer and lumberman, re- siding at Evart, Osceola Co., was born Oct. 22, 1832, in Penobscot Co., Me. His parents, John and Sarah (Sammons) Mann, are both living. The former was born in Maine, the latter in Ireland.
Mr. Mann was reared to the business of lumber- man, in his native State, entering the woods when a boy, as a teamster in the winters and passing the summers in log-driving on the rivers. He came to Saginaw, Mich., Ang. 12, 1866, and after spending some time in the mills there again engaged as a lum- berman, and pursued the business nine years at that place. In 1871 he came to Fork Tp., Mecosta Co., and engaged in lumbering and logging for Palmer & Bro., operating as foreman in their employ three years. In 1875 he took possession of a farm in Fork Tp., and now, in connection with his son, owns 280 acres of land, which is under the management of the
William Van Low-
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MECOSTA COUNTY.
latter. Mr. Mann has recently transferred his resi- dence to Evart.
He was married July 2, 1855. to Susan A., daughter of James C. and Susan (Roe) Churchill. Her parents were natives respectively of New Brunswick and Maine. Mrs. Mann is a native of the Pine- Tree State, and has had seven children, four of whom are living : James W., Maud M., Nettie M. and Jay F. Those deceased were Charles F., Bessie and Genevra.
illiam Van Loo, Secretary and Manager of the Big Rapids Furniture Co., was born in the Netherlands, Dec. 3, 1836. In 1849 his parents, William and Mary Van Loo, came to the United States, and after a year's stay in Ottawa County moved to Greenville, Montcalm Co., and engaged in agriculture. They returned to Ottawa County in 1855, where the father died, in 1871, and the mother in 1879.
At the age of 14 Mr. Van Loo entered a mercantile house as a clerk, and in 1861 formed a partnership with his employer, Manning Kutan, in the sale of general merchandise. In 1866 the relation was ter- minated by Mr. Van Loo's selling his interest. He came to Big Rapids and built the grist-mill on Ryan Creek, known as the "Mecosta," the first mill for the exclusive purpose of grinding grain in the county. In this enterprise he was associated with John Bigelow. At the same time Mr. Van Loo opened a store, which he sold in 1870, and in 1872 disposed of his interest in the mill. in July of that year the Big Rapids Furniture Co. was organized. Mr. Van Loo be- came one of the leading stockholders, and was per- sonally active as a salesman in the retail department. In July, 1874, he was elected Secretary and Treas- urer, departments of which he was the virtual head several months previous. He is now the active manager of the business of the corporation. The works of the company are located at the west end of the upper bridge, and comprise a frame building, 40 x 60 feet in dimensions, with water power. The ac- tive capital is $21,600. In 1870, Mr. V'an Loo erected the first brick block in the county, and from the time of his fixing his residence at Big Rapids has been among the foremost in promoting the substantial in- terests of the place. Mr. Van Loo was married in
Greenville, Ang. 24, 1863, to Marie L. Church. Their elder son, William C., born Sept. 21, 1865, is pursuing a scientific course of study at Albion Col- lege, Calhoun Co., Mich. Kingsley was born June 22, 1869, being the first boy born in the city.
In 1869, Mr. VanLoo was elected first Supervisor of the City of Big Rapids, and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors ; served several years as Coun- cilman, and in 1879 was elected a member of the Board of Education, and has been its President since 1880. He is a zealous and active member of the M. E. Church, for whose interests his solicitude has been unflagging. He has been Class-Leader, Trustee, S. S. Superintendent and Steward, and was largely in- strumental in building and establishing the Church and society. He owns his residence and three build- ings utilized as stores on Michigan avenue.
Mr. Van Loo is a zealous Republican and has been identified with the party and its issues since its organization in the State of Michigan. In all- his views he exhibits the traits of the race from which he is descended. His love for civil and religious liberty is his heritage from his ancestors, some of whom were engaged in the memorable struggle be- tween Philip HI of Spain and the Low Countries, when that unscrupulous monarch, after his marriage with Isabella of France, had no better field for the development of his kingly genius and prerogatives than an attempted subjugation of the people of the countries then under the control of the government whose supremacy he so miserably travestied. Ilis failure in his matrimonial schemes with Elizabeth in a sense relegated him to his appropriate sphere, and his mistaken essay to establish the inquisition where the papal power was at best but nominal, has sent his name to prosterity with that of Bloody Mary, Catherine de Medicis and Coligny. Let it be once more recorded in the immortal interests of the Chris- tian religion that Protestants and Catholics made common cause against the monstrous innovation, and, instead of fastening the darkest device of the Rom- ish Church upon a people whose national simplicity and purity was, at that period, unique, the perma- nent independence of the Provinces was secured and the Protestant religion established in that portion of Europe. The representatives of the race who coukl in an emergency centralize their strength upon an issue so momentous in its bearing upon the fate of future generations, are among the best and most val-
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uable of the elements of our composite nationality. Mr. Van Loo's portrait is an appropriate accom- painment to this sketch, and may be found on page 530.
oseph Wendling, Mecosta, Morton Tp., was born in Canada, April 15, 1859. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Schnoob) Wendling, both natives of Canada. They left the Dominion in the winter of 1873, coming to Mecosta County, where they now reside.
Mr. Wendling made the change of residence with his parents, with whom he remained until 23 years of age. At 15 he began acting as accountant for a lum- bering firm, and remained with them three years. He was then employed in the store of C. H. Clement at Millbrook, one year, and then taught school one term ; he subsequently engaged with M. C'arman, a merchant, as head clerk, where he still remains.
Mr. Wendling was married in Wheatland Tp., Feb. 8, 1881, to Angeline, second daughter of George and Nancy (Smith) Willett. The father of Mrs. Wend- ling is a native of England, and the mother of Can- ada. They came to Mecosta County in the spring of 1863, and are still resident in the township of Hinton. Mr. and Mrs. Wendling have had one child-Charles -born in April, 1882, and surviving but a few days. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church, of which Mr. W. is, a member. He is identified with the Democratic party.
2.harles W. Sebastian, farmer and lumber- man, sec. 4, Green Tp., was born in Lo- gan Co., N. Y., Dec. 7, 1855. His parents, Nicholas and Magdalena (Cooley) Sebastian, were born in France, of German parentage. They came to the United States, and located in Mecosta Co., Mich., in the spring of 1867, where the father bought a farm on sec. 4, and proceeded with the work of clearing up the land and putting it in a tillable condition; he died Dec. 24, 1875. The mother resides at Big Rapids.
Mr. Sebastian was educated in the common schools of Logan Co., N. Y., and Mecosta Co., Mich., and
was his father's assistant in the homestead until the latter's death, and after that event continued its management. Feb. 20, 1883, he started a saw-mill on sec. 8, where he saws about 15,000 feet of lumber daily.
Mr. Sebastian owns 360 acres of land in Mecosta County, and is largely engaged in cutting and ship- ping telegraph poles to the markets of St. Louis, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. Some of the finest specimens of that peculiar variety of merchandise have been out on his land, being superior in quality and size, and measuring from 40 to Go feet in length. He has often obtained two Go-foot poles of the finest quality of cedar from one stump, with bases 18 inches to two feet in diameter, and one foot at the top.
Mr. Sebastian was married to Ida W., daughter of Moses C. and Caroline (Whipple) Besemer. Of this marriage one child, Lena, was born, Jan. 13, 1878.
eter Kelley, farmer and saloon-keeper, Big Rapids, was born in Somerville, Ala., Feb. 18, 1842, and is a son of Patrick Kelley, born in Ireland, Feb. 2, 1814, and Mary (Egan) Kelley, born in Ireland in 1818, and died at Big Rapids, Nov. 13, 1880.
The parents came to the North and settled in Livingston Co., Mich., in 1847. They bought 120 acres of land in Hartland Tp., and there resided un- til 1872, when the place was sold, and they moved to Milford, Oakland Co., Mich. The senior Kelley bought a hotel, managed it a year, and went to High- land, in the same county, where he owned and kept the "Highland Center House," together with 40 acres of land. In 1879 the family came to Big Rapids, where he speculated in real estate until his death, June 8, 1883.
Mr. Kelley of this sketch came to Big Rapids in the fall of 1869, and was employed some time as a lumberman, afterwards operating as a contractor and foreman on the river and in the woods. He was for a considerable period in charge of the lumber yard of T. D. Stimson, in the city of Big Rapids. In 1871, Mr. Kelley bought a house and lot on Marion ave- nue, which he exchanged in, 1873 for So, acres of land in Green Tp., where lae resided a year. He sold out, came to Big Rapids, and embarked in the liquor
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MECOSTA COUNTY.
business on North State street. In 1879 he went to Evart, Osceola Co., and managed the Irvin House about 18 months, when he came back to Big Rapids. In February, 1882, he opened his present business, and is carrying it on with marked success. In August, 18So, he bought 80 acres of land on sec. 9, Big Rapids Tp., under good improvements, where he is engaged as a farmer. He also owns a residence and four city lots, besides a business buikling and lot 40 × 150 feet, on the corner of Hemlock street and Michigan avenue.
Mr. Kelley was married at Grand Rapids, Oct. 17. 1872, to Mary, daughter of William and Mary Raf- ferty, born in Livingston Co., Mich., Feb. 23, 1847. They have six children: William, Charles, Frank, Nellie, George and Kittie. The family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
- braham Van Alstine, farmer, sec. ro, Grant Tp., was born March 26, 1842, in Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y. His father, Jacob Van Als- tine, was born Nov. 1, 1812, in New York, and died Dec. 28, 1860, in Shiawassee Co., Mich. His mother, Eleanor Van Alstine, was born in the Empire State, Dec. 26, 1820, and is yet living, in Michigan. His ancestors were natives of New York and one grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812.
In 1857 Mr. Van Alstine came to Michigan and settled in Sciota, Shiawassee Co. Nine years later he homesteaded a claim of So acres of land, now in- cluded in his landed estate, which aggregates 320 acres, of excellent quality. His farm is in first-class condition, with large, fine barn and other convenient buildings necessary to successful farming. He is making preparations to construct a dwelling-house in keeping with the farm and its other improvements.
He was married June 18, 1867, to Eleanor, daugh- ter of Horace and Maria Burr. Her father was born in Vermont in 1818, and died in May, 1859. Her mother was born in the Province of Ontario in 1829, and is still living. Mr. Van Alstine was born Dec. 20, 1819. Following are the dates of births of their six children : Franklin, Ang. 28, 1868; Wade, June 21, 1871; Etta A., Aug. 1, 1873; Adele, July 3, 1876; Jay, Dec. 20, 1879; Ralph, April 20, 1882. Early in life Mr. Van Alstine determined to exert
all reasonable effort to obtain an education, and by strenuous exertion succeeded in fitting for college. He entered the University of Michigan in 1859, and studied one year. His three years preparatory to a collegiate course had given him a good fundamental education, and at the end of his first year at Ann Arbor he judged it wisest to discontinue his studies. He is a Republican in principle and has been Super- visor of Grant Tp. a year, Clerk the same period, Road Commissioner three years, Justice of the Peace four years, and Township School Superintendent five years.
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homas K. Hurley, farmer and blacksmith, sec. 8, Green Tp., was born July 10, 1828, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and is the son of William and Mary (Mapes) Hurley. His father was a descendant of the Welsh, and was by occupation a mason. Among other important works on which he was engaged was the construction of the Neversink bridge in Sullivan Co., N. Y .; he died in 1850. The mother was a native of Connecticut, and died in 1872.
Mr. Hurley remained with his parents until the death of his father. His marriage to Minerva Cole occurred in Schuyler Co., N. Y., in 1850. She was a native of the Empire State and was a daughter of Ira and Nancy (Bailey ) Cole. Mr. and Mrs. Hurley had three children. Only one-Ada (Mrs. Dwight Lydell)-is living. Two died in infancy. The mother died May 6, 1847, and Mr. Hurley contracted mar- riage a second time Jan. 9, 1858, with Emma, daugh- ter of John R. and Elizabeth (Corbett) Allen. She was born in Steuben Co., N. V., Jan. 6, 1836. Her parents were natives of the State of New Jersey and died in Steuben County, when she was very young. Mr. and Mrs. Hurley have three children, namely : Ettie (Mrs. Jason Lydell), Mary A. and Cora B.
At the age of 18 Mr. Hurley commenced learning the trade of blacksmith with Isaac P. Goodsell, re- maining with him two years and afterward operated on his own account 15 years, in his native State. Ile enlisted Jan. 1, 1864, in the roth N. Y. Cav., and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Harwood Hospital, Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865. During his period of enlistment he worked at black- smithing, and in the winter of 1864 was in active
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service, being under fire at Hatcher's Run and the battle of Winchester, after which he was ill and was in various hospitals three months. His last fight was at Petersburg, and after his discharge he re- turned to Schuyler County, where he was sick a year with disease contracted in the army.
In 1867 he came to Mecosta County, and on the 26th day of June located on sec. 8, Green Tp., where he has since been busily occupied with farming and his trade. Ile owns 46 acres of land, all in good condition. With reference to National issues he is a Democrat.
S ilas Snider, farmer, sec. 21, Austin Tp., was born in Toronto, Can., Oct. 9, 1827. His parents, Jacob and Rachel Snider, were natives of New Brunswick, and early in life came to Canada. The father died at 85, the mother at 81 years of age. When 24 years old Mr. Snider went to Kentucky, where he was employed as a carpenter on a tobacco planta- tion. His stay was brief and he went back to the parental roof and began to work for his father. He was married Nov. 25, 1852, near Toronto, Can., to Mary, daughter of William and Jane (Mitchell) MeMann, a family of Irish descent. She was born Feb. 17, 1830. A year after his marriage Mr. Snider embarked in mercantile business and continued op- erating in trade eight years. In 1861 the family came to Michigan and settled in Newaygo County, where Mr. Snider controlled a grist-mill one year. He then came to Austin Tp. and settled on a 40-acre farm which he had previously purchased, and .to which he has since added by purchase 120 acres. He has 60 acres under cultivation. Five living chil- dren are members of this household and two have passed to the other workl and are held in sacred remembrance. Following is the record of their births and deaths: Oliver C. was born May 14, 1858; Mary A., Jan. 9, 1861; Albert H., April 13, 1863; Hiram G., July 29, 1866; Emma M., Sept. 13, 1868; Robert W., Nov. 8, 1853, died Dec. 15, 1856; Sarah J., born April, 1855, died Dec. 3, 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Snider have been members of the M. E. Church since 1857, and have both been ar- dent laborers in the cause of religion. Mr. Snider
has been Steward many years and is now Class- leader. He has always been active in the cause ot education and in the interests of the Republican party.
ohn B. Fribley, harness-maker, Big Rapids, was born in Lycoming County, near Wil- liamsport, Pa., Dec. 21, 1837. He is a son of John and Sarah (Sutton) Fribley. At the age of 17 he went to Muncy in the same county, where he learned his trade. In 1856 he went to Ottawa, Iil. He left the latter place Aug. 17, of the same year, with a party designing to settle in Kansas. At Iowa City they "fitted out " with 26 wagons laden with clothing and provisions. They met another party with similar intentions and joined in company with them. They crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City in small flat-boats, and traveled six weeks before reaching the Kansas and Nebraska line. There they were met by " Jim" Lane and John Brown (Ossawatomie). The former made a political speech, and Sunday morning Brown preached a characteristic sermon, incorporating his views on the negro question. On attempting to cross into Kansas the entire number were taken prisoners, their arms and stores were confiscated, and the party taken to Topeka, where they were liberated by Gov. Geary.
Mr. Fribley settled at Easton, Leavenworth Co., Kansas, where he established a business and also followed farming, near Topeka; he also owned a ferry, plying across the Kansas River at Lecompton. He went to Colorado and was interested one summer in mining for gold.
At Denver, Colorado, Mr. Fribley enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. A, First Colorado Vol. Inf., under Capt. Wynkoop, and was in the United States service three years and eleven months. His first detail was to Apache Canyon and Paralto, New Mex- ico, with the Texan troops, and after the campaign there was terminated, the regiment returned to Col- orado and was there mounted and ordered to the frontiers for duty in the Indian disturbances. Mr. Fribley was regimental saddler, but was in several Indian engagements. He participated in the Shi- vington massacre on Sand Creek, 40 miles north of Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River. The affair took
A. S. Hobler
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MECOSTA COUNTY.
place Feb. 17, 1863, and the whites sustained a loss of 16 killed and 33 wounded. The slaughter of In- dians was complete, and included nearly 400 men, women and children. The record says: " There were none left that were big enough to die." The interpreter, John Smith, saved a little boy.
In June, 1864, he went with a detail of 100 soldiers and teamsters in pursuit of a band of ma- rauding Indians, whom they found encamped at the head-waters of Smoky River,-about 700 in force,- and had with them the closest kind of a hand-to- hand encounter. One of Mr. Fribley's reminiscences of his campaign gives strong proof that the peculiar cunning and sagacity that makes the Indian so dreadful a foe and so powerful an ally, is only due to the circumstances of his training and education, in- stead of being the traits of his nature. While out with two comrades on a hunting and scouting expe- dition, they were suddenly surrounded by upwards of 200 Cheyennes. By an assumption of friendli- ness and interest the red-skins were led to believe that Mr. Fribley and his companions were not con- nected with the U. S. troops, and were decoyed within the lines of the command. Cutting loose from the mass of the band, the chief rode with the white men within range of the arms of the rear guard, who fired upon the advancing party. Six bullets were found in the body of the chief, but the scouts were un- harmed. Mr. Fribley was discharged at Fort Riley, Kansas, July 15, 1865, made a brief visit to Penn- sylvania and returned to Kansas,
In 1867 he opened a shop at Medina, Jefferson Co., Kansas, worked a year at his trade and engaged in farming several years, after which he again re- turned to the Keystone State. Two years later he opened a shop in Topeka, operating there some months, and then again spending three years in Pennsylvania, going thence to Colorado, and a few months later coming to Big Rapids, where he located in August, 1880. He was in the employ of Duncan MeLellan about 16 months, when he founded his present business, and is now in a prosperous and in- creasing trade.
Mr. Fribley was married in Lycoming Co., l'a., May 14, 1876, to Kate Tomlinson, a native of Penn- sylvania. Four children have been born of the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Fribley: Sarah, Mary, Laura and Elizabeth.
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dison S. Hooker, dealer in lumber, lath and shingles, at Big Rapids, was born in Mount Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1846. He is a son of Royal D. and Courtney Ilooker, and was brought up on his father's farm.
When he was 17 years of age he enlisted in Lima, Ohio, enrolling Jan. 14, 1863, as a private in Co. H, 32d Ohio Vol. Inf., Capt. Barrett. He was in the engagements at Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta and at Savannah, where the rebels sur- rounded them on an island, cutting off supplies, a process which compelled the entire division to sub- sist ten days on rice in the sheaf, gathered in the low lands. He was, besides, in a number of skirmishes, and veteranized Jan. 4, 1864, serving until July 20, 1865. On his discharge he returned to Allen Co., Ohio, having saved with his bounty 82,500.
He remained a year on his father's farm, when he engaged in lumbering and purchased considerable land, heavily timbered. Ile built a saw-mill in Spen- cerville, and in 1879 he bought a grist-mill, and plan- ing mill, which he sold in August, 1883. He sold his saw-mill in the fall of 1882. He built a fine residence in Spencerville in the summer of 1881, at an expenditure of $7,000. This he still owns, with the lot whereon it stands, 99 x 132 feet in dimen- sions, besides two acres in the town. Mr. Hooker met with success in his lumber operations, and also in a large provision and grocery business, which he managed two years.
R. D. Hlooker, father of Mr. Hooker of this sketch, came to Mecosta County and settled in Green Tp., where he bought 160 acres of farming land, and pur- sued agriculture until his death, which took place July 27, 1882 ; he was aged 69 years ; the mother died .Aug. 9, 1866. In 1879 Mr. Hooker bought 120 acres of pine land in Newaygo County, and in January, 1882, he came to Mecosta County, and in the same year he built a saw and lath mill in Green Tp., which he is still operating, and employs 50 men in the mill and woods, some as teamsters. In September, 1882, he pur- chased a fine residence at Big Rapids, and in July . 1883, he purchased of D. F. Comstock five acres on the river, where he purposes to build a saw, shingle and lath mill, having all the latest improvements.
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MECOSTA COUNTY.
He was married in Allen Co., Ohio, Aug. 14, 1866, to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam and Henrietta Fisle, a native of Germany. Of this marriage nine chil- dren have been born, in the following order, seven of whom are living: Charles A., John R .. Henrietta, Anna 1., Laura (deceased), Katie (deceased), George, Adison S. and Lavinia.
The portrait of Mr. Hooker may be found in this volume.
illiam F. Denney, furniture dealer, Mill- brook village, is a son of James M. and Lois E. (Scranton) Denney, and was born March 7, 1846, in Indiana. The father was in moderate circumstances, with a large family, and the elder children, as they grew in years, aided in sustaining the burden of the family support. In the fall of 1865 he came to Mecosta County and located in Wheatland Tp., and after- ward moved to Sheridan Tp.
About the year 1874, the subject of this sketch purchased a building lot in Millbrook, on which he has since built a good frame structure, where he is doing a thriving business, carrying a stock valued at $2,000. He commenced life empty-handed, and learned the cabinet-making trade, also that of carpen- ter and builder. By frugality and good management he has established himself in business on a perma- nent basis, and owes io no one save himself the ad- vance he has made toward a fortune sufficient for the needs of the years and chances held in the future.
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