Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 58

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 58

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member of the M. E. Church for more than 70 years. He was in its ministry 40 years before his death. He came to Detroit in 1825. 1lis wife, Margaret McFar- lan, was born at Fort Bruland, N. J., in 1778, during the war of the Revolution, and her father was killed by the Indians near the fort. She was married in 1800 and died Oct. 12, 1862.

Mr. McFarlan of this sketch came to Michigan with his parents and remained with them during his minority, engaged in farm duties. He has been a farmer all his life, commencing that business on his own account by the purchase of a farm in Huron, Wayne Co., Mich., on which he lived 16 years. He next purchased a farm in St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mich., and, eight years later, came to Grant Tp., where he bought 85 acres of valuable land. Politic- ally, Mr. McFarlan is a Republican; has been a member of the Free Methodist Church 18 years ; was Justice of the Peace 12 years.

He was married Jan. 4, 1843, to Caroline Garret- son, of Wayne Co., Mich. She was born April 5, 1826, and is of English extraction. Of this marriage 12 children were born, but four of whom survive: Helen P. was born March 20, 1844, and died May 19, 1875 ; Franklin, born Jan. 3, 1846, was a soldier of the civil war where he served two years, and died at Fort Hallock, Neb., Oct. 30, 1865; John Q. A., born Jan. 3. 1848, was also a soldier in the Union service and died June 9, 1867, of chronic diarrhoea contracted in the army; Fillmore W., born May 7, 1850, died Sept. 12, 1872; Norman J., born March 29, 1853, died April 11, 1877; Elva T., born June 15, 1855, is now Mrs. J. A. Harvey, of Newaygo Co. (married Aug. 6, 1876); Florence R., born Nov. 24, 1857, was married July 12, 1880, to John Moore, of Grant Tp .; Caroline E., born AAug. 10, 1860, died Jan. 26, 1882; David H., born Oct. 14, 1862; Ben- jamin R., born July 9, 1866, died July 23, 1867 ; Clarissa A., born Jan. 1, 1869; Sarah Jane, born Dec. 12, 1872, died March 27, 1876.

charles H. Henry, harness-marker, at Big Rapids, was born at Marshall, Calhoun Co., Mich., March 3, 1852. He is a son of Lysander and Sabrina (Demming) Henry. Ilis father was a stone-mason, and after he ob- tained a fair education, at the age of 17, he began to

I. S. mitchell.

MECOSTA COUNTY.

learn his trade, serving about two years in the acquire- ment of its details.

Hle enlisted in the regular United States military service at Detroit, Dec. 21, 1870, enrolling in Co. E. 19th U. S. Inf., Capt. Chas. W. Hotsenpiller. The command was sent to New Orleans, Holly Springs, St. Martinsville, La., Camp Supply, Indian Territory, and to Fort Elliot, Texas, where Mr. Henry received his discharge, Dec. 21, 1875. Returning to Michi- gan, he went into a harness shop at lastings, Barry Co., remaining about 18 months. He re-enlisted in the service of the United States as saddler, and ac- companied the regular army to Fort Hayes, Kansas, Fort Leavenworth and Fort Garland, Col., and went with Mckenzie's command on the Uncompahgre Ex- pedition when that tribe of Indians was removed to Utah. He went next to Arizona, and thence to New Mexico, where he was stationed at Fort Craig. Ile returned to Michigan in the spring of 1882, and on the 7th of August following he came to Big Rapids and for a time was in the harness shop of D. Mchel- lan. Six months later he opened his present busi- ness, where he is operating successfully and steadily. building up a substantial trade.

Mr. Henry was married June 15, 1882, at Lowell, Kent Co., Mich , to Lois S., daughter of George and - (Kinnie) Elms. Mrs. Henry was born at Fayettville, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1852.

illiam G. Mitchell, farmer and lumberman, resident on sec. 7, Etna Tp., was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Aug. 9, 1823 His father, Zephaniah Platt Mitchell, and his mother, AAnna (Saxton) Mitchell, were natives of Dutchess Co., N. Y., and settled in Sara- toga County, their farm lying on the site of the most celebrated resort in the world; there they died, aged 87 and 86 years respectively. Mr. Mitchell received all the advantages of the common schools and par- ental care until he was 20 years of age, when he came to Livingston Co., Mich., and worked on a farm from 1843 to 1850, operating winter seasons in the lumber woods of Mecosta County. He came here in 1 850, to fix his final residence, and has been actively engaged in lumbering and in buying and selling

lands, -a period of over 30 years. He owns a tract of quo acres and a home farm of So acres in a finely improved condition and valuable for location and fer- tility.

Mr. Mitchell's name is inseparably associated with the history of Mecosta County and .Etna Tp. Ira P. Mitchell, his third child and eldest son, was the first white child born in this township and county. The family retain the sense of their pioneership to an extraordinary degree. The farm is supplied with modern buildings for all necessary purposes, but only recently did the primitive log house give place to the substantial, comely frame house now occupied by the family. The old door and its latch are preserved in memory of the " first" days of the county and there are in their possession several relics, valuable for their age and associations. Among them is a pocket- book, 110 years old ; a pair of eye-glasses, more than 150 years old, with lenses of the commonest material, and several times larger than those in modern use, round as the jfull moon, with iron braces, heavy and cumbersome; a razor more than 300 years old is preserved and has all the veritable claims of its spe- cies for sharpness. AA fact specially to be noted is that Mr. Mitchell was the first to effect a permanent settlement in the Township; there were other earlier comers, but they proved to be goers also. It was be- lived at that date that this section was useless for agricultural purposes, but an experiment the first year proved the fallacy of the supposition. The small garden of Mr. Mitchell, planted with a variety of veg- etables, was the first effort at agriculture in Mecosta County.

Mr. Mitchell was married in Livingston C'o., Put- man Tp., to Mary AA., daughter of Simon and Mary (Jenkins) Plyton, natives of New York, where Mrs. Mitchell was born. in Weedsport, May ;, 1832. They have had 13 children, eight of whom are yet living: Sarah E., born July 26, 1851, now wife of Peter ('ahill ; Emma M., born May 19, 1853, wife of Joseph Cahill; Ira P., born June 4, 1855 : Margaret, wife of John Weid.nan, born Nov. 4, 1858; William C., born Oct. 4, 1863; Oliver, boin July 31, 1865 ; Nora, wife of Jefferson Miller, of Monticello, boin May ., 1868, and Floyd, born August 24, 1874. The de- ceased were Martha, born Oct. 22, 1849, died Sept. 6, 1851; Edwin, born Sept. 21, 1867. died May 1, 1868; Alona R., born May 22, 1873, died Oct. 15,

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1873; Hattie M , born Oct. 29, 1870, died Feb. 13; 1881 : Jennie, born Aug. 22, 1878, died Feb. 16, 1881. Mr. Mitchell is independent in politics, and is an adherent of the M. E. Church ; has been Township Treasurer three years, and Justice of the Peace four years. His portrait is given in this book.

eorge W. Cornell, farmer on sec. 35, ÆEina Tp., was born Oct. 31, 1833, in Westches- ter Co., N. Y. His parents, Thomas and Anna (Merritt) Cornell, were natives of the same State.

- On the death of his mother, in 1850, he left home and went to Steuben County, where he was oc- cupied with agricultural pursuits until 1864, when he returned to Westchester County and there was simi- larly engaged until the autumn of 1872. He came in that year to Mecosta County and settled in ÆEtna Tp., where he bought 80 acres of land in a wild state and has now 30 acres in a cultivated condition.

Mr. Cornell was married in Tioga Co., Penn., March 9, 1858, lo Lydia M., daughter of John W. and Polly (Wheeler) Richardson, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Cornell was born June 19, 1839, at Ridgeberry, Bradford Co., Penn. She is a member of the M. E. Church, and actively interested in all questions of general advantage to the community to which she belongs. Her mother resides with her.

aniel F. Woolley, M. D., the pioneer phy- sician of Big Rapids, was born Aug. 16, 1829, at Fremont, Ohio. His father died when he was 18 months old. He was brought up on a farm until the age of 12, when he went to learn the trade of harness.maker and worked three years. He then entered the employ of L. V. D). Cook as clerk in a dry-goods store, where he re- mained until 1849. In that year he came to Grand Rapids and attended the school of Prof. Franklin Everett several terms. He next found a position with J. Morrison, general merchant, where he was occu- pied until 1853, in which year Mr. Morrison estab- lished a branch of his business at Croton, Newaygo

Co., and placed Dr. Woolley in charge. In the fall of 1854 the latter went to Newaygo and, associated with A. B. Furman, commenced the sale of groceries and provisions. He sold out in the spring of 1855 and bought a half interest in the drug store of Dr. Charles H. Leonard, where he transacted business until the fall of 1857, when he went to Ann Arbor and entered the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of Michigan. He went to Lawton in the spring of 1859, where he remained but a few months.

While in business at Newaygo, he became satisfied of the practicability of Big Rapids as a point to es- tablish himself as a medical practitioner. It was the nucleus of a large lumber district, and the place it- self as well as the section contiguous, had no phy- sician, and experience and observation both proved conclusively the feasibility of the outlook ; moreover, his acquaintance with the few permanent settlers in the county was propitious. He was well known among them, and had acquired a fair degree of popu- larity, which was eminently favorable to the project ; and in 1859 he transferred his interests, business and family to Big Rapids. His first patient to whom he was called, within an hour after his arrival, was the daughter of Judge Barker, now Mrs. V. W. Bruce, of the Big Rapids Current.

The city was in its incipiency. The households were less than ten in number, and the entire white resident population included about Go persons. The comparative sanitary condition of Big Rapids and adjacent districts was much more favorable than afterwards. The inhabitants were all in moderate circumstances, lived simply and regularly, and were in no sense invalids. As a rule, pioneers are a hardy, robust class, people who expect to encounter hard- ship and possess the requisite physical qualification. Hence the local practice at Big Rapids and that of its immediate vicinity was restricted. The trappers and Indians were literally free from disease; but with civilization came sickness. The removal of the forests admitted sun and light, and the consequent decay and transformation of vegetable accumulations set free deleterious matter and malarial disease fol- lowed. The consequent increase of medical business can be estimated from the grade of increase in the population, coupled with the resultant conditions named.

Dr. Woolley is regarded as one of the most reliable members of the medical fraternity of Northern Mich-

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MECOSTA COUNTY.

igan. His name is a household word at Big Rapids. so intimately is he connected with the majority of the leading families there. His traits as a man in- spire the confidence necessary to a successful prose- cution of his business, which is sustained by a large and constant patronage. He has been identified with all public movements for the progress of the city, and his efforts in all directions where his influence was needed have been unremitting. He belongs to the Order of Masons, and has served his county two terms as Sheriff. He owns his residence and two lots on Locust street, between Michigan avenue and State street.

He was married in Newaygo, Oct. 25, 1858, to Fran- ces C. Stearns, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Stearns. She was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 17, 1838. To Dr. and Mrs. Woolley, four children have been born: Vernor S., Kate M., Jesse and Edith E. Kate M. Woolley died Aug. 30, 1883, aged 17 years.

nell

illiam F. Slawson, city editor of the Big Rapids Daily Pioneer, was born at Green- ville, Mich., May 30, 1849, being the son of Hiram H. and Eusebia ( Fleming) Slawson, and until the age of 18 pursued his studies at the high school of his native place, with the exception of about a year and a half, which time was spent in attending school at Rockford, Ill. At the age of 18 he entered the office of the Greenville Independ- ent as an apprentice, and served three years, at the expiration of which time he went to Syracuse, N. Y., and entered the extensive job printing establishment of Hitchcock & Smith, where he remained a few weeks. and then engaged with the Seneca Falls Reveille, in which office he remained a short time, and then returned to Syracuse and entered the office of Rose & Miller, job and book printers. Here he spent several weeks, and then returned to the office of Hitchcock & Smith, where he was located when, in 1871, he received an urgent invitation from his old employer in Greenville to again enter his employ as foreman of the office, which invitation he concluded to accept, and in this capacity remained in the Independent office six years. At the conclusion of the six years Mr. Slawson leased the job department

of the Independent office, conducting the same one year, and then removed to lonia County, where he re- mained neatly a year, and then returned to Green- ville and established the Montcalm Telegram, an independent local paper, and continued its publica- tion until January. 1879, when he removed the office to Big Rapids, and in partnership with Mr. V. W. Bruce commenced the publication of the Big Rapids Cur- rent. In the following November Mr. Slawson dis- posed of his interest in the Current, Mr. Bruce purchasing the same, and entered the employ of the Detroit Paper Company as traveling salesman. After a few months, however, he quit the road, and opened a grocery store at Sebewa, lonia Co., in which business he was engaged, when Mr. Bruce, his former partner, in the publication of the Big Rapids Current, made him a proposition for the purpose of receiving his services on the Current, which proposi- tion he accepted upon closing out his grocery busi- ness, and remained with the Current until the spring of 1882, when he became connected with the Pioneer in the above mentioned capacity.

Mr. Slawson was married in Greenville, on the 8th day of March, 1877, to Miss Lizzie Justice, who was born in Chicago, Feb. 25, 1857. Mr. Slawson and wife are members of the Congregational Church, of which he is Treasurer, and is also Superintendent of the Sunday-school.

ohn W. Sparks, farmer, see. 14, Chippewa Tp., was born Feb. 11, 1830, in Crawford Co., l'a. He is the fifth child of Henry ... and Rebecca (Davis) Sparks. His father was born in Trenton, N. J., and was a son of Leon- ard and Lydia Sparks. The family are of mixed Welsh and German origin on the paternal side, the great-grandparents of Mr. Sparks having been natives of those countries respectively. His father was a teacher of prominence in Pittsburg, l'a., and after marriage went to Crawford County, and es- tablished himself as a farmer when that portion of the Keystone State was primeval wilderness. He passed 40 years on his homestead and then died, , July 23, 1883. The mother was born in West Vir- ginia, Aug. 4, 1804, and died in March, 1875.

Mr. Sparks was reared to the age of 18 years under the personal care of his father. He then

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went to work for Uriah Foust, blacksmith, with whom he remained two years, going thence to Hartstown, where he remained three years. While there he was inarried-July 3, 1852, to Marry Harris, a native of ('rawford County, born Sept. 12, 1835. She was a daughter of John and Annie (Boyer) Harris, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. Mr. Sparks went to Williamsfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and worked at his trade until 1863, when he went to the oil regions of Venango Co., Pa .; thence he came four years later to Michigan and located where he now lives, in September, 1867. That part of Me- costa County was almost wholly a wilderness, there being but one settler within the limits of Chippewa Tp. He built a log house, the second structure for several miles, and when the township was organized he was elected its first Supervisor, and served two terms. The first township meeting was held in his house, as was the first religious meeting ; and the first Sunday-school was organized there. This is the historic house of the township of Chippewa, and is still occupied by the original proprietor and his family.

The first wife of Mr. Sparks died in Williamsfield, in 1859. Two of her five children yet survive: George E. and Emma A. (Mrs. Edgar Morford). Mr. Sparks was married a second time to Celia, daughter of William H. and Permelia (Grout) Man- ning. She was born June 17, 1835. Of this mar- riage five children were born, two of whom are yet living, Celia Bell and Ceylon Manning.

ames Burrison farmer on sec. 15, Hinton Tp., was born in Canada, Sept. 7, 1819. He is a son of John and Mary (Johnson) Burrison, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of Canada, where both died. Mr. Burri- son lived in Canada until 1870, engaged in farming and lumbering. Ile came to Grand Rapids in the fall of that year and was occupied three years in teaming, and in 1873 bought So acres of wild land in Hinton Tp., which he has since improved and where he now resides. He purchased an addi- tional 80 acres, and now has 90 acres under an ad- vanced state of cultivation. Politically, Mr. B. is a Democrat. He was married Aug. 19, 1855, in Can-

ada, to Ann, daughter of James and Ann Bennie. the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Canada, where Mrs. Burrison was born Jan. 19, 1840. They have had eleven children, as follows: James W., born July 16, 1859; John, April 28, 1861; Sarah E., June 27, 1863; Joshua, June 6, 1865 ; Sybil, Oct. 6, 1868; Charley E., April 17, 1871 ; Mary E., July 27, 1874; George, born Ang. 12, 1877, died July 27, 1878.

illiam P. Nisbett, editor and proprietor of the Big Rapids Herald, was born in London, Eng., May 9. 1847, and is a son of Thomas P. and Eliza Nisbett.

In 1861 he came to the United States in company with his parents, who settled in New York, and two years later removed to Pontiac. Oak- land Co., Mich. The last call for troops to aid in quelling the Southern Rebellion was made just pre- vious to the eighteenth birthday of Mr. Nisbett, and he enlisted as a recruit for the 16th Mich. Inf., then actively engaged at the front. He was in the United States service but a short time, being mustered out in June, 1865, at Jackson, Mich.

In January, 1869, Mr. Nisbett founded and com- menced publishing the Pontiac Bill Poster, which he continued until 1876, when ill-health necessitated a change, and he sold out his interest as publisher, but remained its political editor until the close of the Presidential campaign of 1880. Under his manage- ment the paper became a widely circulated and influential Democratic organ. He became well known in the politics of the State of Michigan, and was twice chosen Secretary of the State Democratic Convention. In his own section he was a leader in politics, and was during six years Chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Committee. He has always been a declared Democrat, and was one of the first to oppose and actively combat the Green- back movement in Michigan.

Ile was elected Alderman of his ward when 21 years old, and served two terms subsequently as Supervisor. He was Chief Engineer of the Pontiac Fire Department, with which he was connected a number of years, and filled acceptably other positions of trust while a resident of Pontiac, which covered a period of 17 years.

On leaving there he spent a short time in Colorado.

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After visiting other parts of the West, he came to Big Rapids, and in the spring of 1882 purchased the Big Rapids Herald, and again settled himself in the publishing business. The Herald is rapidly improv- ing under his management, and is fast becoming an influential and profitable country newspaper.

liver D. Glidden, with Glidden & Marsh, was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., Aug. 1, 1828. He is a son of Jehiel and Betsey J. (Davis) Glidden, and was reared on a farm, attending winter terms of school. At 19 he entered the Rockport Collegiate Insti- tute, where he was a student a part of each of two years. He then spent summers and winters alter- nately in farming and teaching.

In 1852 he came West to Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich., and became clerk and accountant in a store, where he passed several years. In 1876 he came to Big Rapids and started the Big Rapids Herald, the first issue of which appeared May 24, 1876. Its contemporary, the Big Rapids Magnet, thus announced its advent : " The Big Rapids Herald made its appearance last week. It is a six column quarto-same size as the Magnet-and Democratic to the core.'

The publishing firm was O. D. Glidden & Co .; 1). F. Glidden, son of the senior proprietor, being partner and associate editor. In 1878 the latter retired, and B. H. Howig was admitted as successor. During the last year of Mr. Glidden's connection with the Herald, its publishers collected a large amount of statistical matter concerning the early settlement of the city and county, which was arranged and published in the columns of the paper, and finally was issued in pamphlet and book form. It was also a complete Business Directory of Big Rapids at the date of its publication-1681.

The publishers of the Portrait and Biographical Album of Mecosta County have the pleasure of acknowledging the valuable assistance derived from the unpretentious work of Messrs. Glidden & Howig. Its data of early history have been found reliable, and its simplicity and accuracy have materially expe-

dited the labors attendant upon the compilation of this book.

Mr. Glidden disposed of his moiety of interest in the Herald to his partner in 1881, and has since been occupied in his present capacity for various firms.

He was married in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y. March 30, 1848. ITis wife died in Paw Paw, Mich. March 4, 1864, leaving two children : Durelle F. born in Clarendon, N. Y., June 12, 1850 (see sketch), and Ida, born My 17, 1852, and died in Paw Paw, March 7, 1875. Mr. Glidden was again married in Paw Paw, Feb. 16, 1865, to Miss Maria Flynn, of Orleans Co., N. Y.

While a resident of Van Buren County, Mr. Glid- den was Supervisor one year, Town Clerk one year, and Village Assessor of Paw Paw seven years. He was elected Supervisor of the First Ward in the spring of 1883 (current year), is a member of the Order of Masonry, Knights of Pythias, and the Good- Templars.

illiam H. Brown, farmer, sec 20, Fork Tp., was born in Middlesex Co., Mass .. Nov. 5, 1833. His father, William II. Brown, was born in Concord, Mass., and died in 1881. His mother, Anstris (Bald- win) Brown, was born in Waltham, Mass., and died in 1838. He obtained such education as the district and high schools of his native county afforded, and when ready to make his own way in the world, he went to Richmond, Va., and obtained a situation as fireman on the Richmond & Danville R. R., trans- ferring later to the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co., where he worked in their shops one year. He was then employed as fireman by the same company, and a year later "got his engine," and operated as an engineer four years. He spent nine months in New Hampshire, among his friends, and again returned to Piedmont, Va., where he again commenced life as an engineer, continuing in that capacity two years. He went thence to Zanesville, Ohio, and was engaged in the same business on the C'en. O. R. R., three years. While in this employ- ment he was injured by a car wheel passing over his foot. Later on he went to Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and

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was engaged there three years in farming. Returning to Norwalk, Ohio, he obtained employment in the machine shops and remained there four years, going thence to Rockford, Ill., where he was employed four months in the car shops. His next transfer was to Adrian Mich., to the employ of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. Co., and three months later went to work on the Sandusky, Dayton & Cincinnati Railroad.

In the spring of 1866 he came to Mecosta County, and located 80 acres of land under the homestead act, in the township of Fork. The place was no ex- ception to the general state of the land in the town- ship, and was in heavy timber. Of the original pur- chase, he has 20 acres under the best improvements.

Mr. Brown was married July 15, 1856, to Cynthia I .. , daughter of Nathaniel R. and Hannah (Simonds) Bourne. Her father was born in Summers, Tolland Co., Conn .. and her mother in Enfield, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children: William E. was born June 30, 1858, and married July 12, 1883, to Ida Ingraham; Oliver P. was born July 30, 1863. Mr. Brown is a Republican, and among the most prominent citizens of the township; has been Treasurer two years, and Clerk ten years.

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Portrait and biographical album, Mecosta county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 58

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