Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 15

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 856

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with whose interest and . ffairs they were or ml- nently identified. Henry and Anu (Jamison) Durr _ . great-grandparents, were natives of the Sortant Ireland, and emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary war, settling in that part of Peut al- vanis now known as Bucks County Henry Danach became a Captain in the Continental Army, and thed in Bucks County in 1752, at the age of 45 years His wife died in Bedford Co., Pe mn , aged 73 year- Their family comprised seven children. George W Darrah, their youngest son Grandfather of Mr Darragh), was born July 12, 1778, in Bick, Co, J'enn. He married Rebekah More Jan. 7. 1903. . und removed with his family from Fulton ('s, l'enn., to Michigan, in 1834. The children were, Lewis, Ber j 1 .. , Mary A., Geo W, James, John and Marthi. The paternal grand-parents of the subject of this sketch were residents of Hilton County in the Keystone State, and came to Michigan in 1931. where they passed the remainder of their lives.

The name of George W Farrah (who to nd it expedient to drop the letter that forms tie distinguishing link in the name), is todissolubly con- nected with the history of the Perms dla St te, from the fact that he was an officer in the zd Regiment Infantry, organized and called out in Gov. Mason, to resist the attempted janslation of Cher over Michigan territory. He died in Montee Co, Mich , in 1839, aged bi years.

Benjamin F. Harrach was Kom in Filter to. .. in The8, and was married to Catherine Hard, The 4. 1834. She was born Nov. 12, 1804, leir Mercer -- bury. Pa, and died in Apr1, 186; In th . m - ternal line the descent of Mr Dirr _h ut this skete l is trueble for several generations, as his father Game of a rue just assimally distrugensed tor finn, stands traits of character is that of her hand wed, though of a type widely at vari no. Of the 20 of O, tofer, 1539. Arild Bird, Er uten, -

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1. 110 th B ts, wh Maria, Warum Beats, Care, Ma Tel, 1

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containing explicit and full records of the births, deaths and marriages of the generation to which his grandfather belonged. John Bard came from Ireland in the early part of the 17th century and settled in Maryland, whence his descendants dispersed. Rich- ard Bard, great-grandfather of Mr. Darragh and third in descent from John Bard, was born near Philadel- phia, Dec. 26, 1726, and settled in that part of York County which was afterwards set off and named Adams County, in the State of Pennsylvania. In 1744, the war between England and France termi- nated the historic peace established by the Quakers between the colonists and Indians, and Braddock's campaign, with its disastrous results, seemed to let loose upon the borders many of the possibilities of savage warfare. Assaults on the frontier settlements were frequent and resulted in murder of the whites, or what was in most instances worse,-capture. These hostilities grew less frequent as time | ro- gressed, but did not wholly cease until 1759.

In 1758, the Indians sent their marauding parties into York County, and killed and abducted the fron- tiersmen and their families. On the 13th of April, in that year, 19 " Delawares " invested the home of Richard Bard. The inmates were Mr. Bard, his wife, Lieut. Potter (brother of Gen. Potter), a babe of six months, and a bound boy. The Indians made an entry into the house and were repulsed. But they were too numerous to be successfully resisted, and capitulation was determined on by the whites. They surrendered on promise of their lives being spared ; the house was rifled of all valuables and the other buildings fired. Lieut. Potter was murdered soon after they had taken up their line of march, and not long after the infant child shared the same fate. On the fifth day Mr. Bard resolved to escape, as the brutality of his captors and the hardships he en- countered were fast disabling him and incapacitating him from travel. He was sent to a spring for water, but a short time after his resolution was formed and communicated to his wife; he took advantage of the opportunity his errand afforded, to make his escape. The character of the wife may be inferred from the fact that she not only approved of his determination, but diverted the attention of the Indians until her fleeing husband was beyond the reach of their ven- geance. Can the women of this period adequately picture to their understandings the qualities of a

woman who could deliberately choose to be left to such chances as lay before Mrs. Bard, isolated and alone in the power of the most implacable of savages; -the Delawares, This volume is honored in record- ing her name and perpetuating the fame of her act of self-sacrificing, womanly devotion. It is probable that her native strength of character and superiority inspired her savage captors with respect, for her life was spared and she was subjected to no indignities beyond the hardships of the match and its incidental privations. She was formally adopted by the tribe) but refused to learn or use their language, as shec would have been obliged, in that event, by their cus- toms, to choose or accept a husband .. She was in captivity two years and five months, and was ran- somed by the payment of $200 by her husband, who never ceased his efforts to find her after he attained his own freedom. The story of his escape would grace the pages of romance. His sufferings rivaled, those of the Unionists who came "out of the jaws of death " in making their escape from the stockade prison at Andersonville. He subsisted on buds and raw rattlesnakes, and finally reached Fort Pitt (Pitts burg) where he began his search and negotiations for his wife. After their re-union, they settled in Frank- lin Co., Pa., where they reared their family. The foregoing account is abstracted from the detailed record written by Archibald, the second son, and. compiled in a volume now in the possession of Mr. Darragh, entitled " Mirror of Olden-Time Border Life." Richard Bard died Feb. 22, 1799. 'The de- mise of his wife occurred Aug. 30, 1811.

Archibald Bard (2d) was born June 27, 1765, near Green Castle, Pa. He engaged extensively in agri- culture and officiated for a number of years as Judge of the County Court of Franklin Co., Pa. He was prominent in public life and gained some notoriety in literary circles through his biographical writings and essays on religious topics. He was married to Elizabeth Beatty, July 2, 1799, and died Oct. 18, 1832. His wife was born Jan. 17, 1774, and died in January, 1852.

Mr. Darragh is the second child and elder son of his parents, to whom were born five children, three of whom survive : Maria E. is the wife of William S. McDowell, a farmer of Du Page Co., Ill .; James C. is Secretary and Treasurer of the Stockwell & Darragh Furniture Company of Grand Rapids. Until

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he was 12 years old Mr. Darragh was a pupil in the Acommon schools of his native county. In 1852, his parents removed to the city of Monroe, where he had the advantage of the academy there located, and he · prepared for a collegiate course under the instruction of Hon. Edwin Willits, then at the head of a select school at Monroe. In the fall of 1857, Mr. Darragh entered the Classical Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he remained two years. Through the medium of a friend, William E. Crime, he obtained a position as private tutor in Claiborne Co., Miss. He was in one of the most disloyal sections of the seditious South when the key note of the Rebellion transfixed the civilized world. The loyal blood in his veins, and the sturdy patriotism he inherited from the races to which he belongs. as- serted themselves too strongly for him to remain quiescent, even if he had not been already marked as a Yankee school-master; but when he took the initiatory toward a speedy retreat to the North, his departure was made possible only through the inter- vention of the friend through whose instrumentality he went South. The latter, though true to his Theart's instincts, was prominent in his own disloyalty to his country's thig; but, with cor ked revolver, he protected his friend until the train, which he boarded swith difficulty, hore him away toward safety. The route was made under harassing perplexities, and only by strategy and justifiable misleading did Mr Darragh el ide the rebel officials and escape deten- tion, and more probably death. He reached home and again entered the University of Michigan, where he remained a year, and was graduated in the "'Issical Department, receiving the degree of 1 1: . in 1868, after the dos of the war

The influences that were abroad permeated every element and involved every class in Michigan The inmates of her educational institutions, pupils and professors, one by one, lud and . their books and their duties And emolled in the detens. of the Union Hig Students, approaching the time of their el ustionid etreer, grew impati nt over the low much of the sauce ling days and received the or de of their scholarship without a vestice of the prale and grut fre ttion which had med the nily thin worth living for when they begin theer our lietot . needed at the front Their year of elf ut were su

and their futures of promise only pibeless, tiden- seas of baffled hopes, ambitions and energies, if the nation died in the throes of mortal agony that were nearing its vitals. The tide of Northern studert Ite that s irged toward the vortex of battle through th . succeeding years of the wir, was one of the so vini- est spectacles the world ever saw. and bote & we . I of significince worthy the consider ition of kin_s and prime minister».

A double incentive united Mr. Darragh in his views of the situation and his relation to the duties of his manhood. The sune impulses that swayed others held mastery over him and the memory of the indignities to which he had been subjected, from the simple fact that resident, so to speak, gave him being under a Northern sky, brought home to him with a sharp significance the realities of the case Of the with of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private into. IT, 18th Mich. Vol. Inf. The regiment joined the United States fortes opposing the command of kirli Smith of the fifth of April. On the 25th of the same month, private Harrach, wit 1 02 of ers lelong mg to his regiment and to the " Tenth Kentucky " and " Fourth Indian , Cavalry," were captured while on picket duty near Walton, Buone to, Ky., in sidder chargeof rebel e wary, under John Moran The prisoners were matched on the donde pick to Fd nolith, Kv , and on the day following their /rris il they were paroled by Major Dak Morat, at thew of the celebrated patrulla chief The not cut es- change of paroled prisoners was issued girls. mary, 180g, and pris te Durch immedi tels jak Co. D. Vinta Mich Co., ham. received dae mons- its first triumph in theson of me! ! und capture of Everett's semillas. It tik- ner's commed at Triplett's Bile, As It - in, the ol brated " rader." making

comment, ob the fifth er Ets, ale

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hold the field, Morgan fled north with his main body of troops.

A detachment from the regiment participated in the engagement of July 20th, which resulted in the capture of the command of Morgan with the excep- tion of the rebel chief and about 500 men, who were taken prisoners with Morgan himself six days later by Cos. D, I. C, II and E, of the " Ninth," under command of Major W. B. Way, who reported offi- cially to Gen. Burnside, from Salineville, Ohio, under date of July 26, 1863 : "After a forced march yes- terday and last night, with almost continued skir- mishing, we succeeded this morning, at eight o'clock, in pressing Morgan to an engagement about half a mile from this town. After more than an hour of severe fighting, we scattered his forces in all direc- tions. The following is the result of our engage- ment : from 20 to 30 killed ; about 50 wounded ; 255 prisoners. Our loss slight. My command is 250 strong." Within a month, Lieut. Darragh marched with his regiment, under Burnside, over the moun- tains into East Tennessee. The " Ninth " did good service at Loudon Bridge, Knoxville, Cumberland Gap, and aided in driving the enemy through Straw- berry Plains, Morristown, Russellville, Blue Springs, Greenville, Jonesborough and Wautaga, to the very gates of the Old Dominion. It had watered its horses in every stream from the Cumberland range to the Blue Ridge. The campaign of the winter of '63-4, in the mountains of East Tennessee, is with- out precedent in the annals of the war. The cold was extreme, and supplies, which at first were insuf- ficient, were at last wholly cut off. The soldiers were in rags; East Tennessee, so often traversed by both armies, was destitute of provisions and forage, and the effort to keep the cavalry forces mounted was a failure. The line of daily march was marked by dead horses and abandoned equipments, and the situation well nigh rivaled the bitter recitals of Val- ley Forge. The men's feet were, many of them, des- titute of covering, save the swathings of pieces of blankets and cloth, in which they were enveloped. By the middle of February, there were but 50 service able horses in the entire command, and on the 25th of that month, Lieut. Darragh, in charge of 50 picked men, was ordered to report direct to Gen. Garrard, Brigade Commander, and until March 25th was en- gaged in scouting and reconnoitering expeditions ;

and the command was frequently involved in skir- mishes with detachments of Confederate cavalry. In April the regiment was ordered to Kentucky to remount, and in June was a prominent factor in routing Morgan at Cynthiana and driving him from the State. It was in the advance and was deployed on the right of the Union line opposed to Morgan's left. The day was won by a brilliant sabre charge, which made a complete rout. The official report of the commanding General Burbridge claimed 1,100 rebels killed, wounded and captured. During the month of July, the regiment marched through Ken- tucky and Tennessee, into Georgia, joining Sherman's conquering legions at Marietta in their advance on Atlanta. The cavalry was engaged in protecting the flanks, keeping open communications, in scouting, re- connoitering and raiding, till after the fall of Atlanta.

lt participated in the successful raid around At- lanta, under Kilpatrick. On the 14th day of Novem- ber, 1864. the " General" was sounded, the regiment marched out of its camp near Atlanta and took its position in Sherman's grand army in the first day's "March to the Sea." The progress through Georgia was one continuous skirmish with the rebel cavalry, under Gen. Wheeler. The regiment distinguished itself at Lovejoy's Station, at Macon, at Waynesboro, and at Cypress Swamp, and won the following special mention from Gen. Kilpatrick, in his official report to Gen. Sherman: " It has at all times behaved most handsomely and attracted my special attention." It was the escort of Gen. Sherman in the investment of Savannah, and made a gallant charge at Aiken, S. C., and was in hot action at Averysboro and at Benton- ville.

The Ninth was the only Michigan cavalry regi- ment that marched with Sherman to the ocean, and it fired the last volley at the rebels, in behalf of the National standard, prior to the surrender of Gen. Johnston's army. The commission of Mr. Darragh as First Lieutenant was dated Feb. 12, 1864; that of Captain was conferred June 9, 1865. He was mus- tered out of service July 21, 1865, and was honor- ably discharged at Jackson.

After leaving the military service, Mr. Darragh re- solved to fit himself for the legal profession, and, with that intent, went to Jackson to engage in the proper course of study under the direction of Gov. Blair. But the experiences of the years which had

GRATIOT COUNTY.

intervened since his student days, had made havoc with his mental habits, and he found it difficult to concentrate his attention sufficiently to render his readings profitable. He obtained a position in the West-Side union school at Jackson, and had charge of the Grammar Department two years. In 186; he was elected the first Superintendent of Jackson County, and discharged the duties of the office two years.

Mr. Darragh came to Gratiot County in 1876, and soon after established his banking business at St. Louis, where he has since prosecuted the matter common to sich institutions. He has been inti- mately connected with the prominent interests of the village since he became a resident, and has officiated continuously as a member of the Village Board of Education. The perfect organization of the union school is largely due to his efforts and views, made practical by his own experience as an educator. He is a Republican to the core, and has been active in local politics. In 1872, he was elected County Treasurer, and in 1882 was nominated and elected Representative of Gratiot County, receiving 62 ma- jority on the popular vote over the Fusion candidate. The canvass was spirited and the entire Fusion ticket was elected with the exception of Represent i- tive and Circuit Court Commissioner. Bothe wall- dates are residents at St. Louis, and Mr. D. maghi's majority in his home township (Pine River) was 36 Mr. Darragh was active in his capacity of Assem- blymin He served as Chairman of Committee on Private Corporations, a position for which he was pe- culiarly fitted, and he also acted on Committees on State Affairs and on State University.

The character of Mr. Danach needs no elabori- tion at the hands of the biographer. From the siu ple recital of the successive events of his ne 1 the future generations who may be interested in tral his intende and position in Gratiot County, w ll be

satisfaction to his friends, as it is one of the most valuable of the luxe collection n this solene

bert on, of Man dula Liny, P's . w

only child, was Ton Sept , og at

· atrick Brewer, firmer on section 15, E: .- son Township, was born in Wicklow (). Ireland, Jan. 1. 1825, and is the so of Richard and Ann (Kenney) Brew1, . tien of the Emerald Ile, where they were small farmers In 185 they emigrated to Cul da, ett| De ir Kingston, Ont , and tarmed there Patrick, a. the alert 27. left his parents Had worked in- disky to, Athio, until the summer of 1550 He then came to this State and county, and settled of his present farm in Einerson Los. ship.

In this county, March 31, 1867, he was wanted in im mane to Mrs. Kith Decker (zn Co vis), der_ ter of John D and Submitte (Graves) Consis, atives of Rhode Island and Vermont, te verilsels. were married in the Stitrot New York, and 'ter a number of years removed to Emerson Township. this county, where they died, the father meist. mal the mother in isot. Rith was lon n O t.m. Wayne Co., N. Y. March 22, 1835 ; Come at the Le of nine tySh wice to, Mil, and De ty Gra- tiot County, where she was monied

Mr and Mrs. Brower his . had for . Idem, 1w of whom are Insin_ . Richard S . Long Nov 21. 187 Emm 1 , 1om De0 17, 1871; Morie 1 ,10r Se

politie ils a faithful Repet hier offices of Overseer of Highways und del p. rector

ohn S. Parker, Firm r, ection . Now Townalep, wie Ters Mange 25. 1 1.

Wiry Berry, w> weist itt Sam!\

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master of his own fortunes, and has spent all his life thus far in the Peninsula State, with the excep- Ation of two months, which were mostly passed in Missouri. In March, 1873, he bought 120 acres of land, under partial improvements, and erected there- on suitable and convenient fann buildings. He now owns 160 acres in Newark Township, of which 120 acres are under good cultivation, and go acres in Fulton Township, 55 of which are improved.

Mr. Parker was married Dec. 24, 1873, to Mary, third daughter of . John and Nancy (Dravenstot) Greer, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Parker was born in Clinton County, Sept. 10, 1854. Her parents Were natives of Ohio. Two children are now in- cluded in the householl: Jane A., born April 23, 1876, and Roscoe B., born July 14, 1879.

In political matters Mr. Parker votes independ- ently. He is a member of the Order of Masonry.

D-

oseph A. Guthrie, physician and farmer, on section 15, Emerson Township, was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1815, and is the son of Nathan and Abbie ( Richard- son) Guthrie, natives of New England, and of Scotch and English extraction. The Guthries for several generations back have been physicians and surgeons. Nathan Guthrie practiced in Genesee Co., N. Y., when that county was very new, and he had to contend with most of the hardships of pio- neer life. He deserves the credit of being one of the foremost in developing that now rich country, and his children were the first white children born - there.

The subject of this sketch was scarcely one year old when he lost his mother, and he was taken care of by his aunt and uncle. He lost his father by death four years later, and was then left entirely to his relatives. They treated him kindly, and enabled him to obtain a practical education in the common schools. At the age of 19 he began teaching in the common schools, and by spending his earnings in better informing himself, he progressed rapidly. He studied in select schools, and then gave himself to * the art of medicine, under Dr. L. Tucker, of Earl- · ville, Madison Co., N. Y. He remained with that gentleman four years, and attended a course of lec-

tures at Geneva, N. Y. In the spring of 1842, he secured his diploma, and he has since acquired, by a long and successful practice, the reputation of a very skillful physician.

July 16, 1844, at Sandy Hill, Washington Co., N. Y., he was married to Eunice Town, a native of Washington Co., N. Y. She died in Shiawassee Co., Mich., in September, 1846, and March 16, 1847, in Shiawassee County, he was again married, to Emma M. Convis, daughter of John D. and Submitte (Graves) Convis, natives of Vermont. She was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 29, 1829, and when a year and a half old went with her parents to Wayne County, that State, where she received a common-school education. At the age of 16 she came to Shiawassee County, this State, and taught for a short time previous to her marriage. In 1857, Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie came to this county and set- tled on 120 acres, 80 on section 15 and 40 on sec- tion 14, to which he has since added So acres, and he now follows farming in connection with the prac- tice of his profession. Their first experiences here were such as most pioneer families undergo, though perhaps they were even more severe. The Doctor was the first regular medical graduate to practice in Gratiot County.

The Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie have a family of three : Justus N., born May 21, 1848; Jesse L., born Sept. 9, 1850 ; and Ella C., born March 26, 1860. They are members of the Baptist Church. He was one of the first four Justices of the Peace chosen in Emer- son Township, and he has held that office 12 years. He was also for some time Assistant Revenue As- sessor. Politically he is an active Republican.

pharles S. Harmon, general farmer, section 28. New Haven Township, is a son of Walter Harmon, a native of Connecticut and a farmer by occupation, who came to this State in 1844, and located in Ioria County, as one of the first settlers in Sebewa Town-

ship. He subsequently moved into Clinton County, and died November, 1861, aged about 63. His wife, Mary, nee Dicks, was also a native of Connecti- ( ut, and died in this county Dec. 22, 1858, aged 59. Charles S., the subject of this sketch, worked with

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his father on the farm in lonia County until 19 years of age, when he returned to his native State, New York, where he was born, Sept. 16, 1831, in Chautau- qua County. Residing in Genesee County, that State, for three years, he returned to Clinton County, where he remained with his parents until his mar- riage, Oct. 15, 1854, to Miss Frances 7. White, daugh- ter of Moses H. and Miranda (Wheelock) White. (See sketch.) She was born in Jackson Co., Mich., March 13, 1839, moving afterward to Ingham County, and next to Clinton County, where she lived till her marriage. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are dead, namely : Phebe R. and Florence M., living; and Worth H., Mary M. and Effie J., de- ceased.

A year after marriage, Mr. H. bought 40 acres of land in Watertown Township, Clinton County, which he afterward sold and bought another " 40 " in the same township, where he followed agriculture for eight years. Both these places he found in a state of wild nature. On leaving the latter place he went to Lansing, Mich., and followed teaming nearly a year. In 1864 he came to this county and lived the first year with his father-in-law ; he then purchased a 40-acre piece of land, where he now dwells, mov- ing upon it three years after the purchase. To this tract he has added 40 acres more, and of the total So acres he has 75 acres in fine cultivation.

Mr. Harmon has held the school offices of his dis- trict, and in political affairs he is a Republican.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 15

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 856

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 856