Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 16

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

USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 16

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).

ohn M. Everden, farmer and teacher, section 30, Emerson Township, was born in Ingham Co., Mich., Oct. 5, 1852, and is a son of (). A. and Harriet Jane (Phelps) Everden, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively. They were married in the latter State, and two years after came to Michigan. They located on a farm in Ingham County, where their son John was born. He came with his parents to this county in the spring of 1854, and has since lived in Emerson Township, section 30. Being the eldest of three children, it early came to his lot to be a sort of fore- man around the farm; but, in spite of hard work and limited advantages, he found time to obtain a fair education in the common schools of his time, so that by perseverance he qualified himself for teaching.

At the age of 20, he began teaching, and has since taught in the winters, and farms in the summers. Of the So acres, 50 are well cultivated fle is con- sidered a skillful farmer and a competent teacher.

lle still resides on the old homestead, with his mother, a woman of sterling worth.

April 19, 1883, in Saginaw City, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Jennie, daughter of Ira and D. A. (Westcott) Van Buskirk, natives of New York. She was born in Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1862, and came to this county in her childhood.} He is connected with the Baptist Church, of Ithaca, and she, with the M. E. Church, at the same place.

Mr. Everden is a member of Ithaca Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., and now holds the office of J. W., in that lodge. He has held the township offices of Superintendent of Schools, Supervisor and School Inspector. Politically, he is a strong supporter of Republican principles.

illiam N. Rogers, farmer on section 33. Pine River Township, is a son of William P. T. and Lydia M. (Beckwith) Rogers, natives- of New York State. They married and set- tled in that State, afterwards removing to Medina Co., Ohio, where they resided until their death. William N., the subject of this bio- graphical narrative, was born in New York State, Sept. 16, 1820. He was two years old when his par- ents removed to Ohio, and in that State he was edu- cated and grew to manhood. At the age of 18, he was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade for three years at Ashland, Ohio. This business he followed most of the time until 1877.

He came to this county in October, 1854, and set- tled on the farm which he had entered the June pre- vious, on section 33, Pine River Township. He built the first blacksmith shop in Gratiot County, on his farm. He and four others, among them Col. Ely, Mr. Porter and J. H. Clark, cut through the woods what was known as the "middle trail." He built a' log house 28 x 16, and afterwards sold his whole farm, trading 40 acres for the place on which he now resides, one yoke of steers, one cow and one barrel of pork. His present farm is all nicely under culti-

198

GRITIOT COUNTY.

vation. He has at different times owned various farms in Arcada and Pine River Townships.

April 18, 1843, in Homer Township, Medina Co .. Ohio, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Taylor) Clark. They first settled in New Jersey, and afterwards removed to New York State. Thence they went to Ohio, and lived there 144 years ; and in 1854 they came to lonia C'o., Mich., where they died. Their daughter Lydia was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., Aug 2, 1822.

Mr. Rogers enlisted in the 8th Mich. Vol. Inf., and served in the Union army 16 months. He was honorably discharged May 24, 1865, at Detroit. During the first part of his service, he was em- ployed as blacksmith ; and when Ralph Ely was promoted Colonel, he was detailed as cook for that popular leader.

Mr. and Mrs. R. have had five children: Han- nah S., Roxana E., Mary C., Phebe U. R. and Will- iam 11. Ilannah S, was married to Henry Adams, and died April 28, 1876. Roxana E. was married to George M. Simonson, of Saginaw, and died Feb. 20, 1867. Mi. Rogers has held the various school offices, and has been a Trustee of Alma village for six years. In political sentiment, he is a Democrat.

ddison G. Fraker, farmer, section 8, Wash- ington Township, is a son of Napoleon B. and Rebecca (Merrills) Fraker, natives of New York State. They followed farming, and in 1861 came to Gratiot County, locating on 160 acres on section 8, Washington Township. Mr. Fraker afterwards added 20 acres, and brought 1 25 acres to a good state of improvement. He lived on this farm until 1879. when he removed to his present home in Ithaca.

The subject of this sketch was born July 18, 1847. in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and at the age of 23 he was married to Amelia Campbell, the daughter of Cornelius and Pamelia (AAmadon) Campbell, who live on a farm in Washington Township. She was born Oct. 9, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Fraker lived first one year on section 7, Washington Township, then on their present place four years, then on another farm on the same section for four years, then set- tling permanently on their present farm. Mr. Fraker

has 260 acres of land, and is extensively engaged in stock-raising, as well as farming. They have five children, named: Jennie R., Howard C., Ernest R. (died June 20, 1879), N. B. and Kittie (twins).

Mr. Fraker was chosen Township Treasurer in 1881, and again in 1882. He has been School Di- rector, and is at present Assessor of fractional school district No. 3, Washington and Fulton Townships.

hilip P. Allen, farmer, section 29, Emerson . Township, was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., April 21, 1829, and is the son of Isaiah and Elsie (Peck) Allen, natives of New York, and descendants of the Puritan fathers. They followed farming, and died in this State, some years ago.

Philip, when quite young, moved with his father to Seneca County and afterwards to Steuben County. In these two counties he received a pretty fair education, and at the age of 19 he engaged in teach- ing in the district schools of Steuben County. This he followed until his marriage in that county, July 22, 1850, to Mary A., daughter of Richard Sawtell, a native of New England. Mary A. was born in New York, July 2, 1830.

Five years after their marriage they came to this county and settled on section 29, Emerson Township. Here his wife died, Jan. 8, 1855, leaving two children to comfort her husband: Ozema F., born Nov. 14, 1852, and George H., born Feb. 4, 1855. He was again married, April 17, 1865, to Emma G., daughter of Ralph and Jane (Terry) Bellows, natives of New York and Michigan, respectively, and of English and Scotch extraction. They resided most of their lives in this State, and died here, the father Feb. 11, 1863, and the mother March 2, 1869. Emma G. Bellows was born in Marshall, Mich., Jan. 25, 1846, and remained with her parents till her marriage, coming with them to Gratiot County, in 1861.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen have a family of four children, as follows : Leland W., born Feb. 5, 1866, Cecil W., Oct. 1, 1870, Tessie M., June 2, 1877, and Rexford F., Oct. 6, 1882 They are members of the Baptist Advent Church.

Mr. Allen is a man who is respected by all who

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIPRADY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R

chas AMorss

Julia S. Moral

THE FIX PUBLIC MILITARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L

201

GRATIOT COUNTY.

know him. He has held the office of Township Treasurer for a number of years, and has also been Township Clerk. He is now Moderator of his school district. Politically he is a Democrat.

on. Charles H. Morse, farmer, stock-raiser and real-estate dealer, residing on section 29, New Haven Township, and one of the representative and energetic business men of the county, is a native of Orangeville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., where he was born Jan. 27, 1838.

The parents of Mr. Morse were Harvey and Lydia (Watkins) Morse, and natives of Green and Madison Counties, N. Y.

From a " History of the Morse family," owned by the Buffalo Historical Society, we learn that the fam- ily history is of very ancient origin. It is quite clearly traced to a little town in Norway, south of Christiana. This town was named Moss, because it was a mossy country. The family took the name of Moss, and in course of succeeding generations and centuries, as in almost all names which come down to us through centuries, it has changed in form and orthography, appearing as Moss, Morss and Morse, and some lesser variations.

It is quite clear that the family accompanied Will- iam the Conqueror when he subdued England, or came soon after, as the name appears in England, and is more easily traced from about that date. The first official account is in the time of Edward III, A. D. 1327, when the records show an official ap- pointment dated 1358. This probably accounts for the fact that they had a crest or semblance of a coat- of-arms. This consisted of an open shield, sur- mounted by two battle axes, crossed, and one ax and three pellets in the body of the shield. The motto in Latin, In Deo, non armis, fido,-" In God I trust, not in arms."

The Morse family in America descended from seven families, who came from England about 1635, the heads of these families named Samuel, Joseph, An- thony and William Morse, all settling in Massachu- setts. Later, Robert Morse landed in New Jersey, Joshua, " somewhere in New England," and " John Moss," in New Haven, Conn. It seems to be a his-

torical fact that these are the seven families whence the Morses in early days sprung. Samuel Morse, the progenitor of the branch of the family to which Charles II. Morse belongs, was born in 1585, in Eng- land, probably at Ipswich, came to Massachusetts with his wife Elizabeth and son John, in the ship " Increase," in the year 1635, and settled " south of Charles River," near Boston, and named the place Dedham. Ile, with twelve others, owned a large tract of land, built the first "meeting-house " and school-house. The "compact " drawn up by himself and his 12 associates, under which they were to live, is marked by all that severe piety and intolerance that characterized the " Blue Laws" of Connecticut.

The whole history of the family indicates that they have generally been men of sterling integrity and noted for puritanisın. Some have been minis- ters in the Episcopal Church, but generally they have been Presbyterians. They fought in the Revolution and in every war since to the Rebellion. Some were eccentric. John Morse, born in 1712, built his chimney in the hall of his house. Hle shut himself in his room and resolved to fast 40 days, but after trying it three or four days came out, saying the Lord had excused him from the other days! He also chiseled his own tombstone, and asked to be buried with his head to the north.

The genealogy of the family, from Samuel Morse to the subject of the sketch, Charles H. Morse, is as follows : Samuel Morse, born 1585, came to America 1635, died 1654; son John, born 1611, came to America with his father 1635, died 1657; John's son Ezra, born 1643, died 1697; Ezra's son Seth, born 1686, died 1783; he settled in Connecti- cut; Seth's son John, born in 1712, date of death unknown; John's son David, born about 1755, died about 1830; David's son Simeon, born Oct. 4, 1781, died August, 1867; Simeon's son Harvey, born June 22, 1802, died May 1, 1878; and Harvey's son Charles H., born Jan. 27, 1838.

Mr. Morse had three brothers and three sisters, viz: Evaline, born Dec. 24, 1826, and married to H. H. Beers ; Electa, born Sept. 28, 1828, and mar- ried to Lafayette Winchester; Catharine, born July 4, 1831, and married to Horace Briggs; Lucius, born Oct. 13, 1833, married Rose Cutter and died May 15, 1875 ; John, born April 26, 1835, married Sarah Holly, murdered Aug. 1, 1867 ; Myron, born Feb. 20, 1840, married to Elizabeth Chittle.

GRATIOT COUNTY.

207

The parents of the subject of this biography were hard-working, industrious and energetic people, and Charles H. was educated in the school of labor, on the farm, necessity preventing his development into manhood in idleness or wealth. He labored on the farms in the neighborhood, contributing his earn- ings to the support of the family, and attending the common schools as opportunity would permit until he attained the age of 17 years. Possessing a determi- nation to succeed in the battles of the world. he de- voted his idle moments to his books; and at the age of 16 he was thoroughly capable of entering on the profession of a teacher, which he did with credit.

In 1855, Mr. Morse accompanied his parents to this State, where they located in Orleans Township, Jonia County. He then engaged in teaching during the winter months, and assisted the father on the farm during the summer. Here his father and mother died, the former May 1, 1878, at the advanced age of 76 years; and his mother Dec. 3. 1881, at the home of our subject, aged 73 years. They were iden- tified with this State since 1855.

When the nation was aroused from her peaceful slumber of years by the flashing of the terrible news along the wires from State to State that Sumter had fallen, and our martyr President had called for strong arms and brave hearts to battle for the perpetuity of our flag and Government, our subject halted not to consider, but was among the first to offer his services.

He enlisted Sept. 144, 1861, as a private in Co. D), 3d Mich. Vol. Cav., and on the organization of the company was appointed Sergeant. He served with the company as Sergeant until Dec. 15. 1862, when he was promoted to Commissary Sergeant of the regiment, and he always had personal charge of the subsistence of the regiment during the time he held the office.

During his service with the regiment, he was pres- ent at the siege and capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10. At New Madrid, under Gen. Pope, he first " smelled powder burned in anger."

Soon after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, his regiment was ordered to Tennessee. and participated in the siege of Corinth, Miss .. and after the evacua- tion did hard service all through the summer of 1862, in Northern Mississippi and Alabama, and West Tennessee, participating in the battles of luka, Sept. 19. 1862. and Corinth, Oct. 3 and 4, 1862,-two as

severely contested and decisive engagements, consid- ering number engaged, as were fought during the war.

In November, 1862, he accompanied his regiment in advance of Gen. Giant's army, which moved nearly down to Grenada, Miss., engaged daily with the enemy in severe skirmishing, particularly at Cof- feeville, where the cavalry advance were confronted by the entire rebel army of Northern Mississippi.

This campaign of Gen. Grant's was apparently broken up by Van Dorn's raid on his communications and the destruction of his supplies. Van Dorn struck Gen. Grant's communication at Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 20, 1862, destroyed a large amount of army supplies of all kinds and raided north into Tennessee, destroying the railroad as he moved.

Mr. Morse was taken prisoner at Holly Springs, by Van Dorn's forces, while absent from his regiment after supplies. He was paroled the same day and as a result was sent North until exchanged, which took place in April, 1863. During the remainder of his service with the regiment he participated with it in all its arduous service, scouting in West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi. Their battles, though termed skirmishes, were numbered by scores. Few cavalry regiments saw harder service than his and few indeed were the marches it made when Mr. Morse was not with it.

After re-enlistment, Mr. M. was ordered to report to Gen. W. A. Pile, at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., who was charged with the organization of regi- ments of colored troops at that place. He remained on duty with Gen. Pile until August. 1864, when he was commissioned Captain in the 117th U. S. Col- ored Infantry, and ordered to report at Covington, Ky., where his regiment was then organizing. He was the senior Captain in the regiment, taking rank from Aug. 16, 1864. During August and September he assisted in recruiting and organizing his regiment to its maximum number, and in October it was or- dered to Virginia, and assigned to the Ist Brigade, ist Division, 25th Army Corps, Gen. Godfrey Weit- zel commanding. The 24th and 25th Army Corps constituted the Army of the James.

When Richmond was evacuated, Mr. Morse's company led the advance of the 25th Corps, and his regiment was probably the first infantry that entered the capital of the Southern Confederacy.

203

GRATIOT COUNTY.

Remaining at Richmond and Petersburg until June 2, 1865, he was, with the 25th Corps, ordered to the Mexican border, to aid in enforcing the famous "Monroe Doctrine." Louis Napoleon saw the " hand- writing on the wall," and called the French troops home from Mexico, leaving Maximilian to his sad fate.

In the fall of 1865, the mustering-out of troops began. The 117th Regiment, to which Mr. M. still belonged, was occupied in garrison duty on the bor- der, and in October of the same year Mr. M., then Captain, assumed command of the regiment, which he retained most of the time until the end of its service.

Jan. 12, 1866, Mr. M. was promoted from Captain to Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. Subsequently, owing to the muster-out of other regiments, the 117th was the only infantry on the border, and was scat- tered from Galveston to Fort McIntosh, 500 miles up the Rio Grande. Mr. Morse commanded the posts of Brazos de Santiago, Fort Brown and Ringgold Barracks. While at the latter post his jurisdiction ex- tended over 300 miles of the border. Ilere he had a chance to observe much of Mexican life, and pro- nounces them (save a small educated class), the most degraded human beings in the world making a claim to civilization.

In June, 1867, Mr. Morse was brevetted Colonel of U. S. Volunteers, to date from March 13, 1865, " for faithful and meritorious conduct during the war;" his commission being signed by President Andrew Johnson and Secretary Edwin M. Stanton.

The 117th was the last volunteer regiment in the service, and their " three years, or during the war," was nearly completed July 1, 1867. They were or- dered to assemble in New Orleans for muster-out, and on the 23d day of August Mr. Morse was mus- tered out of the military service of the United States, after a continuous service of 5 years, 11 months and 9 days.

Soon after Mr. M. received his discharge, he came to this county and purchased 320 acres of heavily timbered land, located on sections 20 and 29, New Haven Township. There was at the time 40 acres under improvement. The farm was originally owned by Richard Crispel. After making this purchase, Mr. M. at once entered on the task of improving his land, at times engaged in lumbering and in real

estate, and now owns 400 acres, 270 acres of which are well improved, supplied with good stock and adorned with handsome and complete farm buildings, and is considered the most valuable farm in the township.

Mr. Morse was united in marriage, Feb. 14, 1864, to Miss Julia, daughter of Nathaniel and C'hloe (Thompson) Sessions, late of lonia County. The father was born Aug. 20, 1790, and died March 15, 1880, age nearly 90. The mother was born in 1798, and died in 1879, aged 81. They were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively ; and came to this State in 1837, since which time they have been identified with the prosperity of lonia County from its earliest settlement, always living in the vi- cinity of Matherton. It was there Julia was born, Dec. 13, 1838. She was reared and educated under the watchful care of fond and loving parents. Pos- sessing a mind capable of rapid cultivation and a large amount of energy and determination, she soon attained a point in her studies which thoroughly qualified her to enter upon the duties of a teacher, which she performed with great credit. After a few years of successful teaching she gave up the school room for the home and entered on the duty of wife and mother. She has had five children, four of whom are living, namely : John C., born March 8, 1870; Mark C., born Oct. 27, 1872; Noel M., born Jan. 10, 1874, and Katie M., born July 18, 1878. One child died in infancy.

Mrs. Morse is a dutiful and loving wife, a kind mother and a generous and esteemed neighbor, al- ways working for the social and intellectual improve- ment of the community in which she may be found.

She was a twin daughter in a family of 15 chil- dren, 10 of whom are living. Her membership and identity with the M. E. Church extends over a long period of time, and her religious zeal ranks her among the Christian workers of the county.

The official record of Mr. Morse in the County and Congressional District in which he lives has been an honorable and creditable one. He has held the office of Supervisor eight terms, since 1870, and also other township and school offices in the gift of the people of the township.

He was elected Representative on the Republican ticket in 1872, and the interest he manifested in the welfare of his constituency procured him a speedy return in 1874. These two terms spent in the Leg-

204

GRATIOT COUNTY.

islature extended his reputation as a man of ability and integrity, and at the close of his last term he was put forth as the nominee of the Republican party for Senator from the 28th District.

His record had been marked with such manly ac- tion, ability and integrity that the people rallied around him even as he had rallied around the old) flag in its time of peril, and elected him by a hand- some majority.

Mr. Morse has been closely allied with the inter- ests of the Republican party in this State, and as a representative of the party stands forth unaccused, without a blemish.

Mr. Morse is an Officer of the Day in the Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Carson City. As a representative man of the State and county, and one in every way worthy the confidence and esteem of the people, we take great pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Morse, together with that of his most estimable lady, in this work.

oseph B. Davidson, farmer, section 48, Elba Township, is a son of John and Mary R. ( Marriott) Davidson, natives of Pennsylva- nia and Maryland. Mr. Davidson, Sr., was a farmer, and his home was in Ohio until his death, in the autumn of 1872. Joseph was born May, 2, 1841, in Licking Co., Ohio. At the age of 28 he married Lilly Kneeland, who was born in Howell, Livingston County, May 28, 1852, the daughter of John B. and Lucena S. (Sickles) Knee- land. Mr. Kneeland was a native of Tompkins Co., N. Y., and followed farming.

Mr. and Mrs. Davidson settled at their present residence on 65 acres of section 28.

They are the parents of two children: John W. and Frank F.

Mr. Davidson enlisted in the service of his country at Cleveland, Ohio, in Co. D, 41st Ohio Vol. Inf. He was in the battle of Stone River; was wounded at Chickamauga, and at Missionary Ridge : was wound- ed both in the hips and in the wrist. On account of these honorable wounds he was discharged from the army.

He was Ilighway Commissioner of his township for one term, and School Superintendent two terms.

Ile has also held the office of Moderator of his school district for a number of years. He is a thorough Republican in his political views. He is a member of Elsie Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M., and also of the G. A. R.

Ifred Finch, farmer, section 24, Arcada Township, was born in Orleans Co., N. Y.,

-633 Sept. 26, 1852, and is the son of Linas Finch, a native of New York, and of English de- scent. The father was by occupation a ma- chinist; and, enlisting in the service of his country, fell a victim to some rebel bullet. Alfred's mother died in Orleans Co., N. Y., in March, 1861, and at the age of nine Alfred found himself under the care of a Mr. Hall, of Orleans County. Two years later they all came to Eaton Co., Mich., where Alfred lived, working summers and attending school in the winters, until 16 years old. He then went to live with Levi Bartlow, in Clinton County, remaining with him till 21 years old. For the next five years he was variously engaged.

Aug. 6, 1878, at St. Johns, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Nancy, daughter of Erastus and Jimima (Packard) Farrington, natives of New England and of English descent. Mr. Farrington's occupation has been a shoemaker, and he is now a farmer. Nancy was born June 11, 1857, in Emerson Township; was there educated, and there lived until her marriage. One year after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Finch settled on 40 acres in Arcada Township. He now has 15 acres under cultivation. They have a family of three children, as follows : Alice, born March 5, 1879; Bertha, June 27, 1880; and Charles, Oct. 20, 1883. In politics, Mr. Finch is a Republican.

ohn T. Botsford, farmer, section 15, New Haven Township, is a son of Reuben and Martha (Lambson) Botsford (see sketch), and was born in Whitby Township, Ontario, Feb. 27, 1849. On leaving his native home, when seven years of age, he came with his par- ents to Michigan, settling in the village of Reuby, Clyde Township, St. Clair County, for four years ;

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.

Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 16

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

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