Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 17

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 17

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).

205

GRATIOT COUNTY.

was then four years with his father on a farm near that village, attending school during the winter sea- sons. In the fall of 1865 they moved to this county, where John T. remained, working in agricultural pursuits and attending school until his marriage. His wife, Sarah, is a daughter of George and Alice (Fisher) Cross, natives of England, who came to America early in life, ultimately settling in Newark Township, this county. Mrs. B. was born July 7, 1857, one of the first white children born in that township. Here she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. B. have one child, Ettie E., who was born Dec. 1, 1884. They are members of the Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

illiam J. Courter, farmer, section 7, Ar- cada Township, was born in Orleans Township, Ionia County, Sept. 25, 185 1. His parents are natives of New York State, moved to this county in 1854, and are now living on a farm in Arcada Township. Coming with his parents to an unsettled country, William had no school advantages during his early youth, but he was endowed with a desire to learn, and as he be- came older he developed quite a taste for books. When 16 years old, he commenced earning his own livelihood, going for a time to the lumber woods of Mecosta County. Returning home, he passed 13 years in working at farming in the summers and in the woods winters. The last four years of that period he was in the employ of Bradley Hayes, of Ionia County, an extensive farmer and lumberman. During these four years he lost but 13 days' time, and so highly were his services appreciated that he was paid for that lost time.

On leaving Mr. Hayes' employ he was married to Jeannette, daughter of Ira and Ann (McIntosh) Bar- low, natives of New York State and of English and Scotch ancestry. They followed farming, and re- moved from New York State to the vicinity of Detroit, Mich., and thence to Sydney Township, Montcalm County, where they now reside. Jeannette was born in that county, Nov. 11, 1857, where she was edu- cated in the district schools, and lived until her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Courter came to this county and located on So acres of his father's homestead.

lle has now 60 acres nicely improved, and good farm buiklings. They have two children : Ira Albert, born Aug. 22, 1878, and Fred S., born Nov. 15, 1882. Politically, he is a Democrat. Ile has been Overseer of Roads for some time.

- harles W. Bayley, farmer, section 25, Elba Township, is a son of W. Il. and Jane (Wilson) Bayley, natives of England, and residents of Canada. He was born near To- ronto, Canada, July 7, 1849. On setting out to make his own way in the world, he went to Lorain Co., Ohio, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1879. Sept. 23, 1879, he was united in marriage to Catharine Eschtruth, the eldest daughter of John and Sophia (Keich) Eschtruth. They were natives of Germany, and emigrated to the Great Re- public in 1847, settling in Lorain Co., Ohio. Mr. Eschtruth is there engaged in farming and operating a stone quarry. Mrs. Bayley was born in Lorain County, Dec. 28, 1852. Politically, he votes with the Republican party. In Elyria, Ohio, he was an active worker in the temperance union, and he is still interested in that cause.

ewis B. Wolford, farmer, section 29, New Ilaven Township, is a son of David and Laverna (Conger) Wolford, natives of New Vork. He was born in Cayuga Co., N. \'., Nov. 11, 1837 ; when six years old he was taken to Huntington Co., Ind., and two years later to his native county ; in 1858 he came and settled on section 21, New Haven Township, this county; in 1867 he moved into Sumner Township, where he lived for six years, during which time he followed lumbering in Montcalm County. In the spring of 1876 he moved into New Haven Township.

Jan. 14, 1881, Mr. Wolford married Mrs. Ellen M. Wiles, daughter of Peter D). and Mary (Babcock) Pendell. Mr. P. was a native of Saratoga, N. Y., of German-English descent, came to Michigan in 1847, and to this county in 1858; he was a farmer. He and his wife both died in New Haven Township. Mrs. W. was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 14,

GRATIOT COUNTY.

206

1845. When two years off she came to this State, since which time she has been a resident of lonia and Gratiot Counties. She was first married in 1862, to George Bennett, a native of Michigan, who died June 20, 1870. She afterward married David Wiles, who was born Jan. 22, 1832, in Ohio, and died April 20, 1877. By another wife he had been the father of seven children, and she, by her former marriage, had two children. By the present union there has been one child, Mary L., born Aug. 12, 1882. Mrs. W. has a farm of So acres, most of which is well in- & proved. Mr. W., a Republican, has been honored with office in his school district.

illiam C. Wooley, farmer, section 33, Elba Township, is a son of John K. and Fanny (('rose) Wooley, natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Wooley was the first white settler of Elba Township, locating on section 34 Jan. 4, 1855. In March of the same year, she re- moved across the line into Clinton County, where she still resides. William C. was born June 14, 1840, in Kalamazoo Co., Mich., and left home at the age of 14 to care for himself. Ile worked on a farm until 1867. when he married Martha Harrison, daughter of John S. and Louisa (Baker) Harrison, natives of Ohio, where they followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Wooley have a family of three children : John H., Clande D. and Cora P.

Mr. Wooley first purchased 8 acres in Elba Town- ship, but has added 160 acres to his nucleus. Of his whole farm, 180 acres are well improved. In IS, 3 he built his large barn. His was the first fain- ily to settle permanently in the township, and when he came he found a dense wilderness.

Ile enlisted in Co. 11, 25th Mich. Inf., Aug. 27, 1862, and served his country faithfully during the remainder of the war. His company was engaged under Col. Moore at Green River Bridge July 4. 1863, with the notorious John Morgan's command, and killed more men than there were in the company engaged. He was mustered out at Salisbury, N. C., and finally discharged at Jackson, Mich.

Mr Wooley is a member of Elsie Lodge, No. 238, F. & A M. He was Deputy Sheriff under George Patch. He is one of the representative citizens of Gratiot County.

rank Manecke, farmer, section 22, New Haven Township, was born in Mecklen- burg, Germany, in 1830. His mother died when he was three years old, and then until he was eight he lived with his grandmother. His father having married again he returned to him, who was then superintendent of large land tenants in that country. He was carefully educated, and before he left his native land at the age of 15 he was well versed in French as well as in his native tongue. At the age mentioned he came to the United States with his father, settling in Wood Co., Ohio, near Fostoria. Here the father bought a farm and pro- ceeded to teach his only two children, Frank and Frederick, in the art of agriculture.

On attaining legal age, Frank began as a common laborer for farmers in Seneca Co., Ohio, and two years later he came to Michigan, locating, in Novem- ber, 1854, 120 acres of wild forest land, on sections 21 and 22, New Haven Township, under the Grad- uation Act. In the spring following he set about improving this place, spending the winters for sev- eral years in this work, while the summers he worked in East Plains, Ionia County. In 1860 he settled on this farm, where he has since made a comfortable home.

Under the last call for recruits in 1864, Mr. Man- ecke was drafted, and placed in Co. E, 15th Mich. Inf. His regiment was with Sherman in North Car- olina, but before it was called into action the war closed, and Mr. M. returned home without participa- ting in any engagement. Resuming work on his farm, he has prospered until he has reduced 100 acres under the plow and added by purchase 40 acres more. It is one of the most productive farms in the township. He has produced per acre as high as 38 bushels of wheat, So bushels of corn and 6 bushels of clover seed. His residence. recently built, is a beautiful and convenient structure, and his farm buildings are first-class. Mr. M. has held the school office of his township, and in political issues he is a Republican.

Mr. Manecke was first married April 27, 1860, to Miss Adaline Burt ; she was born in New York, about 1831, and died at her home in New Haven Township, Oct. 28, 1863, leaving one child, Burt.

GRATIOT COUNTY.

20™

She was a member of the Regular Baptist Church. Mr. M. was again married Jan. 15, 1864, in Newark Township, this county, to Mrs. Susanna Ridenour, nee Munson, who was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1830, where she resided until her first mar- riage, in April, 1851. Since that time she has lived in this State, and, except three years, in Clinton County. The children of Mrs. M., by her former husband, were : Polly S. and Aminda J., both mar- ried, in this and Ionia Counties; and George, who died in infancy.

enry K. Retan, senior proprietor of the Retan House, Ithaca, was born in Sussex Co., N. J., Aug. 27, 1817, and is a son of John and Margaret (Smith) Retan, natives of Nova Scotia and New Jersey, and of Dutch and New England descent. The father was a far- mer, and died in Waterford, Oakland Co., Mich., in 1843. The mother died in Owosso, Mich., in 1867. When the subject of this sketch was seven years old, his father removed to Oakland County, this State, and settled on a farm near Pontiac. Henry here worked on the farm, occasionally attending school, and developed into manhood. At the age of 26 he left home, and started a store at Commerce, Oakland County. He was in mercantile life about 15 years, and then went into the hotel business. He was first at Owosso one year, then at Ovid 12 years, and then lived at Ovid three years without other occupation than caring for his wife, who was then an invalid. In May, 1883, he came to Ithaca, and started the Retan House in company with his son-in-law, Dennis T. Covert. This hotel has a very large patronage, and has acquired an enviable reputation as a home-like, well managed house.

Nov. 17, 1842, at Pontiac, he formed a life partner- ship with Miss Catharine Voorheis, daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Powelson) Voorheis, natives of New Jersey, and of Dutch and English descent. She was born at Peapack, Somerset Co., N. J., Sept. 20, 1820, and came to Michigan with her parents when 13 years old, living in Oakland County until her mar- riage.

Mr. and Mrs. Retan have had a family of eight, four surviving : Harrison L., Harriet E. (Mrs. D. T.

Covert), Jay V. and Addie. The two first are in Ithaca, the two last at Ovid. The deceased are George, Margaret, Frank and Lily. Mr. Retan is politically a Democrat.

lexander T. Rice, farmer. section 32, Elba Township, is a son of Clark and Sarah A. (C'oonley) Rice, natives of Massachusetts and New York respectively. They emigrated to Michigan in 1840, and settled on a farm. Alexander was born Dec. 10, 1834, in Jasper, Steuben Co., N. Y. At the age of 25, he was mar- ried to Clara J. Armstrong, daughter of Elias and Eunice (Hewitt) Armstrong, natives of Connecticut. She was born May 20, 1835, in Wheatland, Monroe Co., N. V. Mr. Armstrong came to Livingston Co., Mich., and lived there until his death, Sept. 19, 1863. Mrs. Armstrong died Feb. 17, 1872, at Eaton Rapids, Mich.

In 1876, Mr. Rice located on 100 acres on sections 29 and 32, Elba Township, and he has creditably improved 60 acres of this farm. besides erecting a neat farm house, barn and granaries. In 1876, he was elected School Superintendent of his township, and the following year he was elected Supervisor. This latter office he filled continuously until the spring of 1883, except the year 1881. He is a mem- ber of St. John's Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M. l'o- litically, he has always been a Democrat. He is one of the truly representative men of the county, and stands highly with all parties.

raneis J. Corey, farmer on section 2, New- ark Township, was born in Nankin Town- ship, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 18, 1836, and is the son of John D. and Roxie (Fergu- son) Corey, natives of Rhode Island and Ver- mont. They have followed farming, and now reside on section 29, Arcada Township. Francis lived with his parents and worked on their farm until of age, moving with them when 18 years old to Ingham Co., Mich.

Jan. 1, 1858, at Lansing, he was married to Rachel, daughter of George and Eliza (Carter) Brown, natives of New York and of English and

208

GRATIOT COUNTY.

Germain ancestry. The father died in Ingham County in 18644, aged 55. The mother still lives in this county. Rachel was born in Williams Co., Ohio, May 26, 1839, and came to Michigan when 17 years old. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Corey lived in Ingham County until the winter of 1866, when they came to this county and purchased So acres on sec- tion 32, Arcada Township. While living on that place, they improved 44 acres. Selling out Dec. 7. 18:3, they have just become well settled on their new home of jo acres of well-improved land near Ithaca, formerly owned by William Hutchins.

Mr. and Mrs. Corey have a family of four, as fol- lows : Lorada E., born Jan. 21, 1860: Ellsworth D., Aug. 14. 1861; Lorena F., Feb. 3. 1864; and Eliza 1 .. Nov. 3. 1868.

Oct. 28, 1863, he enlisted in Co. 11, 4th Mich. Vol. C'av., and served in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Minty. Ile fought at Kingston, Look- ont Mountain, Stone Mountain and Cottonwood ('reck, and in many skirmishes, such as cavalrymen always meet with. He was in Kilpatrick's raid through Georgia in 1864, and in Wilson's raid from Eastport, Miss., to Macon, Ga., the same year. He was honorably discharged Aug 15, 1865, after 23 months of active service. In civil life, Mr. Corey has been a worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He has been Constable for two terms.

srael W. Hanse, farmer on section 15, Ful- ton Township, is the son of Simon and Sally (Coats) Hause, natives of the State of New York. They resided first in Chemung Co., N. Y., then in Steuben Co., Mich., and in 1853 they removed to Clinton Co., Mich. They came to Gratiot County in March, 1858, and returned to Clinton County in May, 1870. Here he died, June 11, 1877. She survives him, and resides in St. John's. Their family comprised two sons and five daughters.

The subject of this notice, the elder son, was born in Stehen Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1841, and was 12 year- old when his parents removed to Michigan. He received a common-school education, and made his home with his parents until he attained his ma- jority. Ile came to Gratiot County with his parents

and bought 40 acres of partly improved land on section 15, Fulton Township ; and in January follow- ing he settled with his family there. He has built a comfortable residence and barns, and has 30 acres under cultivation.

Dec. 2, 1862, in Fulton Township, he married Miss Harriet A .. daughter of William J. and Saralı A. (Sornberger) Carr, natives of New York. They came to Fulton Township, Gratiot County, in 1860. Mrs. Carr died here May 13, 1863. 3Ir. Carr survives. Their daughter Harriet was born in Madison Co., N. Y., March 31, 1843. She is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Hause is a Republican.

illiam Alpaugh, farmer on section 5, Ful- ton Township, is a son of Philip and Eva Alpaugh, natives of the State of New York. In 1846, they left that State and came to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where they died, he Oct. ro, 1874, and she Dec. 16, 1880. The subject of this sketch was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1830, and received a fair com- mon-school education. At the age of 16 he came with his parents to Michigan.

At the age of 22, he started out to make his own way in life. Ile learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed much of the time until 1882. He came to this county in January, 1865, and bought 40 acres on section 2, North Shade Township. Here he lived about seven years, when he sold and bought 40 acres on section 5, Fulton Township, his present home. He has since added 40 acres, and has about one-half of his farm under cultivation.

Sept. 3, 1862, he married Mary E., daughter of Joseph H. and Margaret (Clement) Salisbury, natives of Montgomery Co., N. Y. Mrs. Alpaugh was born in Pittsford, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1841. This marriage has been blessed with two children : Evie A. and Edwin G. The latter died when two years old. Mr. A. is a member of the Masonic Order, and, with his wife, of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a strong tem- perance man, and takes a deep interest in all temper- ance movements.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATION. R L

Mufickst

Isabel B Sickels

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR 1 TILD) .. A

GRITIOT COUNTY.

211

illiam Sickels, one of the leading business men of Sickels, and representative men of the county, and whose portrait we are pleased to present in this work as a meritorious rep- resentation of one of Gratiot's self-made men, was born in Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 30, 1824, and is a son of John F. Sickels, native of the same State, whose Holland ancestors settled on the Mohawk River over 200 years ago. Mr. Sickels attended the common schools of his native State until he attained the age of 12 years, when, in com- pany with the family, he came to Wayne County, this State, where they arrived in 1836. Here William attended the Northville Academy, assisting on the farm at times until the father's death in 1839, when he assumed control of the farm and successfully cul- tivated it for one year. He then resumed his studies at Northville Academy and completed his education. After the completion of that arduous though pleas- ant task, he went back on the farm and remained until 1849, when he moved to Howell Township, Livingston County, this State, and occupied his time in farming until 1854, then went to what is now Wyandotte, Wayne County, built the first store and dwelling house in the village proper and established the first postoffice there. In 1856 he removed to what is now Elsie, Clinton County, and also estab- lished the first postoffice in that village, and was Deputy Postmaster. He remained at Elsie until 1861, when he removed to St. Johns, same county, and there held the position of Register of Deeds until 1863, and Deputy Register from 1863 to 1865; was also Judge of Probate from 1865 to 1869. From 1869 to 1881 he held a position in the Postoffice Department at Washington, D. C. In May, 1881, Mr. S. resigned his position at Washington and joined his family at Sickels, this county, whither he had removed them in September, 1873.

In 1883 Mr. Sickels built a large steam flouring mill at Sickels and thoroughly equipped it with the best and most modern improved machinery, with boilers 472 x 12 feet and a 40-horse-power engine, which is recognized as one of the best flour-produc- ing mills in the county. His residence is undoubt- edly the finest in Hamilton Township; and, remarka-

ble as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, the structure is composed mostly of native wood which grew on his own farm. The building is supplied with hot and cold water throughout, and is elegantly furnished. The library, of which he is justly proud, required an outlay of over $2,000 in its selection and purchase, and comfort, happiness and plenty sur- round the family hearthstone.

Mr. Sickels was married Nov. 8, 1846, to Isabel B., daughter of Dennis Kingsley (deceased), a native of Vermont, and one of the early pioneers of Wayne County. She was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., March 13, 1828, Four children have been born to their union, viz .: Dennis K., Annie I., Hettie E. and William C.

Dennis is living in Washington, D. C., and was married to Alice M. Ilugely. Annie I. married John H. Winton, of Ithaca, this county. Hattie E. was married to Warren Abbott, who died in 1880, leaving two children to the care of the mother, who lives with them at home. William C. is unmarried and living with the family in their pleasant abode.

The credit of their prosperity, of their happy home and the fine appearance of their large farm of 640 acres, is not all claimed by the father ; each one nobly did his part; and of the mother, for her untir- ing labors, all unite in highest praise. That "the school of adversity graduates the ablest pupils, and the hull of difficulty is one of the strongest ' consti- tutionals ' for strengthening the financial backbore of a struggling family," was, undoubtedly, fully corrob- orated in her energetic labors. She superintended the clearing of the land (Mr. S. being in Washington a great portion of the time attending to his duties in the Postoffice Department), and the building of their fine residence and barn, with the assistance of her daughter Annie as architect, and also the clearing of another farm of 100 acres, which they own; and to her good judgment and fine management their pros- perity in a great measure is indebted. Truly we may say, she is one of those women who are too often ignored and too little appreciated by biograph- ical writers of the day.

Mr. S. owns the store building in Sickels, besides considerable other village property. He was a soldier in the late civil war, enlisting in Co. E, 23d Mich. Vol. Inf .; was appointed First Lieutenant and had command of the company most of the time for about six months, when, contracting typhoid pneumonia, he

212

GRITIOT COUNTY.

was compelled to resign. The Captain of the com- pany was O. L. Spaulding.

In addition to his other business, Mr. S. is at pres- ent devoting considerable time to the propaga- tion of fine stock, and is handling, with good success, a species of the Shorthorn breed of cattle known as the " Rose of Sharon." He has one two-year old from the herd of II. M. Vale, of Independence, Mo., which is considered one of the finest and most celebrated herds in the United States.

Mr. Sickels and his entire family, with the excep- tion of his youngest son, are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Masonic Order and the I. O. O. F.

charles H. Webster, superintendent of Church's mill, and residing on section 7, Emerson Township, was born at Wellington, Lorain Co., Ohio, May 28, 1844, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Magraugh) Webster, natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, respectively, and of Dutch and Irish extraction. The father was by trade a tailor, and died April 2, 1845, before Charles H. was a year old. The latter lived until 12 years of age with his mother and a step-father, whom she married in 1854.

While but a mere boy he responded to his country's call for volunteers, and enlisted Aug. 25, 1861, in Co. II, 2d Ohio Vol. C'av. He served first under Gen. Blunt, then under Gen. Burnsides, and finally under Gen. G. A. Custer. He was engaged in all battles in which his company was involved, among them being the battles of the Wilderness, Peters- burg and Richmond, at the close of the war. He was often detailed for special and important duties, and was made a Corporal towards the close of the war. Being wounded in the knee and thereby dis- abled, June 28, 1864, he was captured the following day at Reams' Station, near Petersburg. He was taken to Libby prison and confined for four weeks in that iniquitous pen. Being then paroled, he found his way to his company and remained with it until he was honorably discharged, Sept. 18, 1865. Ile served four years and 25 days, and his arduous and interesting experiences would fill a volume.

Mr Webster has a copy of the congratulatory order issued by Gen. Custer to his division, on Lee's sur- render.

Returning home he shortly started for Michigan, arriving at Ithaca Oct. 22, 1865. He purchased of the State 200 acres of land in Emerson Township, For about three years longer he was a bachelor, im- proving his farm summers, and in the winters acting as cleik, at first in the dry-goods store of Nelson & Church. and later in Jeffery's store. Dec. 28, 1868, he was married to Marie E. Church, daughter of Lafayette and Sophronia (Benjamin) Church (see sketch), who was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Oct. 9, 1851. She came to this county when three years old, and was here educated, and here lived until her marriage. Some months after that event Mr. and Mrs. Webster moved from Ithaca to section 27, Emer- son Township. They afterwards moved to section 28, and in 1874 they settled on section 7. Here he owns 80 acres, and has the management of Church's ınill.

They have had five children, only two of whom, Addie E. and Albert H., survive. Arthur, Alta and a baby are dead. They are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Webster has been Township Clerk two years; has been chosen Justice of the Peace twice, but did not qualify. Politically he is a stanch Republican.

eorge J. Butcher, cabinet-maker, furniture dealer and undertaker, Elm Hall, was born near Norwich, Eng., June 8, 1833, and is of English descent. His father was a gardener, and came to the United States when George was four years old, locating first at Buffalo, N. V. Eight years later they removed to Chippewa, Ont., where Mr. Butcher followed his trade as gardener. Afterwards, removing to Elgin Co., Ont., he secured a tract of 200 acres of wild land.

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 17

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

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