Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 22

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 22

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June 25, 1876, Mr. Chaffin was married to Sarah Barnes, daughter of John Barnes. By this marriage one child has been born, Bessie A. Mrs. C. was born in England, and was brought to America by her parents when young, who settled first in Jackson Co., Mich., and came to Gratiot County in August, 1854, settling in North Star Township. Mrs. Chaffin is also a teacher of many years' experience. She attended the Ypsilanti Normal School, and has taught 22 terms in this county.

Mr. Chaffin's father, John W. Chaffin, now deceased, was a native of Virginia, and was born in 1822; was brought by his parents to Wayne Co., Ohio, when six months old, and in 1854, after a residence in different counties, he settled in North Star Township, and therefore was a pioneer here. He was well known as a dealer in live stock and in furs. He married Clara A. Evitts, daughter of Bela Evitts, and had eight children, six of whom are living : Charles M., Homer W .. Theodore A., Clara L., Perry F. and Edith I ..

Mr. C. died Nov. 10, 1873, a highly respected

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member of the United Brethren Church, a generous and charitable citizen, judiciously distributing of his means for the support of benevolent institutions.

saac D. Crippin, farmer, section 23, Elba 122-2 Township, is a son of Stephen and Lucy (Burns) Crippin, natives of New York. Mr. Crippin's business was lumbering. He died in Illinois, and his wife in Michigan. The subject of this sketch was born in Warren Co .. Pa., Sept. 28, 1822, and has followed the noble occu- pation of farming all his life. In 1838, he came to Branch County, this State, where he lived 18 years. In that county he was married to Martha Havens, the daughter of Thomas and Polly Havens. She died about 1855, leaving one child : Mary J.

He enlisted in Co. 1), First Mich. Light Art., Aug. 10, 1864, and was most of the time of his service stationed at Murfreesboro, Tenn., on fortress duty. He was discharged at Jackson, Aug. 3, 1865. After one year passed in the southern part of Michigan, he came to Gratiot County. In 186;, he was married to Miranda, the fourth daughter of Thos. and Rachel A. Davidson. She was born Feb. 22, 1837. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and were engaged in farming.

Mr. and Mrs. Crippin have two children: Freddie E. and Eva P.

Mr. Crippin is Assessor of his school district, and in politics is a National. He is a member of Elsie Lodge No. 238, F. & A. M., Maple River Lodge No. 76, I. O. O. F., and Major Lusk Post No. 167, G. A. R.

lvin P. Barnaby, deceased, late resident of North Star Township, was born near San- Poor's dusky, Erie Co., Ohio Oct. 17, 1821. He was a son of Alvin P. Barnaby, deceased, who moved his family from Ohio to this State and settled in Cass County in 1825. Here our subject lived and developed into manhood, receiving the advantage afforded by the common schools of the county. His inclination being of a mechanical turn, he early applied himself to learning the carpen-

ter's trade, which he soon accomplished, and followed for the greater portion of his life.

Mr. Barnaby was married Oct. 3, 1853, to Miss Esther, daughter of Daniel Bleacher (deceased), and to their union there were born ten children. nine of whom are living: Mary A., Francis E, Flora .A., Ezra A., Ulysses S., Perry 1., James 11., Bertha M. and Daniel V.

Mr. B. enlisted in the late civil war in Co. M, Ist Mich. Cav., and was stricken with disease a few days previous to the battle of the Wilderness and did not convalesce until after the war. Mr. B. and his family came to this county in 1869, and on March 13, 1881, the father died, leaving the mother and her nine children and a host of friends and relatives to mourn his loss.

eorge W. Zimmerman, farmer and stock- raiser, section 25, Arcada Township, was in Lower France, Dec. 16, 1831, and is the son of Michael and Catharine Zimmerman, natives of France and of German ancestry. Michael followed farming, and died in France, at an unknown date. His wife came to the Great Republic in 1847, and is still living, well and strong, at the age of 77, in Jackson County, this State.

When 14 years old, the subject of this sketch set out to learn the harness-maker's trade, being appren- ticed near home. After working at this 18 weeks, he came with his mother and relatives to this country, landing at New York. He then went to Philadelphia, and afterwards to Syracuse, N. Y., where he remained two years. He was apprenticed here to a blacksmith, and worked with him until the latter failed. Going to his mother in Buffalo, he lived there with her until she was married, when they all went to live on a farm in the vicinity of Buffalo. Three years later he came to Jackson Co., Mich. Returning to New York after one year, he was united in marriage, in Erie County, Nov. 15, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of Martin and and Magdalena Marcolf, natives of France and of German descent. The former followed farming, and died in Erie County, Oct. 15, 1882, aged 76. The latter is still living in the same county, at the age of 70. Elizabeth was born Jan. 27, 1836, at Weisen- burg, in that part of France now possessed by

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Prussia, and when a year and a half old was brought by her parents to America. They settled in Erie Co., . N. V, where she lived until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman came to this State and located near Brooklyn, Jackson County. July 31, 1862, he enlisted in Co. F, 20th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Warner, and served in the Army of the Potomac. lle fought in 16 engagements. He was made a Corporal in 1863, and a Sergeant in 1864, which latter rank he held till the close of the war. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., by a gunshot in the right limb near the ankle. Otherwise he escaped unhurt. He was often honored with special duty, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. Re- turning to his home in Jackson County, he shortly after removed to this county, locating on a farm of 160 acres, heavily timbered, in Hamilton Township. After improving 35 acres, he sold, and in August, 1879, he settled on 160 acres of improved land, a mile and a half from Ithaca, in Arcada Township. He has since sold 80 acres to his eldest son, William H., who is married and lives on that tract. He has a fine orchard of 12 acres, mostly in apples.

Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are the parents of seven children, one dead : William H., born March 15, 1855, Barbara M., Oct. 16, 1856, Lena M., July 22, 1858, David W., May 10, 1866, Emma E., Aug. 27, 1868, James Walter, April 21, 1873, George B., born Aug. 13, 1861, and died May 21, 1880.

Mr. Zimmerman is in politics a Republican. He has held the offices of Township Treasurer, and Overseer of Highways. He is a Protestant, and his wife a Mennonite.

Irich Wermuth, farmer and stock-raiser, section 24, New Haven Township, was born in district of Berne, Switzerland, Aug. 10, 1815, and was reared on a small farm and educated in the public school among the mountain fastnesses of his native country. When 15 years ofl his father died; and as he was the eldest of the orphaned children, much care de- volved upon his immature years. By economy and perseverance they accumulated sufficient means to bring them over to the " land of opportunity," in the spring of 1851. when they located in Fulton Co.,

Ohio. Three years later Mr. W. came and " located " 40 acres of land on the section where he now re- sides. Subsequently he purchased 80 acres more, and of the total 120 acres he has improved 90, re- ducing it to a good state of cultivation and placing thereon good farm buildings, etc. He is an enter- prising and prosperous farmer. In politics he is a member of the Democratic party, and he has held the school offices of his district for 12 years.

In June, 1862, Mr. W. married, in Newark Town- ship, this county, Miss Mary Willet, a German lady who was born in Tellen, Germany, Jan. 22, 1843, and came to this country in 1869, settling with her parents in St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich .; two years later she came to Newark Township, this county.

The four children in this family are : Adolphus, born May 21, 1865 ; Ellen, May 11, 1868; Frank, April 25, 1872; and Charles, May 15, 1876.

saac N. Coleman, farmer, sec. 30, Emerson Township, was born in Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1832 ; and is the son of Isaac and Emma (Piper) Coleman, natives of Germany and New England, respectively. The father was by trade a mechanic, and used tools nearly all his life. Isaac, junior, spent his boyhood days, until he was 12 years of age, in Dayton, when his parents removed to Seneca County and located on a farm in the vi- cinity of Tiffin. Here he learned the art of arts, farming, and he has followed that continuously until the present time. January, 1853, he removed to Michigan and located in Lenawee County.

Sept. 8, 1853, he was united in marriage, in Litch- field, Hillsdale County, to Louisa J., daughter of David and Louisa (Ketch) Moon, natives of New England. She was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Nov. 8, 1836; and, her mother dying shortly afterwards, she was adopted by George Perry. She lived with him (he died in 1846) and his wife until her mar- riage. She had lost all track of her father, and she was 25 years old when, by an accident, she first learned something of her relatives, and found that she was one of a large family of children.

In the spring of 1855 Mr. and Mrs. Coleman came to Gratiot County and settled in Emerson Township. He was one of the organizers of the township. At

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that time there were but few families to assist in sub- stituting civilization for the unbroken forest which surrounded them for miles in every direction. Mr. Coleman assisted once in a very romantic and exciting bear hunt, and the party succeeded in despatching a bear that weighed nearly 500 pounds.

July 31, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D), 26th Mich. Vol. Inf., commanded by Lafayette Church, of this county, and joined the Army of the Potomac. Owing to physical disability brought on by sunstroke and rheumatism, he became permanently crippled, and was honorably discharged March 25, 1865. He had been promoted as Corporal, and had the credit of capturing a fierce rebel by his own efforts.

Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have had seven children, six of whom are living: George J., born Sept. 22, 1854 ; Charlie W., Dec. 9, 1858; Ozro E., Oct. 5, 1861 ; Sadie E., Dec. 27, 1866; Frank A., July 25, 1869; Ray N., Jan. 31, 1877; Earl, born Sept. 22, 1879, and died July 1, 1883. They are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist society. Mr. Coleman is an energetic and popular man, and has held vari- ous local offices. He was the first Justice of the Peace of the township, was Supervisor five years and Treasurer ten years. He has also been Township Clerk, and is now School District Assessor. Politi- cally he has always been identified with the Repub- lican party.

ohn Brauher, general farmer, section 24, New Haven Township, was born in Berne, Switzerland, Nov. 9, 1846, of Swiss and German descent. When two years of age his father died and he went to live with his grand- mother, and when eight years of age they emigrated to America and went to reside with his mother in Fulton Co., Ohio, who had previously re- married and settled there.

Mr. Brauher received a good common-school edu- cation, and at the age of 14 he accompanied his mother and step-father to this county, locating in Newark Township. They subsequently removed to New Haven Township, where the subject of this sketch lived until his marriage, in Montcalm County, to Miss Maggie, daughter of William A. and Nancy (Stuller) Miller, natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio and of English, Irish and German descent.

Mrs. B. was born in Hancock Co., Ohio, Dec. 17. 1856; when nine years old she came with her parents to Montcalm County, Mich., where she lived until her marriage, soon after which she settled with her husband on So acres where they now reside. Mr. B. purchased this tract in 1867, when it was nearly all covered with heavy timber; but he has since cleared and improved 50 acres of it, subduing it to the plow in a fine tillable condition. His prosperity as a farmer is manifest. In regard to national is- stes Mr. B. is a Democrat.

The living children in this family are Francis, Rosetta, William and Byron A. The deceased is Calvin.

enry A. Shaw, farmer section 11, Washing .. ton Township, is a son of Alvin and Jane (Fuller) Shaw, natives of Connecticut and New York. Alvin Shaw has followed farming all his life, and he and his wife still reside in Wales, Erie Co., N. Y. Their son, Henry, was born July 1, 1836, in Java, Wyoming Co., N. Y. He lived with his parents, working and attending district school, until 20 years old, when he commenced working by the month, also attending school a portion of the time. He then bought a farm and commenced farming on his own account.

June 27, 1858, in Wyoming Co., N. Y., he was united in marriage to Louisa, youngest daughter of Spencer and Mary (Trickey) Bryant, natives of Ver- mont and Canada. They moved to New York, in which State they died, Mrs. Bryant, Oct. 16, 1875, and Mr. Bryant, April 27, 1877. In 1861, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw came to Clinton County, this State, and lived 20 months in Greenbush Township. Return- ing to New York State, they lived there for nearly three years. Coming to Gratiot County they pur- chased 80 acres of wild land on section 1 1, Washing- ton Township. Mr. Shaw has now 65 acres im- proved. Ever since coming to the county he has been, to some extent, interested in bee culture, and since 1880 he has built up a wide reputation in that business. He has a fine apiary of his own, and, being looked upon as an expert, he is called upon by people from eight to ten miles away to attend to their apiaries. During 18 years he has taken 196 swarms out of the woods.

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Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have had six children, one of whom is dead, and two are married. These latter are: Mrs. Winfield Strouse and Mrs. Herman Hoffer. The three residing at home are : Grant, Archie and Bertie. Esther died Sept. 7, 1876. Mr. Shaw is po- litically a zealous Republican. He has been Justice of the Peace for eight years, and has also been School Inspector of his township. He and wife are mem- bers of the U. B Church.

3 rs. Laverna R. (Conger) Wolford, resid- ing on the southwest quarter of section 22, New Haven Township, is the wife of David Wolford, deceased, who was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., Jan. 5, 1812.

Mr. Wolford was brought up under the care of fond and loving parents, and remained under the parental roof-tree until he attained the age of 23 years. He then set forth upon " the ship of trouble " to fight the battles of adversity which so often are encountered by the ambitious and energetic young men in their journey to prosperity. He left his na- tive county and went to Cayuga County, same State, and was there united in marriage to the subject of our sketch, Dec. 7, 1835.

Mr. and Mrs. W. remained in that county for 15 years, when they moved to Huntington Co., Ind. They remained in the latter county some two years and then returned to New York. Two years after- ward they came to this State and located on 160 acres of land on section 22, New Haven Township, arriving here and settling on the land in 1859. At that time the land was in a wild state of nature, and Mr. W. experienced the trials and overcame the ob- stacles so abundantly met with in the lives of the early pioneers. He was a mason by occupation, and always followed that vocation until he came to this State, when he entered on the arduous though pleas- ant task of clearing his land and preparing a home for his family, and prior to his death had cleared and improved 40 acres. He died Nov. 10, 1866, leaving a wife and five children, besides many warm-hearted and affectionate friends to mourn his loss. Ile went out to work one Saturday morning, and did not re- turn. He was found Sunday noon, and the physi-

cians pronounced his death to be caused by heart ‹lisease.

Mr. W. was warmly esteemed as a father, friend and neighbor. He was honored with positions of trust, and at the date of his death held the office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. W. was a member of the M. E. Church, also of the I. O. O. F., and in politi- cal belief and opinion was a staunch and active Re- publican.

Laverna R. was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 12, 1816, and was reared and educated under the care of her parents, with whom she remained until she was married. Her parents were of German ex- traction, and lived and died in the State of New York.

Mrs. Wolford retains the original 120-acre home- stead in her own name, and is still residing on the same.

The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. are as follows : Margaret and Job C., both married ; Lucre- tia, Lewis B. and John W. Lucretia and John W. are living with their mother on the farm which the latter cultivates.

Mrs. W. is a member of the M. E. Church. She is in her 66th year, and enjoying fair health.

orton Smith, farmer, section 20, Washington Township, is a son of Parmer and Betsy (Pullman) Smith, natives of the State of New York. Mr. Smith was by trade a cooper. He came to Michigan, but remained only a short time, and then returned to New York State. He died Dec. 3, 1843. Betsy (Pullman) Smith is now a resident of St. Louis, Mich.

The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 18, 1826, in the State of New York. Losing his father when 14 years old he was the main support of the family, including four girls, until he was 30 years old. March 4, 1856, he married Adeline, daughter of Erastus and Julia A. (Coon) Berry, natives of New York. They came to Branch Co., Mich., but after one year re- turned to New York State, where Mrs. Berry died in 1851, and Mr. Berry in 1859. Dec. 31, 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Smith came to Gratiot County and located on 7916 acres on section 20, Washington Township. This was then wild land, and they were among the

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first settlers of the township. Most of their early neighbors are long since dead. At first they located a half mile from any house, but new dwellings have sprung up within a stone's throw of the house. He had to cut a road to his place, and for many years deer could be seen running with his cattle, when he went to bring them home.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six children: Fred E. and Fanny E. (twins), born in 1857; Frank, born in 1862; Emma, born in 1860; William II., born in 1866; and Clara A., born in 1875. Mrs. Smith is a member of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Smith has been Justice of the Peace, Treasurer and Clerk of his township, one term each, and has held school offices a number of times. Politically he is a Republican.

ohn Sweet, farmer, section 29, Emerson Township, was born in Sparta, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1825, and is the son of Amos and Polly (Blighton) Sweet, natives of New England. John was early left an orphan, his father dying when he was very young, and his mother fol- lowing her husband when the lad was but 12 years old. At this tender age he was left alone to battle with the world, and he went to work for an old friend of his father, in Medina Co., Ohio, where his mother had moved with some friends previous to her death.

In 1845, he was married, in Medina County, to Narina N. White, born in the State of Vermont, July 2, 1827. She died in Spencer, Medina County, in March, 1864, leaving four children,-Lucius B, Lucia A., Isaac and Sophronia E. He was again married in July, 1864, to Mrs. Sophronia Snyder (nee White), daughter of William and Polly (Curtis) White, natives of New Hampshire, and descended from New England stock. She was born in Chitten- den Co., Vt , Nov. 7, 1826, and at the age of 19 came to Medina Co., Ohio, where she was married the sec- ond time. She had four children by her first mar- riage, two living: Emma E., born Oct. 19, 1843; George N., born July 8, 1845. Hester A. was born Sept. 8, 1841, and died March 15, 1863; Florence I. died Feb. 15, 1858.

Mr. Sweet is a minister in the Baptist Church, be- ginning early in life, and has always been an earnest worker for that denomination. His wife is also a

member of the Church. He has held the office of Overseer, and is a supporter of the Republican party. He has been a resident of this county for 13 years, and has 60 acres of improved land.

illiam J. Fitzgerald, farmer, section 26, Elba Township, is a son of John and Mary (Berry) Fitzgerald, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to New York in an early day, and engaged in farming. Their son, William J., came to Michigan in 1871. For six years he was engaged with a Mr. Hays, of Ionia County, in the summer as overseer of a large farm, and in the winter as foreman of a crew of hands in the pine woods. In 1881 he came to Elba Town ship and located on 80 acres on section 26, of which 40 acres are nicely improved.

In 1870 he was united in marriage to Emily, fourth daughter of Oliver and Julia (Miller) Richards, na- tives of New York. She was born Feb. 4, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald are the parents of three children : Anna M., Emma B. (deceased), and Will- iam F. Mr. Fitzgerald enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was chosen High- way Commissioner for Elba Township in 1883. Po- litically he is a Republican.

ohn A. Pasinger, farmer, section 24, New Haven Township, was born in Lawrence Co., N. Y., April 1, 1825. His parents were of Dutch descent and lived and died in the State of their son's nativity. The occupation of the father was that of a mechanic, which vocation the son followed in after years.

Our subject remained under the parental roof-tree assisting his father until he attained the age of 13, when he began to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, under the instruction of his father, and worked with him at the trade until 18 years of age. He then set out to battle with the trials of life alone, and followed his trade, which he had completed, en- gaging a portion of his time in a saw-mill and lum- ber interests in Ontario, in the vicinity of the Ottawa River.

Returning to his native county, he engaged in vari

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ous occupations for a period of four years, when he was married in that county, June 17, 1849, to Miss Lucy A. North, a native of the same county as Mr. Pasinger, where she was born June 16, 1829, and where she lived with her grandparents until her marriage.

Six children have been born to their marriage, four of whom, Henry W., Eugene C., Hannah M. and Anna L., are living, and two, Franklin and Orson, are deceased.

After their marriage in New York, Mr. P. followed his trade for some 18 years, also being engaged in the lumber business. In 1865 he came to this State and purchased So acres of wild land in Clinton County. He made some improvement on this land and returned to New York. In 1873 he returned to his land in Clinton County, and made a permanent settlement. He added 80 acres to his original pur- chase and then sold 40 acres, leaving him 120 acres. Of this, he improved 70 acres, erected a house and in 1881 sold the entire tract preparatory to going West to start a new home. Before moving his fam- ily, he changed his mind, and came to this county and purchased 140 acres of land on section 24, for- merly owned by a Mr. Shepherd. His farm has a large orchard, which is in fine bearing condition.

Mr. Pasinger has held the office of Highway Com- missioner and is identified with the best interests of the township. Politically, he is a staunch Democrat.

aniel F. Muscott, retired farmer, on section 12, Emerson Township, was born in Western, Oneida Co., N. Y., March 19, ISI. In this town Gen. Halleck was born, and Gen. Floyd, of the Revolution, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is buried in the same township. Daniel's father, Nehemiah Muscott, was a native of New Jersey, of Hollander parentage, and was by trade a tanner. A portion of his life, however, was spent on the seas. The mother of Daniel, Hannah (Felton) Muscott, was a native of New York, and of Puritan stock. Both died in Washtenaw Co., Mich., at the age of 67.

The subject of this sketch attended district school and worked for his father until he was 21, when he

began to clear a farm for himself in his native county. He was thus engaged for five years, but during this time, in Rome, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1832, he formed a life partnership with Sobrina Walsworth. She was born in Rome, June 28, 1811, and was the daughter of Asa and Hannah (Dickerson) Walsworth, natives of Rome. A few years after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Muscott went to Sherman Township, Huron Co., Ohio, where they lived until 1854. Then they came to Michigan and lived ten years in Ingham County. In February, 1864, they came to Gratiot County and purchased 160 acres in Emerson Township, shortly after buying So acres more. He now has one of the finest farms in the county, 240 acres in extent, 130 of which are excellently improved. He has also a commodious dwelling and other farm buildings. And now, as his active and eventful life is drawing to a close, he and his wife, both 73 years old, pass the time in quiet enjoyment of the fruits of their labor, and in reading.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 22

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

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