USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 28
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B enjamin Burton, farmer, section 25, Ar- cada Township, was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Feb 27, 1853, and is the son of David and Sarah (Dewell) Burton, natives of Ohio. David Burton is a farmer by occu- pation, and resides in Pine Piver Township two miles from Alma. Until of age, Benjamin lived on his father's farm in Crawford Co., Ohio, and at- tended the common schools, receiving a very fair ed- ucation. In the spring of 1874, he went with his father to Wyandot County, same State, and en- gaged in farming. He also did an extensive thresh- ing business. Two years later, they removed to Seneca County, and located on a beautiful farm in Eden Township, where our subject remained till marriage.
Dec. 30, 1878, in Springfield Township, Jefferson Co., Ohio, he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Sarah E., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rob- ertson) Blythe, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of Irish extraction. John Blythe was a farmer, and died in Jefferson Co., Ohio, July 2, 1873, at the age of 72 ; his wife died in the same county, May 10, 1850, aged 42. Sarah E. Blythe was born in Springfield Township, Jefferson County, April 30, 1848. When three years old, her mother died, leav- ing her the youngest of three children. Her father married again. She obtained a good education in the schools of her county, and cared for her father's household until his death. Five years later, she was married. For a little more than two years, Mr. and Mrs. Burton resided in Seneca County, on their farm of 60 acres. He then sold, and came to Michigan,
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locating on 120 acres in Arcada Township. The farm is nicely located, and 107 acres are well im- proved. It has one of the finest orchards in the county.
They have a family of two daughters: Ada M., born Aug. 7, 1880; and Hattie E., born May 28, 1882. Mr. Burton has made many friends during his short residence in this county. Politically he is an ardent Republican.
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.... eorge Chandler, farmer, on section 28, Pine River Township, is a son of Charles and Alcinda (Fletcher) Chandler ; the for- mer born in Pomfret, Conn., Dec. 2, 1780, and the latter born in Windsor, Conn., in 1784. They had a family of nine, three sons and six daughters. George, the second son, was born in Pennsylvania, April 16, 1816. He received a com- mon-school education, and also acquired much valu- able knowledge by private reading. At the age of 21, he learned the trade of millwright, which occupa- tion he followed for over 20 years. He had charge of building the first grist-mill in Gratiot County, at Alma. It was afterwards destroyed by fire.
Previous to that, in 1852, he went by steamer to California, and for four years was most of the time engaged in mining. Returning to the Mississippi valley, he came in the summer of 1856 to Gratiot County, of which he has been one of the pioneers. He bought 160 acres of wild land on section 4, Ar- cada Township, improved the same, and after 16 years' residence sold out for the handsome sum of $5,000. He then purchased 80 acres on section 28, Pine River Township, where he now resides, having 60 acres nicely under cultivation.
Sept. 24, 1845, at Jamestown, N. Y., he was mar- ried to Nancy Woodin, a native of Pennsylvania. This union was blessed with three children,-Martha, Jeremiah B. and Charles S. The first and last named are deceased. March 19, 1877, at St. Louis, he was again married, to Mrs. Eunice (Van Burren) Hubbell, widow of Dennis A. Hubbell, who was killed on Morris Island, S. C., in the late war. Mr. Chandler has been for six years Highway Commis- sioner, five years Township Treasurer, one year Super- visor, and three years Justice of the Peace, in Arcada Township. He is now Justice of the Peace in Pine
River. He has also held numerous school offices. He is in every sense a representative citizen. In political sentiment, he is a "through and through " Repub- lican.
enry J. Bentley, farmer, section 29, Newark Township, was born July 8, 1842, in Canada. His parents, Wilson and Miriam (Jackson) Bentley, were also natives of the Dominion, where they passed the entire period of their lives.
Mr. Bentley came to Michigan when he was 22 years of age, and first settled in Clinton County, where he passed five years, engaged in the manu- facture of wooden bowls. In the spring of 1869 he bought So acres of land in a primeval condition, where he has since resided. He has cleared and im- proved about 60 acres, and has recently added 40 acres by purchase, 30 acres being improved. In political faith and action, Mr. Bentley assimilates with the Democratic party, and has been School Director in District No. 6, Newark Township, six years.
He was married in St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mich., Sept. 2, 1864, to Deborah E., daughter of Asa W. and Rhoda (Day) Ellsworth. The parents were natives of Canada, where Mrs. Bentley was born, April 16, 1842. The four children belonging to the household were born as follows: Oscar L., March 10. 1866 ; Melvina E., April 6, 1869 ; Charles A., July 3, 1876, and William J., April 8, 1880.
illiam O. Johnson, farmer, section 33, Pine River Township, is a son of Otis and Sarah C. (Plumstead) Johnson. Otis Johnson was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were en route from Ireland to the great republic. Sarah Plumstead was a na- tive of New York. William O. Johnson was the sixth son of a family of 14, seven sons and seven daughters. He was born in Ohio, but came with his parents when quite young to Michigan, settling in Oakland County. His father, with two of the sons, Robert and James, served through the Mexican war
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and some time after returning, moved to Ionia County, where he resided until his death.
While living in lonia County and attending the common school, the subject of this biography " took French leave " of home and started out to make his own way in life. He went to Oakland County, and hired out to a farmer for 40 days at 1212 cents per day. The five dollars thus earned, he immediately put at interest. Ife afterwards worked for six dol- lars per month, and next was employed in a hotel at $13 per month. In the spring of 1854, he came to Gratiot County, and the following fall he deposited the money for 160 acres of wild land on section 33, Pine River Township. He at once sold 80 of this for $25 more than it cost him; and the remaining So is his present farm. He built a log house and while living alone chopped the wood and timber from 35 acres. After living on the place nine months, he went to Missouri, where he was variously employed for three or four years before returning to his farm.
He was in the meantime married to Mary R., daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hale, natives of North Carolina. She was born in Cape Girardeau Co., Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had two chil - dren : Emma L, born March 4, 1862 ; Alonzo P. (deceased), born May 20, 1865, and died Dec. 24, 1866. Mr. J. lived in his first log house two or three years, and then erected his present dwelling. His 80 acres are now all underdrained and in cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and in polit- ical sentiment is a Democrat.
ylvester Wheeler. farmer, section 13, New- ark Township, was born April 1, 1816, in Swanton, Vt. His parents, Jesse Wheeler, Jr., and Sally (Morgan) Wheeler, were also born in the Green Mountain State, and, when the son was but three years old, removed to Onondaga Co., N. Y. Later on, they removed to Batavia, N. Y., and after a stay there of two years they went to Oswego County in that State, where the father bought and improved a farm, and resided thereon nearly 40 years.
On reaching his majority, Mr. Wheeler commenced his life's contest single-handed. In 1852 he went to Kane Co., Ill., and a little more than a year later he
came to Michigan. After a brief residence in Ingham County, he came, in the winter of 1854, to Gratiot County, where he bought 120 acres of land under the Graduation Act. He subsequently bought 40 acres additional, and later disposed of 80 acres by sale. He holds 80 acres at present, with 65 acres in a finely advanced state of cultivation. Mr. Wheeler endorses and supports the principles and issues of the Republican party, and has been active in the school interests of his township.
He was married March 31, 1837, in Oswego Co., N. Y., to Hannah, daughter of William G. and Lavinia (Bristol) Peck. She was born Jan. 10, 1817, in Oswego County, and has become the mother of nine children, all but one of whom still survive. They are named Amanda J., William H., Edmund J., Almira M., Jesse C., Lavinia C., John W., George W. and Eliza A. Jesse C., the fifth child, died when he was 26 years of age.
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ovell J. Fuller, farmer, section 9, Newark Township, was born April 16, 1827. His parents, Calvin and Bethana Fuller, were natives of Vermont and New York respect- ively, and their family included three sons and three daughters.
Mr. Fuller was the second son, and passed the years of his boyhood, previous to the age of 18, in obtaining his education. His parents removed to Ohio when he was five years old, and the Buckeye State was his home until 1872. In 1845 he began to " do for himself," and spent some time as a woods. man, after which he became a carpenter, and followed that business for 12 years. In March, 1872, he set- tled in Ionia Co., Mich., and there resided two and one-half years. In the same year he bought 200 acres of land in Newark Township, this county, whither he removed his family in 1875. His farm now comprises 160 acres, cleared and cultivated. Mr. Fuller belongs to the National Greenback party, and in the spring of 1883 was elected Supervisor, which post he resigned a short time after his election.
He was first married in 1848, in Medina Co., Ohio, to Elizabeth Inhan, a native of the Buckeye State. Three children were born to them. Julia, born in
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1852, is the only survivor. Amelia and Samuel are deceased. The wife and mother died in 1854. Mr. Fuller was a second time married May 8, 1856, to Mary Coolman, who was born in Ohio, June 8, 1838. Of their ten children but two survive. Eva'M., born Jan. 28, 1867, and Varo C., born July 16, 1869, are living. The following is the record of the dead : Lovell D., born Jan. 25, 1857, died Feb. 21, 1862; Clara E., born June 10, 1859, died Feb. 3, 1862 ; Joseph E., born Dec. 12, 1862, died April 23, 1864 ; Cora V., born March 27, 1865. died Sept. 19, 1866; Gracie B., born May 27. 1871, died Sept. 23. 1871 ; Ionia D., born May 5, 187 3, died in September, 1873; Lilly D., born Sept. 25, 1876, died Feb. 6, 1877 ; Myrtie A., born Jan. 20, 1878, died Feb. 15, 1878. Aug. 28, 1878, the mother crossed the river to the land of eternal life, where her eight sons and daugh- ters awaited her coming. Mr. Fuller was a third time married April 3. 1879, to Harriet E. Hayes, who was born Aug. 8, 1833, in the State of Vermont.
heron A. Johnson, farmer, section 29, Pine River Township, is a son of Matthew and and Mary (Robinson) Johnson, natives of Nova Scotia. They first settled, after mar- riage, in New Brunswick, afterward removing to Canada. In 1862, they came to this State and county, and settled in Pine River Township, where they now reside. Their family comprised seven children : Matilda, Sarah, Theron A., Bradley, Amanda, Mary and Lydia. Theron A., Bradley and Mary are yet living.
The subject of this biographical narrative, the oldest son of the family, was born in New Brunswick, April 12, 1834. At the age of 14, he came with his parents to Canada, and at 18 he engaged in carriage smithing. This occupation he followed for six years, and then went to Winneshiek Co., Iowa, where he worked at blacksmithing for four years. In June, 1862, he came to Gratiot County, and followed the same business at Aln.a, for three years.
In 1865, he was appointed Postmaster at Alma under President Johnson. After one year, on ac- count of ill health, he resigned, and bought 160 acres of wild land in Pine River Township, where he now
resides In the summer of 1883, he erected a large and commodious residence. He now has 100 acres of his farm under cultivation, and his surroundings all betoken thrift and industry.
July 23, 1856, at Bradford, Ont., he formed a life partnership with Miss Julia, daughter of David and Phoebe Lloyd, natives of Canada. Mr. Lloyd was killed in the Canadian rebellion. Mrs. Lloyd came with her daughter to Michigan, and died March 28, 1866. The daughter, Julia, was born in Canada, March 25. 1837 .
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a family of eight chil- dren, born in the following order : Sarah A., June 13. 1857; Lily, May 29, 1859; Charles D., June 4, 1861 ; Ella, July 31, 1865; Alice, Nov. 9, 1868 ; Theron L., July 29, 1873; D'Arcy Lloyd, Dec. 31, 1875 ; and Ethel, April 25, 1878. Mr. Johnson is a prominent man, and has filled numerous offices of trust and honor, showing both his ability and his popularity. He was Supervisor from Arcada Township in 1864-5, and was Chairman of the Board. In 18Sr, he was the National candidate for State Senator, and was defeated by Hon. Giles T. Brown. the Republican nominee. He was editor of the Gratiot Journal most of the time from 1868 to 1872. In 1877, he was chosen Secretary of the Fariners' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which office he has since filled. Politically, he is now a zealous and influential mem- ber of the National Greenback party.
The portrait of Mr. Johnson is presented on page 292, and is that of a prominent and representative citizen and agriculturist of Gratiot County.
rank Smith, deceased, was a farmer on section 24, New Haven Township. He was born in Prussia, Sept. 27, 1820. He worked as a common laborer in his native country until 185.3, when he emigrated to the land of freedom and prosperity, settling first in Ohio and a year later on an 80-acre tract in this county, where he lived the remainder of his days. This country was then perfectly wild. Here he cleared and put in good arable condition 25 acres ; was industrious, honest and prosperous, and a high- minded, consistent Catholic. His death-which was from dropsy-occurred Dec, 10, 1864, just after hav-
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ing been drafted for army service. Having gone, on this military duty, as far as Flint, where the doctors pronounced him unfit for a soldier's life, he return- ed home, and in four weeks he was dead! He had been a soldier in the Prussian army for five years, a portion of that time an officer of rank.
Mr. Smith was married, in Newark Township, this county, May 1, 1855, to Miss Mary Wermuth, who was born in Baden, Switzerland, in March, 1833. When 17 years of age she came with her parents to this country, settling first in Fulton Co., Ohio, and afterward in Newark Township, this county, where she lived until marriage.
July 27, 1865, she married George P. Steadman, her present husband, who was born in New York State, Oct. 2, 1826, and emigrated to this State in 1842. He was a soldier in the last war, and, being shot in the left leg, at the second battle of Bull Run, he was incurably wounded. He, with his wife, spent the years 1879-81 in the gold regions of California. In politics Mr. S. is a Democrat, and he has held the office of School Moderator for nine years.
Mrs. S. is a noble woman, and is recognized as such by her neighbors. Her children by her first husband are : Caroline, born Aug. 30, 1851 ; Fred, born April 23, 1859; and Louis B., born Dec. 23, 1861, and died Dec. 8, 1864. By her present hus- band : Adaline, born Nov. 29, 1867 ; and Edgar, born April 21, 1871, and died Dec. 19, 1873.
ames S. Lance, farmer on section 1 r, Ful- ton Township, is a son of James and Mary (Johnson) Lance, natives of New Jersey and Ohio. They settled in Wayne Co., Ohio, where they lived all their lives. James was born in that county Sept. 30, 1837. He re- ceived a limited education, and was about 19 when he left home to make his own way in life. For five years he worked on farms for others; and then he bought a farm in his native county. After a short time he sold out and bought a farm in Medina Co., Ohio. Soon he sold again, and returned to Wayne County.
In November, 1865, he came to Gratiot County and bought 80 acres, partly improved, on section II, Fulton Township. Here he has been content to
stay. He has since added 40 acres, and now has 65 acres cleared. Dec. 12, 1861, in Milton, Wayne Co., Ohio, he was married to Amanda M., daughter of William and Clara (Lee) Lance, natives of New Jersey and Ohio. She was born also in Wayne Co., Ohio, Feb. 27, 1643.
Mr. and Mrs. L have had six children : Ada F., born Oct. 23, 1863; Edward E., Jan. 17, 1866; Clara A., Jan. 11, 1868; Alfred S., July 30, 1871 ; Dewey W., Oct. 31, 1877 ; and one which died in in- fancy. Politically, Mr. Lance votes the Democratic ticket.
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lbert Smith, farmer, section 20, Emerson Township, was born in Baden, Germany, March 22, 1842, and is a son of Ignatius and Catharine (Kline) Smith, natives of Germany. At the age of eight years he came with his parents to the United States, and settled in Seneca Co., Ohio. His father died in Michigan in 1874, and his mother resides in Sumner Township. this county. When 15 years old he left home to learn the cabinet-makers' trade, with an uncle. Leaving him he spent one year on a farm, and then enlisted in Co. A, 49th Ohio Inf., under a Capt. Lang- worthy. He joined the 4th Corps of the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Stone River, and in numerous lesser engagements. At Stone River he was taken prisoner and detained about two weeks. He was then paroled, went to Columbus, Ohio, was taken sick and went home on furlough. On regaining his health he engaged in the lumber business in this State, following that until 1869.
Nov. 4, of that year, he was married, at Alma, Gratiot County, to Josephine, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Burgess) Griffeth, natives of the State of New York. She was born in Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 8, 1852, and when she was two years old her parents removed to St. Louis, this county. They afterwards settled in Emerson Township, where she lived until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Smith settled on a farm of 80 acres in 1869, which he had purchased in 1865, and he has now 140 acres, of which 60 are well im- proved. They are the parents of three living children, and one dead : Lewis, born Feb. 6, 1872; Bert A.,
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born Feb. 10, 1879; Emma, born June 23, 1880 ; James, born May 14, 1877, and died May 17, 1877. Mrs. Smith is connected with the Baptist Church. Mr. Smith is a member of Emerson Lodge, No. 375, I. O. O. F. He has held the office of Highway Con- missioner, and votes with the Democratic party.
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imeon Gray, deceased, late resident of sec- tion 11, Fulton Township, was a son of Semy Gray, and was born in New York State, in January, 1825. He came with his parents to Oakland Co., Mich., when quite young, and lived in that county until the spring of 1854. He then came to Gratiot County, and bought 80 acres in Fulton Township. He afterwards sold that place, and purchased 60 acres on section II, where he resided until his death, in October, 1 874.
Feb. 23, 1852, in Oakland County, he married Miss Susan, daughter of John C. and Amelia Grace, natives of Massachusetts and Maine respectively. She was born in Oakland County, March 4, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Gray had nine children, six of whom survive : John H., Edna, Rachel, Wallace, Guy and Pearl A. The deceased are Capitola, Norma and Freddie. Mr. Gray was Highway Commissioner one term, and in politics was a Republican.
illiam A. Krom, farmer, section 26, Elba Township, is a son of Andrew and Huldah (Skinner) Krom, natives of Orange Co., N. Y. The father was by occupation a black- smith. He came to Michigan and settled in Kalamazoo County in 1849. Mrs. Krom died in 1858. The son, William A., came to Elba Township in 1867, and engaged in farming and speculating in land. He now owns an excellent farm on sections 23, 24 and 25, 160 acres in extent. His lumber business, which he has carried on for 17 years past, is very extensive.
In 1868 he was united in the bonds of matrimony to Hattie Oberlin, daughter of Allen and Esther Oberlin, natives of Pennsylvania and Germany re- spectively. Two children resulted from this union :
Julia A., born Dec. 2, 1870, and Mary, born April 26, 1876. Mr. Krom had the sad misfortune to lose his wife Dec. 11, 1883.
He has held the confidence and good will of his neighbors ever since he began his residence in this county, and has been honored with a number of local offices. He has been State Road Commissioner for a number of years, and Township Treasurer for the last nine years. When he entered upon the duties of the latter office, he found the financial con- dition of the township very unsatisfactory, but he has now greatly improved the condition and management of the treasury. Politically, he is a "true blue " Republican. He is a member of Elsie Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M.
eorge Noll, farmer and mechanic, section 31, New Haven Township, is a son of William and Betsy (Hart) Noll; the for- mer, of German ancestry, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he lived until his death, at the age of 56. His wife, a native of Ire- land, died in Pennsylvania.
Mr. George Noll, the subject of this sketch, was born in Greenwich Township, Berks Co., Pa .; when nine years of age his father died; from the age of eight years to 19, and from 20 to 22 he was a laborer for Jonathan Beaver, in his native county. He then (1835) engaged to learn the trade of blacksmith, and soon became a skillful workman, earning good wages; but his zeal in his calling led him to over-work and he broke down. In 1843 he went to Canada, where in about eight years his physician advised him to quit blacksmithing. He accordingly went upon a farm, in Ontario, and pursued agriculture until 1867, when he came to this State and purchased 80 acres of wild land where he now resides. He first stopped at Carson City six weeks, preparatory to erecting a house in which to dwell. He now has 72 acres of well improved land and a comfortable residence. In politics he is a Republican, and has held some of the township offices.
May 20, 1847, at Smithville, Niagara Co., Ont., Mr. Noll married Miss Margaret H. Carpenter, a na- tive of Ontario, where she was born July 27, 1824. She is a woman of considerable physical strength and
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executive ability. Mr. and Mrs. N. are the parents of ten living children and four deceased. The living are: Joseph W., born Jan. 22, 1848; Charles H., Nov. 4, 1850; Gershon M., Sept. 14, 1852 ; Jonathan A., April 18, 1855; James L., Feb. 7, 1857 ; Albert G., March 6, 1859; John R., Sept. 25, 1860; Sarah A., Aug. 8, 1862; Reneklo B., Sept. 3, 1864 ; and Mary Jane, Nov. 8, 1867.
Mr. and Mrs. Noll are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
arlow Worthing, retired farmer, section 10, Sumner Township, was born Nov. 29, 1812, in Waitesfield Township, Washing- ton Co., Vt. His parents, Abner and Sallie (Barlow) Worthing, were natives of New England and of New England ancestry, and both died in Northport, Vt. His father was a car- penter and joiner by trade.
When three years of age, the subject of this sketch was moved with the family to Addison Co., Vt., where they lived until he was 12 years old; then they moved to Windsor County, and when 14 years old he went to live with an uncle, a tanner, in a dif- ferent part of that State, but two years later he left him and returned home. He soon went to Canada, where he followed his trade of tanning, which he had learned of his uncle. While in the French settle- ments of the Dominion he learned the French lan- guage, which he learned to speak readily. On leav- ing Canada he went to Plattsburg, N. Y., on Lake Erie, where he worked a year at his trade; next he was a sailor on Lake Champlain for a year; then at home for a few months; then was on a whaling ex- pedition 14 months. While on his return home from this voyage he visited St. Helena, and saw the first burial place of Napoleon Bonaparte. He also visited the curious island of Madagascar; then, crossing over to South America, he remained awhile in Brazil. He also stopped at the volcanic island of Amster- dam, southeast of the Cape of Good Hope. Their search for whales was principally in the Indian Ocean, going as far south as the 49th parallel.
On returning to his native country, he resumed tanning for two years ; then for a year he worked in a morocco factory in Albany, N. Y. ; then two years
at the tanning business again at his old home in Vermont ; next, in 1839, he went to Wisconsin and Illinois, selling Yankee notions; then joined a boat crew at Peoria, Ill., and went to Memphis, Tenn .; then he visited Cincinnati and Pittsburg, when he enlisted in the Mexican war, near its close, and was not therefore called into active service. Spending one year in Madison, Ind., he worked at masonry 18 months in Illinois ; was then two years and a half in Iowa, and finally, in 1855, he came to the land office at lonia, and, under the Graduation Act, took posses- sion of a half of section 10, where he still resides. Yet unmarried, he boarded with one of the settlers, and set out to improve his wilderness home. He successfully reduced a goodly portion of the land to a tillable condition, when rheumatism attacked him, and for the last 15 years he has done but little work. He was Supervisor of this township at the first, and during the years 1856-7, 1861, 1864 and 1868, Justice of the Peace eight years, Notary Public, High- way Commissioner, etc., etc. In politics, he is a substantial Republican, and in religion a member of the United Brethren Church.
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