USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 32
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In 1872, he purchased 40 acres of improved land in the township of which his father was a citizen, and in 1876 erected thereon the necessary farm buildings. In 1879 he became a resident in Newark Township, and has since been closely identified with all its in- terests. In politics, he is a Republican of decided type. He has officiated one year as Constable, sev- eral years as Superintendent of Schools, one term as Supervisor, and is a member of the Board of County School Examiners, of which body he has been Secre- tary two years, and is present Chairman. He was elected to a term of four years as Justice of the Peace, but resigned at the end of the first year. He now owns, in addition to his first purchase, 66 acres of
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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John Jeffrey
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land in North Star Township, and has 85 acres im- proved.
Among the reminiscences of the life of Mr. Cow- drey is one unique and startling incident, which oc- curred while his father was en route to Gratiot County. They traveled in the manner common to emigrants of that primitive period-family and effects in a wagon drawn by an ox team. The road was shaded on one side by the uncut forest, and the boy and his father occupied the front seat together. The day was windy, and suddenly a hollow bass-wood tree, about 30 inches in diameter, fell across the wagon. The top was forked, and, as the tree fell, the spreading limbs enclosed the occupants of the seat, and they were preserved unharmed. The wagon was almost entirely demolished.
Mr. Cowdrey was married Nov. 5, 1874, in Ohio, to Alwilda, daughter of James and Sarah Hibbins Her parents were natives of Ohio, and the children born to them numbered seven, six of whom are liv- ing. Their names are: Mary E., Martha E, Al- wilda, Laura B., Edwin T. (deceased), Nettie M. and Roberta. Mrs. Cowdrey is the third daughter, and was born Jan. 27, 1854. Frank C., born July 20, 1877, and James R., May 19, 1882, are the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cowdrey. The latter is a member of the United Brethren Church.
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ohn Jeffrey (deceased), a pioneer settler of Gratiot County, to whom the township and village of Ithaca are largely indebted, and with whose name their growth and progress are indissolubly connected, was a native of Mon- mouth Co., N. J., where he was born Aug. 26, 1812.
The record of his early life is incomplete, but suf- ficient is known to warrant the inference that the years of his later youth and earlier manhood were passed in the exercise of the traits of character which secured the prosperity of his prime and later life, and rendered him a valuable acquisition to the citizenship of a new country. His earliest known occupation was in freighting on the Erie Canal, where he was engaged some years, but met only moderate success. He went to Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1836, which section was then in its early days. He bought
a considerable tract of land, and for a number of years devoted his energies to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. He achieved a success in proportion to his efforts, and accumulated what was then considered a fair competency. In 1853 he vis- ited several of the Western States for the purpose of fixing on a suitable field for the development of his plans and projects in life, and finally located a tract of land at the geographical center of Gratiot County, which included the site of the present village of Ithaca. He took possession of his property in 1855, at which date his permanent residence and the im- provements on his estate began. In 1856 he platted the village of Ithaca, and on the third day of March of the same year the Board of Supervisors estab- lished there the county seat. In 1860 the action was re-affirmed.
Mr. Jeffrey's location of land in 1853 included 1, 120 acres, and he was continually buying additional tracts up to the date of his death. It was his policy to make no sales of land save to actual settlers, to which principle he strictly adhered. At the time he died he was the proprietor of about 5,000 acres, in- cluding choice farming and pine lands, and also a considerable portion of the original plat of the village. At the time Mr. Jeffrey became a resident of Gratiot County, the country in every direction was for miles an unbroken wilderness, and the position in which he found himself was one that required the exercise of untiring energy and exertion. But he possessed an iron constitution, perseverance and judgment, which made him equal to the emergency, and in the aggre- gate he probably underwent as much hardship and suffered as many privations as any of the early pio- neers of Gratiot County; and to no one of them is the county more indebted for its present remarkable status of advancement and improvement. Prudence, economy, temperance and industry were marked traits of his character, and all the acts of his life were tempered by good judgment, sound sense and consideration for the permanent prosperity and wel- fare of the community to which he belonged, and of which he was for so many years a useful and hon- ored member. He died March 5, 1874.
The portrait of Mr. Jeffrey appears on another page. It is a valuable addition to the collated his- tory and biography of Gratiot County, and without it no book of the character claimed for the present volume would be in any sense complete.
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Mr. Jeffrey was married Dec. 10, 1868, in St. Louis, to Mrs. Louisa (Smith) Baney. She was born March 6, 1835, in Newfane, Niagara Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of George and Arvilla (Bromley) Smith. Her first husband was David Baney, to whom she was married June 30, 1864, and by whom she had two children : Glenn E., born June 12, 1865, in Pompei, Gratiot County ; and May P., born March 25, 1867. Mr. Jeffrey lett two children : John, born Oct. 21, 1869, and Ira, Dec. 24, 1871. His widow f became the wife of Joseph H. Seaver, June 18, 1879.
John Broadhead, farmer, section 18, Beth- any Township, is a son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Jeisey) Broadhead, and was born in Maryland, July 20, 1829. When he was a small boy the family moved to the State of New York, locating in Ulster County. As - he grew up he followed mill sawing for 14 years. In 1856 he came to Michigan and was married, in New- ark Township, this county, to Miss Emily Rooks, daughter of David and Sophia (Thompson) Rooks, who was born in Erwin, Steuben Co., N. Y., May 3. 1837. Their children are: Charles W., born July 24, 1862; Cola I., Jan. 10, 1865 ; Hattie E., Nov. 3, 1867; Ray, March 6, 1870. Cola I. is the wife of Walter Harrison, a farmer of Bethany Township.
Mr. B. is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has served as Constable several years.
50 illiam F. Brown, farmer, section 21, North Star Township, was born April 5, 1818, in Massachusetts. His parents were Will- ian and Clarissa (nee Flowers) Brown, natives also of Massachusetts. The latter died when William F. was but three years old. Mr. Brown is a descendant of one of three brothers who came from England among the first settlers of America. His parents located in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1819, where his mother died. His father mar- ried again, and in 1827 moved to Chautauqua Co., N. Y, and in 1833 to Warren Co., Penn.
The subject of this sketch left home at the age 18
years, worked by the month several years, and in 1863 came to this county, where now, in North Star Township, he owns 70 acres of land. He was mar- ried March 20, 1841, to Miss Mary, daughter of Francis Ploof. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown two are living, namely, Eli W. and Charles W. One son, George F., was killed in the late war while fighting in defense of his country, in a skirmish near Louisa Court-House, soon after the battle of Spottsylvania Court-House. He was but 21 years of age. The other deceased son, James L., died when three years old. Eli W. is in Billings, Montana Territory, and Charles W. resides on a part of the homestead. Mrs. B. died Nov. 30, 1840, and Mr. B. married again Aug. 20, 1857, Miss Louisa M. Miner, daughter of Warren and Sophinia Miner, and by her had one child, Jay A. They have an adopted son, James W., now 28 years of age.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Mrs. B. of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
elcome P. Partello, farmer, section 10, Bethany Township, is a son of Welcome J. and Rhoda (Phinney) Partello, and was born in Cazenovia, N. Y, Oct. 22, 1818. When eight years old his parents came to Washtenaw County, this State, settling in Salem Township, the second family in that township. There the father bought So acres of timber land, built a good log house, dug a well, and cleared 12 acres, when he discovered that he had located on the wrong piece of land. Accordingly he moved. When the subject of this sketch was 19 years old the family moved to Clinton Co., Mich., five miles east of DeWitt.
At the last mentioned place, July 31, 1845, he married Amelia J. Hoople, who was born in Canada, Nov. 28, 1821. By this marriage seven children have been born, viz .: Livonia, Julia, Welcome, Persis, Elson, Dwight and Olivia.
In Clinton County Mr. P. was most of the time engaged in agricultural pursuits, and had some real estate in the village of DeWitt. In March, 1856, he came to Bethany and took possession of a quarter- section of timber land where he now resides, having 60 acres in a profitable state of cultivation and
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the value of the place enhanced by a number of improvements. When he first arrived on this tract it was all a wild forest. He moved with a yoke of oxen led by a horse. His father had settled on an adjoining place the year previous, and died eight years afterward: was the first Supervisor of the township. His mother died two years later. He has been Justice of the Peace three years.
The children are now scattered as follows: Livo- nia is the widow of Stephen R. Goodwin, and resides in Bethany Township; Julia is the wife of William Denman, a farmer in Huron Co, Ohio; Welcome is engaged in connection with a railroad at San Anto- nio, Texas; Persis is the wife of Harvey Atwell, a farmer in Bethany Township; Elson is living at home; Dwight is also at home, and Olivia is the wife of Ira Bentley, a farmer in ITuron Co., Ohio.
illiam Seifried, farmer, section 8, New Ha- ven Township, was born in Salt Creek Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, March 25, 1833. His parents, Henry and Mary A. (Steele) Seifried, were natives of Pennsylva- nia and of German descent. His father was a farmer by occupation, and after the year 1854 he lived until his death in the vicinity of Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr. William Seifried, the subject of this notice, lived with his parents (after 15 years of age in Wy- andot Co., Ohio,) until his marriage, April 27, 1854, to Miss Martha, daughter of Isaac and Eva (Bor- ders) George, natives of Pennsylvania and of “ Penn- sylvania Dutch " ancestry. Both died in their na- tive State. Mrs. S. was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., Oct. 9, 1832, and when five years of age her residence was changed to Wayne Co., Ohio. Six months after marriage Mr. and Mrs. S. moved to Hancock Co., Ohio.
When the first call for 600,000 more troops was made to aid in suppressing the great insurrection, Mr. S. enlisted, Aug. 11, 1862, in Co. G, 118th Ohio Vol. Inf., commanded by Capt. Samuel Howard, of the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in all the engagements of his regiment until the battle of Perryville, and for the nine months following that event his regiment was detailed for special duty on
the Kentucky Central railroad; then they were in ac- tive service again, being in the engagements at Cov- ington Heights, Perryville, Knoxville, London, Mossy Creek, Resaca, Chattanooga, Buzzard Roost, Kene- saw Mountain, etc. He was then sick for more than two years in the hospitals at Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Nashville and Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged, May 22, 1865. After residing then at his home in Hancock Co., Ohio, until fall, he came to Maple Grove, Barry Co., Mich. A little more than two years afterward he moved to Kent County, where he preached eight months as a minister of the "Church of God," then one year in the same capacity in Saginaw County. In 1870 he came to this county and homesteaded So acres where he now resides, and has improved 50 acres. He was the third settler on this section.
Mr. S. is now a minister in the Free-Will Baptist Church, serving acceptably. He is a strong Prohi- bitionist Republican, and has held some of the of- fices of public trust in his district. His wife is also a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. The children in this family are: Isaac G., born May 31, 1855; Henry F., March 1, 1857 ; John W., Feb. 21, 1859; George M., Aug. 1, 1861 ; David M., Nov. 11, 1865 ; and Ella E., Oct. 9, 1867.
reeman H. Rice, farmer, section 11, Fulton Township, is a son of Freeman and Sally (Hobart) Rice, natives of the State of New York. They settled after marriage in their na- tive State, and afterward removed to Delaware Co., Ohio., where they lived until the fall of 1859. They afterwards removed to Mecosta County, this State, where the father died, in September, 187 1. The mother afterwards removed to Eaton County, where she died, in June, 1873.
Their family comprised six sons and one daughter. Freeman H., the fourth son, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Feb. 19, 1830, and was seven years old when his parents removed to Ohio. He lived at home until about 34 years of age, and in the fall of 1864 came to Gratiot Co., Mich., and settled on 120 acres in Fulton Township, which he had bought during the administration of President Pierce. He has now So acres improved.
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Oct. 14, 1863, in Eaton Co., Mich., he was married to Mrs. Mary E., daughter of Martin and Abigail Williams, and widow of Chester B. Rice (a brother of Freeman HI., who died Aug. 10, 1861). Mrs. Rice had by her first marriage one daughter, Sarah A., and by her second a daughter and a son,-Viola and Herbert F. Mr. Rice is politically a Republi- can.
John M Walker, farmer, section 34, New- ark Township, is the son of Stephen and Lydia (White) Walker. They were natives respectively of New York and New Hampshire, 10.30 and after their marriage settled in the former State. They came to Lenawee Co., Mich., in its pioneer days and there passed the ultimate years of their lives. Five children were born to them,- Martha, David, John M., Nathaniel and Ransom.
Mr. Walker is the second son of his parents and was born March 15, 1831, in Niagara Co., N. Y. Ile was two years old when his parents removed to Michigan, and he continued under the parental authority until he reached his majority. He then apprenticed himself to learn the business of wagon- making and served two years. He was engaged in labor at his trade and as farm assistant five years, when he bought a farm in Lenawee County contain- ing 75 acres, which he continued to manage until the spring of 1880, when he sold out and came to Gratiot County. He bought 100 acres of land in a State of partial improvement in Newark Township, on which he has since continued to reside and of which he has now 75 acres under cultivation. Mr. Walker held the position of School Director in Len- awee County six years consecutively, and in the fall of 1881 was elected School Assessor of District No. 4, Newark Township, of which position he is present incumbent. In political affiliation he is a Republican.
Mr. Walker was married in Fairfield, Lenawee Co., Mich., Oct. 12, 1856, to Elsie E., daughter of Job T. and Lydia (Laycock) Reynolds. Her parents were settlers in Jackson County, where the father died in 1840, and the mother seven years later. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of five living children : Milton D. died when he was nine years old ; Ran som D)., Cynthia I., Elveretta E., Lydia A. and Jessie S. are the names of those surviving.
acob W. Snyder, general farmer, section 21, New Haven Township, was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1819. When 13 years of age he commenced to work out for neighbors, at farm labor, as his par- ents were poor; and his education was conse- quently limited. He was a laboring man in this capacity till he was about 30 years of age. In the meantime, Sept. 27; 1838, he married Miss Mehita- ble, daughter of David and Amy (Chapman) Hopkins, who was born in Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 27, 1821. When six years of age she moved with the family to Allegany County, same State.
Mr. Snyder came to Michigan in the fall of 1853, locating first in Ionia County, and two years later in this county, pre-empting So acres on the section where he now resides, and undergoing the experi- ences common to frontier life, more fully described elsewhere in this volume. He and his noble wife bravely persevered and surmounted all obstacles. During the noted famine of 1856, they received but $3 donation. Mr. Snyder has improved 60 acres of the old homestead, and he has never changed his residence since his first settlement. In national af- fairs he is a Republican, and he has held various of- fices in his township and district.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are : Ame- lia, Edwin F., Laura and Amy M., living ; and Har- rison, who died in the army, and Mary J., who died in infancy.
homas A. Porter, farmer, section 18, Beth- any Township, is a son of John and Jane (Atchison) Porter, and was born in Indiana, Nov. 5, 1827. When six months old the fan- ily moved to Canada. When he was 16 years of age he left home and learned the millwright trade, which he followed in various parts of the United States until 1861, and he has worked at it some since that date. He was for a time in Califor- nia, where he was a member of a vigilance com- mittee. His residence for six years was above Sacramento, near Auburn, Placer County, and he followed lumbering.
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He first came to Michigan in 1845, stopping on the Saginaw Bay. In 1861, he returned to St. Clair Co., Mich., and shortly afterward he went to Saginaw County, where he "located " 960 acres of land for himself and brothers, his share being a third: at one time he owned 2,200 acres. He cleared 75 acres. As he was interested in lumbering in Missaukee County, he operated there two years. He then took an 18-months trip through the South, visiting the old battle-grounds. He entered the navy and was assigned to the U. S. gunboat " Pittsburg," of the Mississippi Squadron, being in the service ten months, and engaged in several skirmishes.
After the close of the war he returned to Saginaw ; came to his present location in May, 1882, purchas- ing 45 acres. It is all in cultivation, and Mr. P. has shown himself to be a judicious and prosperous farmer.
Since 1854 he has belonged to the Masonic frater- nity. He was married in St. Clair Co., Mich., Nov. 28, 1861, to Miss Julia P. Beech, daughter of Lucius and Julia A. Beech, who was born in that county, April 4, 1835.
tanley L. Nichols, farmer, section 14, Pine River Township, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., June 16, 1837, and is the son of Ezra and Hannah (Hipp) Nichols, both of whom were natives of New York. At the age of 18, Mr. Nichols began for himself in the world, and, for three years, worked out by the month as a farm laborer. He has devoted most of his life to the same noble calling, with the exception of about eight years, three of which were spent in the army and the remaining five years he labored as a teacher. He enlisted Aug. 14, 1862, in the 4th Mich. Cav., and received honorable discharge at Nashville, Tenn. The regiment was attached to the Army of the Cum- berland, and Mr. Nichols took an active part in the various engagements in which it was involved, and upon him, as well as all others belonging to the same command, reflected the luster of the 4th Mich. Cav. in the capture of Jefferson Davis.
In April, 1879, he came to Gratiot County and bought 40 acres of land in section 14, Pine River Township. The entire tract was unimproved, and he
has since placed 20 acres under cultivation. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and a member of the Masonic Order. He was married in Berkshire Co., Mass., Dec. 11, 1866, to Ellen E. Harrison, daughter of John and Chloe Harrison. Her mother was a native of New York, her father of Massachusetts. Mrs. Nichols was born Oct. 18, 1843, in Lenawee Co., Mich. Three children have been added to the family circle-Maud C., Stanley E. and Ida L. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ephthah Earl, farmer, section 23, Newark Township, was born June 20, 1830, in Sen- eca Co., N. Y., and is the son of Stephen and Ann E. (Evans) Earl. Both parents were born in the State of New York, where they lived until the spring of 1841, when they re- moved to Michigan and settled in Kalamazoo County, where they continued to reside during the remainder of their lives. The mother died in January, 1863 ; the father's demise occurred in the following April.
At the age of 19, Mr. Earl became his own man, pursuing the vocation of agriculture, to which he had been trained. He passed six years as a farm laborer and two years was engaged in butchering, associated with his father. In the spring of 1861 he came to Gratiot County and bought the place where he has since resided, and labored until he has placed 60 acres under first-class cultivation. He has sold five acres. The family remained in occupancy of the pioneer log house until the summer of 1881, when a fine frame house was erected on the farm in which they have since resided.
Mr. Earl was married Dec. 7, 1854, in Ionia Co., Mich., to Mary J., third daughter of Nathan and Chloe (Tyler) Benjamin. Mrs. Earl's parents were natives of the State of New York, and on leaving there first settled in Ohio, afterward removing to Oakland Co., Mich , and from thence to Ionia County. They passed the last years of their lives with their children, the mother dying Jan. 18, 1866. The father breathed his last nine days later.
Mrs. E. was born in Oakland County, Aug. 8, 1833. She and her husband assumed the care of Viola M. Benjamin, a niece, when she was five years old, who remained with them until her marriage. They have
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also a foster-child, Leonard E. Smith, born Jan. 26, 1874, who has been in their charge since his birth. Mr. Earl is a Republican in political sentiment. Ile has held the various offices of his school district and is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity.
illiam Isenhath, farmer, Pine River, is a son of John C. and Catherine Isenhath, natives of Germany, where they lived and died. William was born in Germany, Feb. 6, 1837, and resided in his native country until 20 years of age. Coming to the United States, he located in Erie Co., Pa., and was employed in farm- ing for two and a half years. He then went to Ohio, and, lived in Ashtabula County until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the 11th New York Battery. He was in the service somewhat over one year, and was then discharged on account of disa- bility.
In December, 1862, he came to Gratiot County, and with his brother-in-law, purchased 40 acres of land. He afterwards traded his share of the land for 40 acres on section 30, Pine River Township, where he now resides. He has since added 20 acres, and has 30 acres nicely improved and under the plow.
Nov. 20, 1863, in Gratiot County, he was married to Catherine Mulen, a native of Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with nine children, seven of whom survive: Henry A., Mary A., Alvin, Willie E., Annie B., Wilda M. and Frankie D). Adeline and Elmer L. died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Isenhath are consistent members of the Lutheran Church. In politics, Mr. I. votes the Republican ticket.
Palvin C. Kryder, farmer, section 36, New- ark Township, was born Oct. 6, 1839, in Ohio. His parents, Jonas and Mary (Ever- hard) Kryder, were born respectively in Penn- sylvania and Ohio. He was engaged in farm- ing in his native State until the age of 24 years. He went to Illinois in 1863 and there remained 15 years, and engaged in farming in Christian County. In the spring of 1878 he sold his farm in the Sucker
State and removed to Michigan, settling where he now resides in Newark Township, where he became proprietor of 40 acres of improved land by purchase. Mr. Kryder is a Republican in political affiliation.
He was married Jan. 25, 1866, in Medina Co., Ohio, to Charity, fourth daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Lance) Coolman. Following are the records of the five children born of this marriage, three of whom survive : Leslie A., born July 3, 1867, died July 31, 1868 ; Frankie F., born Jan. 17, 1869, died May 24, 1877; J. S. Shirley, Sept. 11, 1870; Orie D. F., Dec. 18, 1872, and Cordie M. U., Nov. 26, 1874-
Mr. Kryder enlisted Jan. 25, 1865, in the 4 Ist Reg. 111. Vol. Inf., and was in the service six months, re- ceiving honorable discharge July 27, 1865, at Chi- cago. He was never in active service, as before the regiment could be duly equipped, mustered in and reach the front the rebellion was in a state of collapse and military necessities virtually at an end.
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