USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 34
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At the age of 17, Mr. Ely, of this sketch, succeeded to the charge of the farm and other business interests of his father, who had entered the service of the United States, and he continued the management of his business and domestic affairs until the close of the war. Mr. Ely became roused, by the course and exigencies of the struggle with the South, to an inter- est in its issues, and enlisted Feb. 25, 1865, in the Sth Mich. Inf. He became Sergeant of Co. C, and was promoted to Second Lieutenant April 25, 1865. He was in the service until Aug. 14, 1865, and was under fire at Fort Stedman, and at the siege at Petersburg. He received honorable discharge at Detroit, Mich.
When he was 23 years old, he embarked in busi- ness for himself, and purchased 240 acres of land in Arcada, to which he afterwards added 100 acres. Ile continued the management and improvement of his property three years, when he sold out. He was appointed Mail Messenger between St. Louis and Saginaw, a position which he filled two years and nine months. He resigned the situation to accept one as conductor on the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis railroad. He operated in that capacity three years and three months, and resigned to establish himself in the hardware business at Alma. A year later he sold out, and was appointed to his present position of Postmaster at Alma. He succeeded to the place Aug. 6, 1881, by appointment under Post- master-General James, and has discharged the obli- gations of the office with credit and honor, and to the entire satisfaction of the public. In political princi- ple, he is an adherent to the tenets of the Republi- can party.
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Mr. Ely was married at Alma, Sept. 25, 1866, to Maggie C., daughter of Dewitt C. and Edna F. (Utley) Chapin. Mrs. Ely was born at Chicago, Ill., June 27, 1845. Ralph C., born March 5, 1870, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Ely.
eorge Johnson, farmer, section 36, North Shade Township, is a son of Robert and Ann (Bell) Johnson, the latter a native of England; the former, a native of Ireland, set- tled in Canada in 1842 ; in 1866 he came to this county and settled on 40 acres of wild land, on section 26, North Shade Township, where he yet resides.
The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 17, 1857, in Peterboro, Can., and was brought by his parents to this county; at 20 years of age he commenced working by the month on a farm, and by this means he accumulated a sufficient amount of means to buy a farm of So acres, on section 36, North Shade Town- ship, where he now has about 50 acres in a high state of cultivation.
Oct. 18, 1881, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of George and Lovina (Belden) Ed- monds. The latter were natives of New York State, Mr. E. a farmer. He located on section 26, North Shade Township, in 1873, where the family yet re- side. Mr. and Mrs. J. are the parents of two chil- dren, namely : Glenn, born Aug. 6, 1882; and Ora, Sept. 11, 1883.
On political issues Mr. Johnson is a Republican.
Fornelius A. Deline, farmer, section 35, Newark Township, wasborn Aug. 20, 1831, in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., N. Y. His parents, Peter and Charity (Snell) Deline, were natives of Montgomery County in the same State. They passed the years of their married life there until 1862, when they settled in Newark Township, and there the father still resides. The mother died May 15, 1869. Their family included seven daugh- ters and one son. The sisters of Mr. Deline were named Miranda E., Mary J., Catherine E., Hannah L., Francis E., Martha A. and Julia J.
Mr. Deline is the eldest child. He obtained a fair education in the common schools and engaged in farming with his father until he was 23 years of age. In October, 1862, he came to Gratiot County and bought rio acres of unimproved land, located on section 35 of Newaik Township, and section 2 of Fulton Township. He has since added by purchase 40 acres to his original tract of land, and now has 120 acres in advanced cultivation and most promis- ing condition. The log cabin, which was his home in his early days of labor and struggle, has been sup- planted by a fine residence, of which he took posses- sion in May, 1880. He is a Democrat.
lle was married July 4, 1854, in Lockport, Niag- ara Co., N. Y., to Mary S., daughter of Peter and Su- sannah (Ziglar) Jones. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and their family comprised 12 children, viz. : John F., Evan, Rebecca A., Sarah, Lany E., Amanda, Rhoda A., Siglar, Lovisa, Lovina, Mary S. and Lotilla. Mrs. Deline was the eighth daughter and was born Oct. 15, 1836, in Genesee Co., N. Y. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Deline, seven in number, died in infancy
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Baron Stanton, deceased, a pioneer on sec- tion 18, North Star Township, was a native of the State of New York, where he was born May 28, 1827. His father, Iliram Stanton, brought his family to Lenawee Co., Mich., when Aaron was a small boy, and where the latter was reared on the farm and educated in the common school. When he was 18 years of age the family re- moved to Clinton Co., Mich., where he resided until December, 1854, when he came to North Star Town- ship, this county, settling on section 18, the present home of the family.
Although Mr. Stanton's occupation was principally that of farming, his natural genius and practical ability early led him to the skillful use of tools. He therefore worked much in wood, and some in a saw- mill. Ile was married Dec. 11, 1854, to Miss Han- nah Hawkins, daughter of Benjamin Hawkins. She also was a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. S. had four children, namely : Philena J. (Pritchard), George L., Annie F. and William A. Mr. Stanton died Feb. 21, 1863, in Alexandria, Va., of measles,
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about six months after he was enrolled into the United States service, as a member of C'o. D. 26th Mich. Vol. Inf. He was then a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, but formerly of the Christian Church in this county, there being no Church of his choice in his neighborhood. Mrs. Stanton after- ward (1867) married M. M. Heath, and by him has had six children, two of whom are now living, namely, Emma M. and George E.
oren M. Sutphin, dealer in wines and liquors at Alma, was born April 5, 1852, in Niagara Co., N. Y. He is a son of Ralph and Margaret (Crego) Sutphin, both of whom were natives of New York. They first located in Niagara County and afterwards removed to Michigan, where they settled in Jackson, and after a residence there of more than three years they moved to Clinton County, where the father died, March 14, 1864. The mother is still a resident of that county.
Mr. Sutphin was in the first year of his life when his parents came to Michigan. He passed his early years in obtaining an education, and at 16 was em- ployed as a sawyer in a mill, where he worked nearly three years. Ten years succeeding he was employed as a clerk. In August, 1883, he came to Gratiot County and located at Alma, where he established himself in the business in which he still continues. In political faith he is a Republican.
He was married in Ensley Township, Newaygo County, March 27, 1872, to Adelia M., daughter of Calvin and Ellen Cook. Parents and daughter are natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sutphin have two children : Claude L. and Maud M.
rederick Boyer, farmer, section 20, New ark Township, was born May 18, 1834, in flerkimer Co., N. Y. Ilis parents, Joseph and Nancy (Shell) Boyer, were also natives of the Empire State. He was 14 years old when he came to Michigan and settled in Eaton County, where he remained until 1858. In 1854 he came to Gratiot County and bought 80 acres of land, and of this he took possession in August, 1860. The place was in a wholly unimproved state and he
built a log house and proceeded, with all his energies, to clear and put his farm in a suitable condition for the successful pursuit of agriculture.
In 1862 he enlisted in the 26th Reg. Mich. Vol. Inf., and served until July 14, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Detroit. Among other en- gagements in which he participated were those of Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg. In one of the numerous skirmishes in which he took part, he received a slight wound in the right hip. On return- ing to Gratiot County he resumed his farm labors and has put 57 acres under a fair state of improvements. A good frame house has replaced the log cabin of his pioneer days, and he is in circumstances which war- rant him in expecting a future of comfort. He is in sympathy with the beliefs and issues of the Demo- cratic party, and has held the various offices in his school district.
Mr. Boyer was married March 17, 1858, in Eaton County, to Mary H. Boyer, a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and of their marriage five children have been born : Catharine M., Imelda L., John P. and Henry H. Another daughter, Ellen L., died when she was 18 years old.
eorge W. Jennings, lumberman and far- mer, residing at Alma, was born Aug. II, 1828, in Erie Co., N. Y., and is the son of Hiram and Mary ( Rhodabaugh) Jennings. The parents were natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania. After marriage they settled in Erie Co., N. Y., where they passed the re- mainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1829, the father in the fall of 1873. He was a blacksmith by trade. Their family included four children.
Mr. Jennings obtained his education in the com- mon and high schools of the section where he was reared. He was nine months old when his mother died. At the age of 15 years, he engaged with a blacksmith to learn the trade, and worked as an ap- prentice about two years. Just before he was 17 years old his health failed, and he accordingly aban- doned the trade of blacksmith, and embarked as a sailor on a whaling vessel. Ile continued in that vocation nearly five years. He suffered shipwreck once off the coast of Japan. After leaving the sea
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he returned to Erie County, and spent three years in lumbering. In 1854 he came to Clinton Co., Mich,, where he pursued the same vocation six years. In 1858 he came to Gratiot County, and settled in Ar- cada Township, where he bought 320 acres of unim- proved land. On this be built a "block " house, claimed to be the best in Gratiot County erected after that method. Ile operated on this farm until 1862, when he removed to Alma, and has since been engaged as stated. Politically, Mr. Jennings is a Republican. In 1860 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held the office successively until 1875. He was Supervisor of Arcada one term, and held various minor offices. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity.
Mr. Jennings was first married at Maple Rapids, Clinton County, in July, 1854, to Zilpha A., daughter of Harvey P. and Lydia Lansing, natives of New York. Mrs. Jennings was born in 1839, in New York, and of her marriage three children were born : Frank E., lda M. and George. The latter died when three years old. Mr. Jennings was a second time married at St. John's, Clinton County, April 29, 1866, to Sibyl, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Sprague) Fraker. Mrs. Jennings was born Jan. 29, 1845, in St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., and her parents were also natives of that State. Three children have been born to them : Harry A., Jennie M. and Morton F. The eldest of these died when nine months old. Both parents are members of the Congregational Church.
iram W. Havens, farmer, section 27, North Shade Township, is a son of Samuel and Sarah A. (Tubbs) Havens, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of New York. Mr. Samuel Havens was a farmer. His first wife's maiden name was Amy Bennett : she died at an early day, and he subsequently married Miss Tubbs. He moved from New York to Michi- gan in 1837, settling in Lenawee County, where he died, in 1861 ; his widow is yet living, in Seneca Township, Lenawee Co., Mich.
The subject of this sketch was born March 28, 1837, in Niagara Co., N. Y .; remaining at home with his parents until he was 24 years of age, he came, in 1862, to Michigan and located So acres of wild land,
on the section where he now resides. He resided in Lenawee County five years longer, and then came to Gratiot County ; but not until he was 35 years of age did he settle here to make it his permanent home. He has been Highway Commissioner three terms and School Inspector one term; has always been a Republican.
In 1872 Mr. Havens was married to Miss Ellen, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Burras) Huyck, natives of Huron Co., Ohio, who first moved to Will- iams County, that State, then returned to Huron County, thence to Lenawee Co., Mich., Fulton Co., Ohio, and finally Bloomer Township, Montcalm Co., Mich., where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Ha- vens' two children are, Alta M., born June 13, 1875, and Hiram W., April 18, 1883, both in this county.
amuel Lepley, farmer, section 34. Newark Township, was born in Union Co., Pa., Oct. 25, 1816, and is the son of John and Mary Lepley, both natives of the same State, where they married and reared their family. Mr. Lepley is a born and bred farmer, having spent the years of his early life in the practice of the details of that business, preparatory to making it the calling of his life. At 15 years of age he found himself at liberty to make a decided encounter with the world on his own behalf, and from that age until the year 1849 he was engaged in agriculture at various places. In the year named he came to Ilillsdale Co., Mich., and in 1855 came to Gratiot County. He bought 120 acres of unimproved land in the township of Newark, settled on it and operated in true pioneer style. He reduced his estate by the sale of 40 acres and has, in the brief time included within the date named and the current year (1884), placed 70 acres of the remainder in satisfactory farming condition.
Mr. Lepley is a Democrat in political proclivity, and has always been keenly alive to everything that seemed to bear any reasonable promise of benefit to the community in which he has lived. He was in- strumental in establishing the first school in the dis- trict in which he resides. Having been elected Di- rector, he conducted a subscription and raised a small sum of money, with which he hired a teacher, paying her one dollar a week. For the first month she had
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one pupil, but the school has been sustained ever since, and now numbers about 50 students. Mr. Lep- ley has held the office of Township Collector seven years in succession.
He was first married in Sencea Co., Ohio, to Eliz- abeth, daughter of Charles Caty, who was a German by birth. Mrs. Lepley was born in Maryland. Of her marriage to Mr. Lepley, eight children were born, whose names are : John W., Maria H., William F., James C., Cyrus, Mary J., Sarah I. and Andrew J. The mother died in March, 1872. Mr. Lepley was again married April 16, 1873, in Clinton Co., Mich., to Mrs. Mary (Boardman) Leary, daughter of Watson and Elizabeth Boardman, and widow of Walter Leary.
rank E. Jennings, with the firm of Brad- ley & Jennings, resident at Alma, was born July 4, 1857, at Maple Rapids, Clinton Co., Mich. He is a son of George W. Jen- nings, who was a native of the State of New York. His mother, Zilpha (Lansing) Jennings, was born in Michigan. After their marriage they settled in Gratiot County. Their family included two children : F. E. and Ida M. The mother died in Alma, in 1865. The father is still a resident there. lle was formerly proprietor of the planing mill at Alma, where the son was trained to the same busi- ness.
Mr. Jennings was educated at the common and graded schools, and at the age of 20 years he went to Ithaca, where he was apprenticed for two years to learn the trade of making sash, doors and blinds. At the expiration of his indenture he went into part- nership with his father. This relation continued two years, when it was dissolved by the withdrawal of Mr. Jennings, senior. Mr. Jennings, of this sketch, formed a partnership with A. Bradley in the fall of 1883, under the firm style of Bradley & Jennings, which relation continued until early in 1884, when Mr. Jennings sold his interest. He is at present contemplating erecting a store and entering mercan- tile life.
Ile was married at Saginaw, May 13, 1882, to Dora, daughter of A. J. and Louisa Brooke. Mrs. Jen- nings and her parents were natives of Wood Co., Ohio. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jennings : Nina, Oct. 13, 1883.
Mr. Jennings is an active temperance worker and belongs to Blue Ribbon Society and Order of Good Templars. He is a Republican in political senti- ment.
ra B. Ellsworth, merchant at Riverdale, Seville Township, was born May 26, 1826, in Erie Co., N. Y., and is a son of William and Lydia (Bentley) Ellsworth, natives respect- ively of Vermont and Canada. The father was a farmer in New York, and removed to Canada, where he lived some eight years; thence to Lexington, Sanilac Co., Mich., in 1837. He and wife both died in Sanilac County.
Their son, Ira, lived at home until 18 years old, when he lived a year with a Mr. Hurd in Marshall, this State. He returned to Lexington and for five years following was engaged in farming. He was then for six seasons on the waters of Lakes Huron and Erie, sailing to Cleveland and Sandusky. Coming to Montcalm County in 1861, he followed farming seven or eight years.
During the civil war he enlisted, Oct. 16, 1864, in Co. A, ist Mich. Eng. and Mech., and served under Gen. Sherman. The regiment participated in the battles around Knoxville, but was principally occu- pied in such work as repairing bridges. He was discharged at Washington in 1865 and returned to his family in Montcalm County. They removed to Millbrook in 1871, and to Stanton three years later. They then lived a short time at Belltown, and for a year kept a hotel at Ithaca. His last move was to Riverdale, where he also engaged in the hotel busi- ness, following that a little over four years, before entering mercantile life.
He was married in 1847 to Almira Vancamp, daughter of John Vancamp. She was born in 1829, and died in 1850, leaving five children : Jefferson, Dewitt, Henry, Emeline and Ira. He subsequently married Louisa Pherris, a widow, the daughter of Rufus and Elizabeth Colburn, natives of New York State. Mr. C. was a manufacturer, and died when the daughter was quite young.
Mr. Ellsworth is a member of Ithaca Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., of Riverdale Lodge, No. 343, 1. O. O. F. and of Pine River Lodge, No. 343, I. O. G. T. Politically he is an ardent Prohibitionist.
TOE NEW YORK PUBLIC LICENDI
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
Herrnan & A 'Sdenecder
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ferman F. P. Schneider, of the firm of Wright, Schneider & Stuttz, merchants and dealers in grain at Alma, was born June 29, 1849, in Pomerania, Germany. William C. and Louise (Penzel) Schneider, his parents, were natives of the same country and emigrated to the United States in the month of June, 1864. They at once located in Detroit, whence they removed in Oc- tober, 1882, to Alma, and are still living there.
Mr. Schneider had reached the age of 15 years when his family came to the New World; and, owing to his father having become incapacitated from effort by illness, he has been their sole dependence and support. His first piece of labor was in the capacity of a wood-sawyer. He sawed and split a cord of " iron-wood," and has still a clear remembrance of profoundly wishing that he had never seen America. During the first year of his residence in Detroit he was variously employed, meanwhile suffering much from fever and ague. He found so little satisfaction and comfort in the disorder that, while operating as a laborer in Elmwood Cemetery, he could not help en- vying the freedom from hardship and disease of the silent sleepers in the city of the dead. The year fol- lowing he became an employe' at the Russell House, where he was engaged nearly three years. In 1868 he entered the dry-goods establishment of Sebastian Kirchner, of Detroit, and a year and a half later en- gaged with Campbell & Linn as a clerk. After four months he was employed by Freedman Bros., enter- ing their service when they opened their new store on Woodward Avenue. In July, 1870, he engaged with James Lowrie & Sons, where he remained until July, 1878, when he again became connected with the house of Freedman Bros. Two years later he was employed by Taylor, Wolfenden & Co. He remained with them ir months, and in August, 1881, came to Alma. He formed an association with A. W. Wright and George D. Barton for the sale of general mer- chandise, under the firm style of Barton, Schneider & Co. This relation continued five months, when Mr. Barton withdrew and was succeeded by James A. Stuttz, the style becoming Wright, Schneider & Stuttz. The firm is established on a substantial basis, and its yearly transactions amount 10 $100,- ooo in merchandise only.
Mr. Schneider belongs to the German Lutheran Church, of which his parents are also members. In political principle and action he is a Republican, and holds tolerant views. He is a member of the A. (). U. W., Peninsular Lodge, No. 12, at Detroit.
The portrait of Mr. Schneider, on another page, is a valuable addition to the collection of pictures of young and rising men of the present generation pre- sented in this volume.
illiam A. Bradley, farmer on section 31, Seville Township, is a son of William and Harriet J. (Fisk) Bradley. The father was born in 1808, in Litchfield Co., Conn., and the mother in 1821, in Brattleboro, Vt. He was first a tin peddler, then a tanner, and later a real-estate dealer. He and wife now reside at 182, Duffield Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. They have four sons, four daughters, all younger than the sons, and 18 grandchildren, and the fortunate family has not as yet had a single visit from death.
The subject of this notice was born Aug. 27, 1845, in Sullivan Co., N. Y., and remained at home with his parents until he was 22 years old. He was first engaged in lumbering, and later in farming. He came from the Empire State to Grand Rapids, Mich., in the year 1870 and remained there one year look- ing after his father's affairs. He then came with his brother to Gratiot -County and located on 320 acres of wild land on section 30, Seville. They built a fine house and a large barn, and cleared a portion of the land, and Dec. 31, 1873, Mr. B. was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary E. Whitney, daughter of Chauncey B. and Mary (Birmingham) Whitney, natives of Cayuga Co., N. Y. They came from that State to Ingham Co., Mich., in 1854, and in 1867 came to Sumner Township, Gratiot County. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have a family of three : Wel- lington, Chandler and Forrest.
Mr. B. enlisted in September, 1861, in Co. F, 56th N. Y. Vol. Inf. The regiment was on detached duty with the Eastern army much of the time at Washing- ton, and participated in two engagements, which nearly annihilated it. The remnant were finally discharged in New York State, with due honors. Mr. B. is polit- ically a Republican. He is a member of Col. Ely Post, No. 158, G .A. R.
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illiam C. Beckwith, proprietor of the Beck- with planing mill arxl sash, door and blind factory at Ithaca, was born Aug. 8, 1827, at Utica, N. Y. Joseph P. and Sophronia (Coolidge) Beckwith, his parents, were both natives of the Empire State. His father was English by descent and a merchant by occupation. He died in the city of New York, at the age of 85
years. The mother was born in St. Lawrence County in 1805, and died there when her son was six months old. The father married a second time, and Mr. Beckwith of this sketch remained in St. Lawrence County until he was eight years old, when he ac- companied his grandfather to Mendon, R. I. He went, shortly after, to the city of New York, where his father was engaged in the furniture business. He was a pupil in the common schools until he was 16 years of age, when he entered his father's furni- ture shop and thoroughly qualified himself for the vocation, acquiring a complete comprehension of the business in all its branches. In 1852 he went to Rochester, N. Y., and two years later to Ashawa, Can , and operated there four years.
He arrived at Ithaca April 9, 1858. The county was then in its incipiency, but was also in the full flush of its ambitious courage and pushing the en- terprises which marked its spirit and purpose ; and Mr. Beckwith entered into them with all the strength and energy of his manhood's prime. He bought 120 acres of land in Emerson Township, situated on sec- tion 29, built there the log cabin of the pioneer and moved upon his property, where he exerted all his resources to the purposes of improvement until 1862.
In the fall of that year he was elected County Clerk and successively re-elected until he had filled the position eight years. To facilitate the discharge of his duties he removed to Ithaca, where he has since resided. In 1870 he commenced the manu- facture of furniture and also engaged in building.
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