Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 36

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

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than schooling fell to his share, and he worked with his father almost constantly until 1871.

Oct. 17, 1871, he was united in marriage to Susan, daughter of Manford and Susan (Riggs) Felton, na- tives of New York and Massachusetts. Mr. Felton is still living, in Ingham County, at the age of 68. Mrs. Felton died when Susan was two weeks old. Mr. and Mrs. Dobson resided for two and a half years in North Shade Township, and then moved to their present place of 80 acres on section 32, Arcada Township, which he had purchased in 1872. When he moved there in May, 1874. he found a dense for- est ; but he has now 60 acres nicely improved. He has done all the work of clearing and fencing him- self, assisted only by one yoke of cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Dobson have two children : Ada, born July 21, 1872, and Inez Maud, born Aug. 23, 1881. Politic- ally he is a staunch Republican.

eymour S. Teed, farmer and stock-raiser, section 31, New Haven Township, was born in North Star Township, this county, Sept. 24, 1856. His parents, Joseph B. and Louisa J. (Stone) Teed, were natives of Pennsylvania and descendants of the early Dutch settlers of that State. In the fall of 1854 they came and located a quarter of section 17, North Star Township, there being but three families before them. In 1868 they moved to New Haven Township, where Mr. T. died, Nov. 27, 1878, at the age of 6012 years. His widow, now aged 48 years, is living with her son, and enjoys good health and a high degree of activity. She has been the mother of seven children, six of whom are yet living.

The family were pioneers in this county, and Sey- mour S., the subject of this sketch, among the first born in North Star Township, was therefore com- pelled to commence hard work at a comparatively early age. Ile was 12 years of age when the family moved to New Haven, and here, in the first school- house erected in the township, he began to receive his first book knowledge. He was extraordinarily studious, and, " pursuing knowledge under difficul- ties " at night, he injured his sight for life. He at- tended a college at lonia for a time, and at the age of 21 began teaching in Ionia, Clinton and Gratiot

TIL_ NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L

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Counties. Since the death of his father, in 1878, he has had charge of the homestead, still the property of his mother. There are 55 acres in cultivation, and Mr. T. proves himself to be a practical and pro- gressive agriculturist. He has been School Inspector three years; is an active and intelligent Republican, a public-spirited citizen, and in every public capacity has shown himself to be a man of the strictest integrity.

Mr. Teed was married June 30, 1878, in North Shade Township, to Miss Melissa, daughter of John W. and Catharine (Slepp) Force: the latter are natives of Pennsylvania and of Dutch descent. Mrs. T. was born July 27, 1861, in Lorain Co., Ohio, and was 1112 years old when brought by her parents to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Teed have one child. Bertha, born May 21, 1879. They are active mem- bers of the " Church of God " at Carson City.

ohn B. Adams, merchant at Riverdale, Se- ville Township, is a son of Bradley and Nancy (Bacon) Adams, natives respectively of Vermont and Massachusetts. The father was a carpenter and millwright and a man of energetic character, well adapted to the build- ing of material interests and with the natural capac- ity to enjoy and make useful the future which he merited. But disasters by fire and losses in other avenues prevented such a consummation. He came from New York to Michigan and located at Ypsilanti, Mich. A year later he purchased a tract of land in Shiawassee County, but after a twelvemonth of labor he discovered that his title was worthless. The loss entailed was $4,Soo, which rendered him compara- tively destitute. After spending a year with his son in Saginaw County, he once more bought a farm and engaged in its management. His wife died in 1863 in Brant, Saginaw County ; his own demise, at St. Charles, in the same county, followed a year later.

Mr. Adams was born Nov. 11, 1836, in Brattleboro, Vt. He was reared under his parents' care until he reached his majority. He was reared as a farmer's son and acquired a liberal degree of tact, which with his natural talents and practical experience has en- abled him to carve out for himself a successful career. His first venture in business life was in lumber inter-

ests at first, and later in mercantile affairs, in which he is still engaged. He has operated singly since 1883. During the 28 years previous to that date he was associated in business relations with a man named Freeman. At one period of his life he was engaged in navigation, and acted as engineer, mate, master and owner of a vessel, plying between St. Charles and Bay City. After this he was engaged as a lumberman in Montcalm County one year. In 1876 he came to Gratiot County and located on sec- tions 21, 28 and 29, Seville Township, where he was heavily interested in lumbering. He brought his family to Gratiot County in February, 1878, and after- ward purchased 320 acres of land on section 30, Seville Township, where he at present resides.

His wife, formerly Miss Ett Maxfield, was born in December, 1836, and is a daughter of Varius and Persis Maxfield, natives respectively of New Hamp- shire and New York. They are now residents of Genesee Co., Mich., and are aged 76 and 68 years. Mr. Adams is a member of Riverdale Lodge, No. 343, I. O. O. F., and Pine River Lodge. No. 343, I. O. G. T. In political sentiment he is an ardent Prohibitionist. His portrait is given on page 354.

alter Graham, farmer on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 20, Beth- any Township, is a son of William K. and Margaret E. Graham ; the father died in the spring of 1883, in Lowell, Kent Co., Mich .: mother is also deceased.

The subject of this sketch was born in the north part of England, June 17, 1843. When he was nine years of age the family emigrated to Canada, and five years afterward to Lowell, Kent Co., Mich., where the parents both died. He came to this county in the fall of 1864 and purchased 40 acres, being the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 20, which he still owns.

The following spring, March 30, 1865, Mr. Gra- ham married Mary E. Adams, a native of Ohio. By this marriage there have been ten children, as fol- lows : George W., John W., Ida M., Jay W., Frank I., Fred, Edna M., Henry, Mary D. and Margaret D. (twins).

After a residence of eight years on his farm he

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₹ formed a partnership with George J. Acker and Charles B. Graham in St. Louis, in the manufacturing of sash, doors and blinds, in which relation he con- tinued seven years, with marked success. He was in the furniture business six years, sold out and formed a partnership with his brother, C. B. Graham, in the grocery trade in St. Louis. The latter died one year later and Mr. Graham sold his interest and returned to the farm. He now has 1 20 acres of land, with 45 acres under good cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the Presby- terian Church.

Pharles L. Fleming, senior member of the firm of Fleming & Church, dealers in fan- cy and staple groceries at St. Louis, was born Feb. 8, 1842, in Concord, Jackson Co., Mich. He is a son of Charles M. and Elvira (Hum- phrey) Fleming. His father in early life followed the business of a blacksmith and afterward engaged in agriculture, and later as a merchant; he was born Oct. 31, 1809, in Seneca Co., N. Y., and is now liv- ing in retirement at St. Louis, whither he removed about 1864, and where he has since resided. The mother was born Sept. 10, 1818, at Clyde, N. Y.

Mr. Fleming was brought up on a farm and com- pleted his education by a course of study at May- hew's Commercial College at Albion, Mich. He was engaged 16 years as a traveling salesman and passed the last five years of that period in the employ of Johnson & Co., of Detroit, handling specialties in the drug line. In 1878 he came to St. Louis, and in June, 1879, purchased an interest in his father's bus- iness, with whom he continued about a year and a half. At the expiration of that time his present asso- ciate, John M. Church, purchased his father's inter- est, and this connection has existed ever since, with gratifying success.

Mr. Fleming was married Dec. 11, 1866, in Leroy, Ingham Co., Mich., to Abigail, daughter of Joshua and Elthina (Wilkinson) Barnes. She was born Sept. 29, 1846, at Bakersfield, Vt. Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Fleming: Lina A. was born Oct. 30, 1867, in Pine River Township; Lewis A. was also born in that township, Sept. 30,

1871, and died Jan. 26, 1873. Duane I. was born June 6, 1875, in Howell, Livingston Co., Mich. Ida May was born in Pine River Township, May 25, 1879. The parents and eldest daughter are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Ifred B. Scattergood, resident at Ithaca, was born in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., Oct. 25, 1853, and is a son of Joshua and Caroline (Barker) Scattergood. His parents moved to St. John's when he was 12 years old, and, three years later, went to Mankato, Minn., where he resided eight years. He attended school until he was 16 years old and was then placed in a jeweler's shop at Mankato to learn the details of the business. He served three years and con- tinued to follow the business until 1876, when he came to Ithaca and bought out the jewelry stock of A. A. Wood. He transacted business at the stand occupied by his predecessor three years and then transferred his stock to the store with C. E. Fink, where he operated two years. Mr. Scattergood sold his interest to Dixi G. Hall, who removed the same to the Richardson Block, where the management of the business in all its details is in the hands of the former proprietor.

Mr. Scattergood was married Oct. 25, 1883, in Hillsdale Co., Mich., to Nellie, daughter of Dr. James WV. Niblack. She is a native of Ohio.

viram B. Giddings, groceryman and provis- ion merchant at St. Louis, was born July 1, 1850, at Palmyra, Portage Co., Ohio. He is a son of Jonathan C. and Mary E. Giddings who settled at St. Louis in 1866. He was then 16 years old, and he attended school until he was 18, when he entered the employ of his brother Charles W. Giddings (see sketch), as clerk in his furniture store. He operated in that capacity three years, when he engaged as assistant in the grocery of Thom- as McDowell, with whom he remained two years. He then went to Saginaw City and was there appoint- ed Deputy Sheriff under R. W. Andrus. He officia-

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ted one year and then entered the employ of his chief in his grocery, where he remained two years. In 1879 he returned to St. Louis, and, after a short pe- riod spent as a clerk, he opened his present business in which he established himself in August, 1880. He is a member of the Royal Arcanun.

Mr. Giddings was married June 23, 1880, at Sagi- naw City, to Gertrude B., daughter of Orrin J. and Jennie E. (Jeffreys) Showers. She died at St. Louis, July 18, 1883, leaving one child-Orrin C., born June 29, 1881.

idney Thompson, farmer, section 8, North Star Township, is the son of Jeremiah D. and Elizabeth (Hoag) Thompson, and was born in the county of Schoharie, State of New York, Jan 17, 1813. His father was a native of Dutchess County and his mother of Albany County, N. Y., both of English extraction.

Our subject is enabled to trace the genealogy of his family on his father's side as far back as the year 1610, viz. : His father was a son of Silas Thompson, who was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and who was a son of Caleb Thompson, born in New Haven, Conn., in 1732, a son of Samuel Thompson, born in the same State in 1696, a son of Samuel Thompson, born in Connecticut in 1669, a son of John Thomp- son, born in England in 1632, and he a son of Anthony Thompson, who was born in the same country in 1610.

Mr. Thompson remained with his parents in the Empire State, attending the common schools, assist- ing on the farm and developing into manhood, when he accompanied them to Lenawee County, this State, in which place they arrived and settled in 1834. The family at this time consisted of the father, mother and 14 children, and earnestly and energeti- cally did they, with one united effort, enter on the task of clearing and improving the parental home- stead. Their trials and struggles were .numerous, yet their souls were animated with that spirit of de- termination which so often, in the lives of Michigan's pioneers, has surmounted the " hill of difficulty " and conquered adversity that they successfully battled against and overcame them. Mr. T. having acquired a fair education in his native State, devoted consider-

able of his time to teaching, especially during the winters, and thus was enabled to replenish the family coffer with the proceeds of his mental labor.

March 8, 1838, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Sarah Abbott, who died Jan. 22, 1839, leaving one child to the care of the father. Mr. T. was mar- ried a second time, Nov. 11, 1840, to Miss Catharine Baragar; by her he had three children, two of whom-Jerry D. and Mary E .- are living. Mrs. T. died April 24, 1876, leaving her husband a widower for the second time. Oct. 6, 1878, Mr. T. was mar- ried to Mrs. Eleanor Hill, daughter of John English, with whom he is now living and by whom he has had two children, namely : Sidney, Jr., and Walter. Mrs. T. had four children by her first husband, named as follows: Minnie, Marian, Mary and Elsie Hill.

Mr. Thompson owns a farm of 40 acres in North Star Township, and was Supervisor of the township for four years. While living in Lenawee County he was Postmaster at Dover about four years, Notary Public six years, School Inspector 21 years, and Township Clerk for 18 years.

ohn Burns, manufacturer of and dealer in saddlery and horse furnishing goods at St. Louis, was born Jan. 18, 1860, at Toronto, Can., and is the son of Hugh and Betsey (Mc- Cormick) Burns. His father was a Canadian by birth and a marine captain by vocation, which line of business he is still pursuing. The mother was a native of Toronto and died when her son was but two years old.

Mr. Burns has been the maker of his own fortunes and career since he was nine years old. In his boy- hood he went to school and labored alternately as he found opportunity, and at the age of 14 years he set about to learn his trade, and four years after he went to Detroit, where he worked in a harness shop six months. He proceeded thence to Bay City, where he remained three years. After spending six months at Saginaw, he went into business for himself at Port- land, lonia County, and was engaged in business about two years, with reasonable success. In Febru- ary, 1883, he came to St. Louis and opened a shop for the prosecution of his business, opposite the Wes- sell House. Five months later he removed to the

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stand he now occupies, where he has a well-assorted and valuable stock. He employs several assistants and contemplates the enlargement and extension of his manufacturing and retail business.

Joshua Scattergood, flour, feed and provis- ion dealer at Ithaca, was born April 7, 1814, in Bucks Co., Pa. He is a lineal descend- ant from the early Quaker element of New Jersey, his ancestors on both sides being mem- bers of the Society of Friends, and of English extraction. His father, Thomas Scattergood, was, in his early manhood, extensively engaged in the shad- fishing in the Delaware River; was an officer in the war of 1812 and stationed at Havre de Grace; (his military accouterments were preserved a long time by his descendants;) he died in 1834, at Lambertville, N. J., where he was keeping hotel, and was 46 years old. His mother, Elizabeth (English) Scattergood, Burlington Co., N. J., in 1784, and died in the city of Burlington at the age of 66 years.

Mr. Scattergood obtained a fair education at the public schools and at 16 engaged as a clerk, in which employment he continued until he was 22 years old. In 1836 he went to Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., and there secured a position in the same capacity, where he was occupied three years. In 1839 he en- tered into partnership with Benj. G. Barker for the purpose of prosecuting mercantile interests. The connection was discontinued at the end of three years, Mr. Barker retiring. Mr. Scattergood con- ducted the business singly until 1866, when he dis- posed of his stock and interests by sale and removed to St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich. He opened there a grocery establishment, which he conducted between two and three years. Ile made another remove to Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minn., where, associated with his son Theodore, he engaged in the manufac- ture of fanning-mills and steel-toothed horse-rakes. Five years later, his health became so much impaired that he retired from business for the time being. He came to Ithaca in the fall of 1883, and has since been engaged in selling the celebrated patent flour of Minnesota. In November of that year, he erected a building for business purposes, where he is engaged in trade, as stated. Besides his property here he owns

real estate at Mankato. He is a charter member of Tonquish Lodge, No. 32, 1. O. O. F., of which fra- ternity he has been a long time a member. While in Plymouth he held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk, occupying the incumben- cy of each four years.

Mr. Scattergood was married at Plymouth, June 4, 1839, to Caroline E., daughter of B. G. and Deborah Barker. The parents moved from the city of New York to Detroit in 1835. Mrs. Scattergood was born in New York and died in Plymouth, in October, 1854, and left five children-Theodore, Edward B., Will- iam B., Helen C. and Alfred B. Mr. Scattergood was again married Sept. 10, 1857, at Plymouth, to Harriet B. Barker, sister of his former wife. Of this union one child-Bessie-has been born.

lijah H. Travis, farmer, section 19, Pine River Township, was born Oct. 28, 1835, in Cayuga Co., N. Y. His parents, Lewis and Minerva (Roberts) Travis, were natives of the State of New York. They removed to Oak- land Co., Mich., in 1860, and later came to Clinton County, where the mother died. The father died in Montcalm County.

Mr. Travis was educated in the common schools and was bred to the pursuit of agriculture. In 1859 he came to Michigan, and after a stay of six months he returned to his native State. The next year, 1860, he became a settler in this State, and in February, 1863, he bought the farm on which he has since re- sided, in Pine River Township. It included 80 acres of wild land, of which he retains 40 acres, with 30 under cultivation. Mr. Travis is a Republican in his political views.

He was married the first time Jan. 2, 1862, in Oak- land Co., Mich., to Nancy S, daughter of Ralph and Hannah Quick. She died July 22, 1866, and left one child, Bert S. On the 21st of September, 1879, Mr. Travis was again married, at Alma, to Mrs. Hes- ter A. (Hart) Baker, daughter of Philo and Dorothy Hart, and widow of Lewis K. Baker, who was one of the pioneers of Arcada Township, and who died Oct. 19, 1876. Her parents were natives of New York, and her mother died in Chautauqua County in that State. About the year 1868 her father came to

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Michigan, and now resides at Alma. Mrs. Travis was born May 25, 1838, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and was 18 years old when she came to Michigan. She is the mother of two children by her first mar- riage : Forest W. and Mary H. Mr. and Mrs. Travis are members of the Presbyterian Church.

rank E. Murdock, of the firm of Murdock Bros., dealers in granite and marble ceme- tery work, building work, cemetery fencing and stone goods at St. Louis, was born Feb. 24, 1849, in Dexter, Washtenaw Co., Mich. He began learning his trade in Dexter, and when he was 15 years old he went to Ypsilanti, where he spent a year perfecting himself in its details. He has worked at the same in various places, and came to St. Louis, Jan. 1, 1883. He purchased the interest of a former partner of his brother, who had estab- lished the business in which the firm of Murdock Bros. are engaged. They have supplied the mate- rials for a number of prominent buildings in Gratiot County, among which are the opera house at St. Louis, the dwelling of Mr. Turck, at Alma, and the union school house at Ithaca. They deal in the New England granite and marble and all other pop- ular stones for use or ornament.

Mr. Murdock was married Dec. 27. 1878, in Plym- outh, Wayne Co, Mich., to Lillie, daughter of Hon. Bethuel and Annis Noyes. She was born April 24, 1854, at Plymouth, and of this marriage, one child- Agnes-was born Jan. 31, 1881, in Norwalk, Ohio.

ev. George Older, residing on section 20, North Star Township, was born in New Pound Co., England, Dec. 15, 1824. He is a son of Samuel Older (deceased), who was a native of the same country in which our subject was born, and who emigrated to the United States in 1832 and settled in Athens Co., Ohio. Here our subject lived, assisting his father on the farm, which was situated on Minker Run, near Nelsonville, and attending the common schools of the county and developing into manhood.

Mr. Older was married in April, 1846, to Alletha,

daughter of Robert Calliss, deceased, and moved to Wood Co., Ohio. They remained there for several years, and then removed to this State, arriving here in 1865 and locating in Sumner Township, this county.

Rev. Older began his studies for the ministry after coming to this State, and traveled as a minister of ·the United Brethren Church for 13 years, and visited some 19 or 20 of the counties and organized many Churches. He is still engaged in the cause of Chris- tianity, and preaches regularly every two weeks.

Mrs. Older died Aug. 5, 1858, leaving four chil- dren-Perry C., Randolph M., Emily A. and Martha E .- and many friends and relatives to mourn her loss.

Rev. Older was again married Aug. 23, 1860, to Miss Frances Kimberlin, and to this union one child, John, was born. Rev. Older owns 40 acres of land on which he and his family reside.

ohn T. Noble, barber at St. Louis, the oldest resident of the tonsorial profession at this point, was born Oct. 4, 1849, in France. He is the son of John and Anna (Su- pine) Noble, who were natives of France, born respectively in 1824 and 1831. They came to the United States in 1854, and, nine months after their arrival in the new world, they went to Galli- polis, Gallia Co., Ohio, where they resided 13 years, the father following the vocation of a stone-cutter. In the spring of 1866, they came to Chesaning, Sag- inaw County, and two years later to Bath, Clinton Co., Mich., where they still live. His father owns 40 acres of land.

Mr. Noble learned the trade of his father, but, find- ing it distasteful, resolved to devote himself to some- thing more to his liking. He worked in a barber's shop in Chesaning, and one 'in St. John's, where he acquired the skill necessary to the manipulation of the razor and shears. In the fall of 1869, he came to St. Louis, and opened the business in which he has been continuously engaged ever since. He has three chairs, and is assisted by his wife.

Mr. Noble is one of the oldest members of the Fire Department at St. Louis, being one of the first com- pany. He organized the first Hose Company in the

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place and was foreman seven years. In 1883, he was Chief of the Department, which, during the same year, he represented at the National Convention held at Cincinnati. While occupying the position of chief officer, he was presented with a fine silver trumpet by the Rubber and Gutta Percha M'f'g Co. of New York, valued at $45. He is the inventor and pat- entee of Noble's Durable Reel Hose Cart, which was patented June 26, 1883, and is considered a first- class machine.

In the fall of 1876, he went into training as a foot- runner, and, running his first race the following spring, traveled as a professional athlete for two years. He ran at one time 101 yards in ten seconds.

Mr. Noble was married Aug. 5, 1871, at St. Louis, to Emma A. Gifford. She was born Nov. 26, 1853. Her parents came to Gratiot County in its very earli- est days, she being but five months old when they became pioneers. They built at first, for purposes of shelter, a bough house, on the Alma road. Her father owned a large farm, now known as the Good- rich place. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have two children- John E., born May 7, 1871, and Sarah S., born March 10, 1877.

dward R. White, farmer, section 5, Pine River Township, was born Nov. 24, 1832, in Lake Co., Ohio. He is the son of Nor- man and Albina (Gloyd) White, natives of Massachusetts. Some years after their mar- riage they went to Lake Co., Ohio, and later in life to Medina County, in that State. They were the parents of 12 children.

Mr. White is the fifth son, and was about three years old when his parents went to Medina County. His father was a farmer, and he lived at home until he was nearly 24 years of age. In May, 1860, he came to Gratiot County, and became the possessor by purchase of 40 acres of unimproved land, and not long after made a furtherinvestment in an additional 40 acres. He has expended his time and energies with judicious management, and has a snug farm with 35 acres in fine improvement and under good cultivation. Mr. White is a citizen in excellent standing in his township, and has been Postmaster of Forest Hill (Pine River Township) two years.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 36

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

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