Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 41

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

USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 41

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lbert M. Shaw, farmer, section 31, Ithaca Township, is a son of John C. and Matilda (Berry) Shaw. (See sketch of John C. Shaw.) He was born in Pittsfield Township, Washte- naw Co., Mich., Mar. 19, 1860, and obtained a good education in the public schools. In 1877, he completed a course of commercial law and book- keeping at the Ann Arbor High School. For the en- suing few years, he assisted his father in running a dray line and in farming. He came to Gratiot County at the same time with his parents, and settled on sec- tion 31, Ithaca Township.

July 1, 1882, he was united in marriage to Emma, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Cooney) Ormerod, natives of Staffordshire, England, where she also was born, Feb, 19, 1864. Richard Ormerod was a black- smith by trade, and came to America about 1872,

settling in Ohio. He died in that State Aug. 25, 1878. Mrs. Ormerod and daughter soon after came to this county and settled in Emerson Township. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were married at Elm Hall, in this county, and now live on 30 acres deeded them by Mr. Shaw's father. They are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is a young man of intel- ligence and integrity.

eorge E. Stone, farmer and stock-grower, section 32, New Haven Township, was born in Milford Township, Defiance Co. Ohio, June 1, 1847. His parents, Norman and Electa (Spaulding) Stone, were natives respectively of New York and Vermont, and of New England ancestry. Mr. Norman Stone was a farmer, and moved in 1844 to Ohio, as one of the first settlers in the northwestern part of the State. They are still living there, aged respectively 63 and 60 years.

It was in this settlement that the subject of this sketch passed his early boyhood. Being the eldest of the children, it fell to him to take a prominent part in the management of the new farm, which, amid the untoward obstacles of a frontier life, developed in him considerable executive ability. He secured withal a good common-school education. At the age of 20, Aug. 4, 1867, in his native township, he was married to Miss Matilda, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Clay) Gingery, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Mrs. Stone was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Aug. 2, 1849, and was seven years of age when her parents moved with her to Defiance County. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. S. resided on a farm in Defiance County until the fall of 1874, when they came to this county and settled on 80 acres on sec- tion 32, New Haven Township. This tract was then a wild forest, but Mr. Stone has now 40 acres in good cultivation, and the place equipped with a fine residence, barn, etc. He is a thoroughgoing, practi- cal farmer. He is a minister in the Dunkard Church, of which religious body his wife is also an active member. In political matters Mr. Stone is a decided Prohibitionist Republican, and also a Good Templar. Has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and

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Township Superintendent of Schools. He has taught singing-school at times for 17 years.

The family record is as follows: John H., born Aug. 24, 1868; Minnie P., Jan. 31, 1870; Electa A., July 9, 1875, and died Sept. 11, 1877 ; and Ira A., born July 28, 1880.

ohn F. Shaw, farmer, section 31, Ithaca Township, was born in Pittsfield, Washte- naw Co., Mich., July 29, 1859, and is a son of John C. and Nancy Ann (Bowen) Shaw, na- tives of New England and Ontario, Can., re- spectively. When five years old, he went with his parents to Hamburg, Livingston County, and later to Ann Arbor. In the latter city, he attended the ward schools for six years. After completing his course of study, he assisted his father in running a dray line for three years. In May, 1878, he came with his father to this county, and lived on his farm near Ithaca.

Dec. 4, 1881, in North Star Township, he was united in marriage to Eliza, daughter of John and Ann (Best) Humphrey, natives of England. They were farmers, and emigrated to Cayuga Co., N. Y., where Eliza was born Feb. 25, 1863. Two years later, she came with her parents to North Star Town- ship, where she grew up and was educated. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw commenced keeping house, and made their home on 30 acres on the east- ern half of his father's farm, which was given to them Nov. 12, 1881. Here they are making a comfortable residence. Mrs. Shaw is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Shaw is an energetic and industrious farmer, and is popular among his friends. They have one son, Benjamin Franklin, born Dec. 22, 1883.

ames G. Brady, farmer, section 6, Pine River Township, is a son of Joseph and Martha (McKee) Brady, and was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, June 13, 1836. His father and mother were born in Pennsylvania. They first fixed their residence in Seneca Co., Ohio, and, later in life, came to Michigan, and settled in Gratiot County. In 1879, they Jemoved to Mary- land, where the father died, April 21, 1880. The

mother returned to Gratiot County after his death, where she still resides.

They had five daughters and two sons : James G., Maria, Barbara, Samuel S., Mary J., Sarah, Alice J.

Mr. Brady came to Gratiot County in June, 1855, and bought 80 acres of wild land in l'ine River Town- ship, on which he has since resided and now has 60 acres of tillable land.

During the war of the Rebellion, Mr. Brady became a soldier and was mustered into the service of the United States Feb. 13, 1862. He had enlisted in the 14th Mich. Vol. Inf., and was in active service until the close of the war, serving three years and one month and receiving an honorable discharge. Among other engagements he participated in the siege of Corinth, Stone River, and the march to the sea with Sherman, taking part in all the actions of that campaign. Mr. Brady belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is an adherent to the National Green- back party.

He was married in Pine River Township, Aug. 27, 1860, to Helen, daughter of Silas and Martha J. Biggs. Mrs. Brady was born in Branch Co., Mich., Dec. 27, 1846 ; and her parents are natives of the State of New York. She died Jan. 30, 1874, leaving four children : James S., born Aug. 15, 1861 ; Mar- tha J., Jan. 10, 1866; Barbara E., July 29, 1867 ; Josephine H., Dec. 19, 1873.

3 artin Kidder, farmer, owning 35 acres on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 21, and also 40 acres, being the N. W. quarter of the N. W. quarter of section 28, Bethany Tp., is a native of Nashua, N. H., where he was born Oct. 6, 1840. His parents were Nathan and Orline (Simons) Kidder. When nine years of age he lost his father. He then moved to Elsted, N. H., remaining there six years, then was at Yonkers, N. Y., three years and then moved to New Haven, Conn. His father was a teamster most of his life, and died in Nashua.

In Yonkers the subject of this sketch learned the trade of machinist, which he followed until the out- break of the war, when, May 23, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 4th Conn. Vol Inf .; three months afterward he was transferred to the ist Heavy Artillery. He

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was in the army service three years, participating in the engagements at Fair Oaks, Yorktown, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, under Gen. Butler, Drury's Bluff, and in a large number of skirmishes. He was honorably discharged in the field near Richmond.

Shortly after returning home to New Haven he went to Watertown, Conn., and worked on a farm seven years; then, in 1871, he came to St. Louis, Mich., and purchased a farm of 112 acres, in Lafay- ette Township, on section 4, but did not take up his abode there. lle sold it seven years later. In 1872 he bought 40 acres on section 28, Bethany Township, and in 1877 he purchased land where he now re- sides, on section 21. He has cleared a portion of this land, put it in a fine tillable condition, erected good buildings, etc. Mr. Kidder is an influential man in his community, and is at present a Justice of the Peace.

Sept. 29, 1869, in Watertown, Conn., Mr. Kidder was married to Miss Mary J., daughter of David and Maria J. (Hubbell) Munn, who was born in Connect- icut, June 18, 1851. Their two children are : Nathan, born in St. Louis, April 12, 1875, and Wealthy, born also in St. Louis, Dec. 10, 1877. An ancestor, Sam- uel Munn, moved from Milford, Conn., to ancient Woodbury, previous to 16So. His children were : Jane, Amy, Mary, Daniel and Samuel. John, the son of Daniel, had ten children. Of the third gen- eration, Abel was born in 1758. David L., of the fourth generation, was born in 1794. David S., of the 5th generation and father of Mrs. Kidder, was born in 1826.

aniel C. Mills, farmer, section 15, Pine Riv- " er Township, was born Oct. 9, 1835, in the State of New York. His parents, Cyrus and Marilla (Chase) Mills, were also natives of the same State, and afterward removed to Penn- sylvania. They went thence to Ohio, where the father died, in Medina County. The mother died in Stark County, Ohio.

Mr. Mills remained with or near his parents until he was 25 years old, obtaining his education in early life at the common schools. He made his first ac- quaintance with Gratiot County in August, 1854, and remained here more than a year, returning then to

Ohio, where he engaged 12 years in farming. He then sold his farm, and, in the spring of 1866, again came to Gratiot County and bought 40 acres of land on section 15. It was in a wild state and is now nearly all improved and cultivated. Mr. Mills is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Republican party.

Hle was married Sept. 15, 1859, in Medina Co., O, to Esther, daughter of Daniel and Esther (Mitch- ell) Lepley. Mrs. Mills was born April 16, 1842, in Ohio. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Of four children born to her and her husband, two survive : Perlie A. and James. The deceased chil- dren were Frankie and Willie, who died in infancy. Mrs. Mills is a member of the Disciples' Church.

ohn C. Shaw, farmer, section 31, Ithaca Township, was born in Durham, England, Feb. 19, 1826, and is the son of William and Mary (Camcel) Shaw, natives of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire respectively. William Shaw was engaged in the cutlery shops of Sheffield, England, for a number of years. In 1831, he emi- grated to America, and died in Kingston, Canada, of the cholera, one year later. John remained with his mother until 17 years old, when he came to Detroit and engaged as errand boy with Mr. George Duffield. He was thus thrown amongst a family of excellent breeding and high moral and intellectual qualities, and the impressions made on his youthful mind pro- duced a most beneficial effect. The next few years were spent partly on a farm in Canada, and partly on the lakes.

March 3, 1846, at Troy, Oakland Co., Mich., he was married to Matilda Berry, a native of New York, and the adopted daughter of Charles M. Howard, of Detroit, Mich. She was born in 1824, and died in June, 1849, three years after her marriage, leaving two children to comfort her husband : Mary W., now of Detroit, and Charles H., now of North Star Town- ship, this County. IIe was a second time married in Wayne Co., Mich., late in the fall of 1849, to Nancy Ann Bowen, a native of Canada. Being left an orphan when quite young, she knew little of her par- ents and relatives. She came to this State when 16 years old, and lived in Wayne County until her mar-

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Ibalmore Floyt

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riage. One year after that event, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw went to Ann Arbor and then to Adrian. Their next move, in 185 1, took them to Monroe City, where they lived three years. They then went to Ypsilanti, and lived there also three years, Mr. Shaw being janitor of the union school at that place. He then worked a small farm in Pittsfield, Washtenaw County, for nine years, when he went to Livingston County and purchased a farm of 200 acres. He cultivated this farm until April, 1869, when he went to Ann Arbor, and was a drayman and coal dealer until 1878. He then came to this county and purchased 98 acres adjoining the village plat of Ithaca, 40 acres being within the corporation limits. Only four acres had been improved at that time, but 60 acres are now in a state of thorough cultivation. He has deeded 30 acres to each of his two married sons, who live on the place, and otherwise disposed of six acres, so that he retains 32 acres in his own name.

By his second marriage, Mr. Shaw has six children, as follows: William A., born July 18, 1850; Matilda B., Feb. 9, 1853; Elizabeth, Oct. 13, 1854; Eva M., Sept. 12, 1851 ; John F., July 29, 1858; Albert M., March 19, 1860. Mrs. Shaw and four of her children are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Shaw is a Republican in political matters. Dur- ing his brief residence in this county, he has by his progressive spirit and upright habits won the esteem of all his fellow citizens.

almore Hoyt, farmer, section 19, Pine River Township, was born Sept. 23, 1826, in Mon- roe Co., N. Y., and is the son of Calvin and Sally (Holmbeck) Hoyt. His father was a na- tive of Massachusetts, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania. Until the age of 20 Mr. Hoyt remained under the control of his parents. They had removed to Jackson Co., Mich., five years before and continued there to reside for 18 years.

Mr. Hoyt came to Gratiot County in January, 1855, and bought 320 acres of land in Pine River and Se- ville Townships. He sold that part of his estate lying in the latter, and has now a snug farm of 160 acres, with 100 acres improved and cultivated. In political affinity Mr. Hoyt is a Democrat. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace one term, and

that of Highway Commissioner three years. He has served as Township Treasurer five terms and held various other offices in his township and school dis- trict.

He was married in Calhoun Co., Mich., Jan. 26, 1858, to Ann E., daughter of Frederick and Sarepta (Fox) Wright. She was born in Jackson Co., Mich., June 26, 1840. Eight children have been born of this marriage : Emma S., Dec. 5, 1861 (died Feb. 20, 1884) ; Calvin B., Nov. 8, 1863; Dudley M., Sept. 23, 1865 ; Millicent A., Ang. 11, 1868 (died Aug. 9, 1870); George V., Oct. 8, 1870; Charlotte E., Dec. 16, 1873; Frank L., July 16, 1878; Edwin S., July 13, 1883.

The portrait of Mr. Hoyt may be found on another page. He is a leading, representative agriculturist and belongs to a family more intimately connected with the earlier history of Gratiot County than any other within its limits.

illiam W. Comstock, farmer, section 19, Emerson Township, was born in Leyden, Lewis Co., N. Y., May 18, 1823, and is the son of E. H. and Lucy (Jenks) Com- stock, natives of New England and of New England descent. The father was proprietor of a large dairy farm in Lewis County, and worked it until his death, at the age of 74. The mother lived to the advanced age of 93. Until 20 years old, William worked on his father's farm and at- tended the district schools. In May, 1843, he came to this State and settled in Hillsdale County.

He was united in marriage, in Hillsdale County, June 14, 1846, to Margaret M., daughter of William and Mary (Thurston) Carothers, natives of New York, and of Scotch-Irish and English extraction, re- spectively. She was born in Yates Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1829. Her mother died four years later, and at the age of 10 she was adopted by Robert Mitchell, of Geneva, Ontario Co., N. Y. Here she remained as one of the family until the fall of 1845, when with her father she came to Hillsdale County, this State, and settled in Wheatland Township, where she lived until her marriage. Fifteen months after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Comstock returned to their native State, and settled in the vicinity of his birth-

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place. In the winter of 1854-5, they came to this county and settled in Washington Township. Oct. 1, 1855, they started the Ithaca Hotel, at Ithaca, when there were but two business houses in the place. He first erected a hewed-log house for a hotel, but put up a frame building as soon as he could get sawed lumber. A part of that building still remains, as an attachment to the Retan House. He cut the trees from the ground on which the hotel was built. A few years later, he erected a three-story hotel on f the lot now occupied by the Desermia House. This 3 burned, and he erected the present Desermia House. In the summer of 1877 he removed to his farm two miles north of Ithaca. Here he now owns 240 acres of good land, with 100 acres well improved.

Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have had a family of eight children, four of whom are living: Nettie HI., born Dec. 6, 1847 ; Addie A., Jan. 15, 1850; Eugenie L., Oct. 4, 1853; Wallace W., Jan. 30, 1860. The deceased are : Clarence E., born May 15, 1852, died Sept. 5, 1853 ; Clarence W., born July 30, 1855, died Sept. 16, 1858; Ralph T., born Sept. 29, 1862, died Aug. 2, 1865 ; Carlton H., born Sept. 22, 1866, died Oct. 27, 1873.

Mr. Comstock was the first Supervisor of Wash- ington Township, and has been Justice of the Peace, Clerk and Highway Commissioner in Emerson Town- ship. In politics, he is a staunch Republican. He started the first Republican paper in this county, called the Gratiot News. Ile is a member of Ithaca Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., Ithaca Chapter, No. 70, R. A. M., Ithaca Council, No. 33, R. & S. M., and St. John's Commandery, No. 24, K. T., at St. John's.

homas J. Tann, resident of the village of Elwell, Seville Township, is a son of Will- iam and Hannah (Jenkins) Tann, natives of the city of London, England. William Tann was a merchant while in England, and came with his wife to the United States in 1819. They landed at New York city, and, railroads being then unknown, proceeded to Albany in a schooner. Thence they went shortly to Pittsford, N. Y., where Mr. T. followed the pursuit of agricult- ure until his death, in May, 1865. Mrs. T. died in 1825.

The subject of this biographical sketch was born

April 27, 1813, in the great city of London, and, coming to America with his parents, he lived with them until 21 years of age. Since then he has been employed in running a steam engine, in mercantile pursuits and in farming. He came to Oakland Co., Mich., in 1839, and remained in that county until 1846. Going to New York State he made that his home until 1854, when he came to Gratiot County and located a tract of So acres of land on sections 35, Seville, and 2, Sumner. He still owns that place, purchased 30 years ago, without any financial incum- brance whatever. He received a duplicate of the land from Ionia, and two years later a deed from the Government, signed by James Buchanan. He has now 40 acres improved and suitable farm buildings.

April 27, 1839, he married Mrs. Sarah C. Lathrop, a widow, and a daughter of William Truman. She was born in 1802 and died in this county in 1876, leaving two sons and a daughter: George J., Charles WV. and Emily H. (wife of Charles G. Phelps, a mer- chant of Elwell). Mr. Tann was elected County Coroner in 1861 and 1862. He has been Justice of the Peace two years, and is now School Inspector. He is a Notary Public, appointed by Gov. Jerome, and re-appointed by Gov. Begole. He belongs to the Seventh-Day Adventists, and to the Patrons of Husbandry. He is politically a staunch Greenbacker.

ohn W. Mouser, resident at Ithaca, was born March 31, 1832, in Virginia. Daniel and Elizabeth (Hahen) Mouser, his parents, were born in the same State and were there engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. In the year 1846 the family removed to Ohio and re- sided some time in Seneca County, removing thence to Wood County, where they remained about ten years, going thence to Williams County, where the death of the father occurred, Sept. 11, 1877. The mother died in 1842, in Virginia.

The first important event in the record of Mr. Mouser was his marriage, which occurred Feb. 28, 1855, with Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Clemens) Landis. The father of Mrs. Mouser be- longed to the agricultural community, and was also interested in stock-rearing. They went from Penn- sylvania to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and afterward

GRATIOT COUNTY.

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moved to Wood County, in the same State. Later on they went to Indiana, but not long after returned to Toledo, Ohio. They are both deceased.

Mr. Mouser remained in Ohio after his marriage until 1857, when he removed with his family to Isa- bella Co., Mich. He located a farm in the unbroken wilderness, cutting his road thither through the forest. His family were among the first white settlers of the county, and he aided in every possible way in advancing the general interests and prosperity. Among other pioneer experiences was the cutting of the road from his farm to Indian Mills, near where Mt. Pleasant now stands. In 1872 he came to Gratiot County and located on section 13, Newark Township, on So acres of land. Of this tract about 70 acres are under good improvements, and a fine large barn, which Mr. Mouser built in 1875, is a noticeable addition to his valuable farm.

In 1862 Mr. Mouser became a Union soldier. He enlisted in Co. C, Eighth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was in actual service in three engagements. He received final discharge March 14, 1863, in Convalescent Camp, in Virginia. In political faith Mr. Mouser is an uncompromising Republican. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and are zealous workers in its interest. They are the parents of six children : James L., Sarah A., Daniel J., Mary L., Lincoln J. and George G.

A almon Yerington, insurance agent, resident at Alma, was born in Rollin, Lenawee Co., Mich., Jan. 15, 1842, and is the son of Will- iam and Amanda (Bennett) Yerington. The parents were natives of Connecticut, and after their marriage settled in Lenawee County. In 1866 they came to Gratiot County and fixed their residence at Alma, where the father died, Sept. 11, 1877, and the mother passed to her home of un- broken rest and peace, Jan. 25, 1875. Nine children were born to them, three of whom died in infancy. Almon, Stephen D., Gertude, Mary E., George H. and Charles W. lived to years of maturity.

Mr. Yerington was 19 years old when the war of

the rebellion broke out. He had been reared under influences which fostered the principles he inherited of love of freedom and unity of country, and in May, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Mich. Vol. In- fantry. The regiment was mustered into the service of the State in the same month, and into that of the United States in June following. Mr. Yering- ton was discharged in August, 1862, after 14 months' service. Among other engagements of less moment in which he was a participant were the first battle of Bull's Run and the fights of the Peninsula Campaign under Mcclellan. In December, 1862, he again en- listed as a soldier for the Union, in the Sixth Mich. Cav., and was detailed for service in Gen. Custer's Brigade Band. He was with Sheridan in the Valley Campaign, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court-House. He served in Gen. Custer's command during the remainder of the war, and when the Brigade was ordered to Wyoming Ter- ritory, on an expedition against the Indians, Mr. Yerington was detailed a member of the Post Band at Fort Leavenworth. He was mustered out of ser- vice Oct. 13, 1865.

In the spring of 1866, Mr. Yerington settled in Alma and opened a drug store-the first establish- ment in that avenue of trade in Gratiot County. He continued its management until 1875, when he sold out. In the spring of 1876 he was elected Justice of the Peace and has since continued the incumbent of the office. In 1875 he began to operate in insur- ance, in which he has been prosperous to a satisfac- tory degree. In political sentiment and affiliation he is a Republican. In 1867 he was appointed Postmaster of Alma by President Johnson and filled the position with honor 12 years. He has officiated several years as Village Clerk, and since he became resident at Alma has been intimately identified with its interests and prosperity. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to William Moyer Post, No. 152, G. A. R.

He was married May 21, 1871, at Alma, to Mary B., daughter of William and Lois A. (Peckham) Moyer. She was born March 21, 1853, in Oneida Co., N. Y. Her parents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, and were among the pioneer settlers of Alma. The father died in March, 1869 ; the mother is an inmate of the house of her daughter.

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ilton M. Lewis, farmer on section 3, Ful- ton Township, is a son of James H. and Sophronia (Hodges) Lewis, natives of New York. They came from New York to this State, and settled in Hillsdale County, where they reared a family of six children. Milton, the eklest son, was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Sept. 29, 1850. He received his education in the common schools, and remained at home until 19 years old, assisting his father while not at school, having come to Gratiot County with his parents when five years old.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 41

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

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