USA > Michigan > Gratiot County > Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich. > Part 43
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by indomitable perseverance, triumphed over obsta- cles ; and, though yet in the prime of life, they have lived to see many of their early neighbors give up the task of earning a home and drop out of sight in the race of life. Mr. and Mrs. Ovenden amply de- serve representation among the portraits with which this work is embellished, and a double page near by is accordingly awarded them.
dward Creech, farmer, section 9, Pine River 'Township, was born in Woodbridge, N. J., Dec. 25, 1841. llis parents, Richard and Catherine Creech, were born in Ireland, and on coming to the United States located in New Jersey, and afterwards settled in the State of New York, where the mother died and the father still resides.
At the age of 15 years, Mr. Creech was thrown upon his own resources, and from that time until the advent of armed rebellion, he maintained himself by farming and as a sailor on the Hudson River. He enlisted June, 1861, in the ist Mich. Vol. Inf., en- rolling in Co. D. He served four years, and June 27, 1862, at the battle of Gaines' Mill, was severely wounded in the head by a minie ball, and was cap- tured at the same time by the rebels. He was paroled two months later.
After his recovery, Mr. Creech was offered his dis- charge, but he declined its acceptance, and also re- fused assignment to the Invalid Corps. He returned to his command, and joined his regiment in July, 1863, while it was on the march to Gettysburg, and he participated in that engagement. His first enlist- ment was for three years, but in January, 1864, he again enrolled in the Union ranks. His regiment was one ordered on duty up the Weldon railroad, and when on the return from the work of destruction there, in a slight skirmish, he was hit in the right knee by a spent ball, and sustained some injury, but not sufficient to incapacitate from duty. He received a similar hurt in his left arm about ten minutes before Lee capitulated at Appomattox Court house. An- other significant incident was a conversation Mr. Creech held with a rebel soldier on picket guard at Yellow House Tavern, on the Weldon railroad. The " butternut" anxiously inquired if Mcclellan was
likely to be elected the next President. Mr. Creech replied : " No, sir! We shall elect Abraham Lincoln and fight this thing out." The disheartened rebel exclaimed in despairing tones : "Oh, my God ! when will I get home ?"
After his discharge from the army he came to Jackson, Mich., where he was employed about six months in the capacity of guard at the State Prison. He went afterward to Hillsdale County, where he was engaged in buying and selling land to some ex- tent. In the spring of 1872, he lost his home by fire, a misfortune rendered wholly disastrous from the fact that the building was uninsured. Mr. Creech went to Nebraska for the purpose of locating land, and en- tered a claim of 160 acres ; but he did not conclude the terms of his claim, and soon after returned to lHillsdale County. He bought a farm there, which he sold later on, and coming to Gratiot County he bought the farm on which he has since resided, com- prising 120 acres, with 90 acres under cultivation. Mr. Creech belongs to the National Greenback party in political affiliation.
lle was married Oct. 30, 1866, at Jackson, to Me- linda, daughter of Tunis and Eliza (Craig) Vrooman. Mrs. Creech was born Dec. 7, 1844, in Jackson Co., Mich. Of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Creech, three survive : Fred C., Ina A. and Tunis B. Five children died in infancy. The parents are members of the Disciples' Church.
ohn M. Trask, ex-County Clerk of Gratiot County, resident at Ithaca, was born in Lucas Co., Ohio, April 8, 1840. He is a son of Linus L. and Nancy E. (Thompson) Trask, natives of New York. The father was a mechanic, and removed his family to Ottawa Co., Ohio, and, later in life, to Winnebago Co., Ill. In 1852 another removal was made, to Ottawa Co., Ohio, where the mother died, Feb. 21, 1865. The father's demise occurred Dec. 31, 1855.
Mr. Trask came to Michigan on attaining his ma- jority, and entered a machine-shop at St. John's, Clin- ton County, where he spent eight months, in the year 1861. In December, 1860, he located a farm in Gratiot County. He enlisted as a soldier for the
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Union in 1863, enrolling in Co. 1, 27th Mich. Vol. Inf. The regiment was at first assigned to the Army of the West and was afterward transferred to the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Trask participated cred- itably in all the engagements of the Ninth Corps. He was wounded June 3, 1864, at Cold Harbor and received his muster-out Aug. 25, 1865.
Mr. Trask was married in 1862 to Eliza A., daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Kay) Hoffman. The father was of German birth, and emigrated to America when he was 14 years old. He has been a farmer all his active life, and is one of the first white settlers in the township of North Star. To him is ac- credited the honor of naming the town. Mr. and Mrs. Trask have three children: Clyde O., Midge M. and Ord J.
Mr. Trask is an adherent to the tenets of the Re- publican party. He has served the township of North Star six years as Clerk, and acted in the same capacity nearly a year in Fulton Township. In 1880 he was elected Clerk of Gratiot County, and proved one of the ablest officials in the discharge of the duties incumbent upon him known in the records of the county. He is now engaged with Nelson & Barber, general merchants at Ithaca. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order, and belongs to Ithaca Lodge, No. 123; also to Ithaca Chapter, No. 70; Ithaca Council, No. 33 ; and St. John Commandery, No. 24.
alah J. Day, farmer, section 22, Pine River Township, was born Dec. 16, 1846, in Jackson Co., Mich. He is a son of Salah and Sarah (White) Day. His parents were natives of the State of New York, and after their marriage settled in Steuben County, where they resided until 1833, when they removed to Jackson Co., Mich. The father is deceased, and the mother is still living, in that county.
When Mr. Day reached his majority, he purchased a farm in Jackson Connty, which included 40 acres of land. On this he operated about two years, when he sold out, and in January, 1868, came to Gratiot County and bought 50 acres of partly improved land in Arcada Township. He returned to Jackson County without settling upon the farm he had pur-
chased, and in November, 1874, he exchanged the place for a livery stable at Alma. He managed that business upwards of a year, when he sold out, and in February, 1875, removed to Branch Co., Mich., where he had become the owner of a farm of 60 acres. On this he labored nearly a year, and then made an ex- change of the property for 80 acres of land, where he has since operated, and which he has all improved, and has well cultivated. He is an adherent to the tenets of the National Greenback party in political views.
He was married Sept. 16, 1875, at Alma, to Eva J., daughter ot James and Elizabeth Morrison, na- tives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Mrs. Day was born in Eureka, Clinton Co., Mich., Oct 6, 1856 The family includes one child, Floyd S., born June 17, 1876. Mr. Day is a member of the Royal Arcanum.
esse Casteel, farmer on section 25, North Shade Township, is a son of James and Sarah (Bierbauer) Casteel, natives of West- moreland Co., Va., and Fayette Co., Pa., re- spectively. The father followed the occupation of a farmer, and during the winter months tanght school. The parents moved to Ohio, in 1857, and located in Wayne County, where the mother died, in the year 1838. The father then returned to Penn- sylvania, where he remained for a period and then removed to Fayette Co., Pa., where he is at present residing.
The subject of our sketch was born in Westmore- land Co., Va., Dec. 5, 1825. He remained at home assisting on the farm until the death of his mother. when he went to live with a friend of the family and with whom he remained until he was 18 years of age. On attaining that age he set out to battle against the trials of the world alone, unaided except by the in- domitable energy and perseverance inculcated into his mind in childhood, and went to Richland Co., Ohio. He remained there, variously occupied, for a period of five years.
On the 14th day of March, 1850, Mr. Casteel left Ohio and started for the " Land of Gold," landing at San Francisco, May 7, of the same year. He went from there to Sacramento and thence to Georgetown,
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and prospected in and around the latter place for some time. Not finding any claimns worth working, he went to a canyon some 25 miles distant, but on arriving there the water was so high they could not work it. and he was compelled to return. He then went to Spencer Bar on the Middle Fork of the American River, and remained two months; from thenee he went two miles below, formed a company, and dug a race 80 rods long and dammed the river. He was engaged in his mining operations for some 17 years, and three years acted as agent for a ditch company.
Mr. Casteel returned to Indiana in 1871, settled in Allen County, and remained three years, and then came to this State and located on section 25, North Shade Township, securing 160 aeres. He has since disposed of 80 acres and added by purchase 19 acres.
He has held the position of Highway Commis- sioner, and in politics is a Republican.
rof. Adelbert E. Barstow, for several years teacher of District No. 2, North Star Town- ship, was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oet. 2, 1846, and is a son of Wm. M. Barstow, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work. His parents came to Hillsdale County, this State, in 1853, and to this county in 1856. He was educated at the common schools of his distriet and at Ithaca, this county, and at the age of 21 began teaching. He has taught during the winter season most of the time for 16 years,-six terms in his home district, where he is now teaching. This is sufficient evidence of his ability to give satisfaction. He re- sides in Ithaca, where he is also conducting an insur- ance business, which his father attends to during the winter.
Mr. Barstow was married Oet. 2, 1871, to Cassie A. Barton, daughter of Wm. Barton, of Ithaca, an ex-soldier of the British army and a participant in the battle of Waterloo : he is now 86 years old, and has a very retentive memory. Mrs. Barstow's brother, Wm. Barton, was starved to death in the rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C.
Mr. and Mrs. B. have had four children, as fol- lows: Lottie (deceased), Hattie, Willie and Nellie.
Mr. B. has been Drain Commissioner two years and School Inspector two years. Mrs. B. has taught 20 terms of school, and as an educator she has become prominent.
enry Swift, farmer, section 22, North Star Township, was born in Dutchess Co. N. Y., Oct. 30, 1805 ; his parents were of English ancestry. His father, Theodosius, was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., and his mother, Polly, nee Winchester, was born in the town of Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y.
Mr. Swift emigrated to St. Joseph County, this State, in the spring of 1837, and to this county in 1855, settling where he now resides. He is a black- smith by trade, which he has followed nearly all his life. He was married in November, 1828, to Polly Lineberg; she died Feb. 8, 1845, and all her five children are now deceased. Nov. 22, 1860, Mr. S. married Mrs. Laura E. Flanagan, whose three chil- dren by a former husband and one child by Mr. S. are all deceased. Two of Mr. Swift's sons, Henry M. and George, grew to manhood, became soldiers in the late war,-in which George died,-and both on their decease left families to mourn their loss. One of Mrs. Swift's children, Wilham H. Flanagan, was also a soldier in the late war, in which he was surrounded and taken prisoner; and after his return home, in February, 1864, he died, at the age of 19 years. Her daughter Nellie died at the age of 12.
Mr. Swift has been Highway Commissioner many years, and Township Treasurer one year.
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on. Jacob M. Kemp, retired merchant, resi- dent at St. Louis, was born in Fayette Co., Pa., July 11, 1811. When he was five years old his parents, Edward and Eve (Pemod) Kemp, removed to Brook Co., Va. They remained there three years and again removed to Jefferson Co., Ohio. In 1826 they went to Richland Co., Ohio.
Mr. Kemp bought So aeres of land in Vernon Township, Richland County, where he resided until
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1851, when he settled near Bryant, in Williams County, in that State, bought a farm and remained on it six years. In 1857 he went to Isabella County and located in the township of Coe, near the north- ern limit of Gratiot County. He bought 320 acres of land, which he increased by subsequent purchase to 480 acres. He expended his best energies and judgment in its improvement. He built the first frame barn in Isabella County, and a suitable frame farm residence. He cleared 100 acres of the place, and in 1873 sold out. He came to St. Louis and en- gaged in keeping the hotel in 1870, then known as the Wessels House. He continued its management two years, when he opened a grocery, and later ad- mitted his son, Joseph Kemp, to a partnership. The latter bought the entire establishment in February, 1882, and the father retired from active business life. He owns, besides his fine residence at St. Louis, ten dwelling-houses, two store buildings and a livery stable. He is a member of the Republican party in political principle, and while a resident of Richland County was prominent in public affairs. He was Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of that county three years.
He was married in the township of Plymouth, Richland County, to Harriet, daughter of Robert and Alice Hoy. She is a native of Virginia. Twelve children were born of this union, five of whom are living: Joseph W., grocer at St. Louis; Narcissa, widow of James Bennett, resident at St. Louis; Kate B., wife of A. J. Harrington, a practicing physician at St. Louis ; George L., farmer of Pine River Town- ship; Elizabeth, wife of N. E. Barber, a cabinet-maker at St. Louis.
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ohn Srodes, real-estate, loan and insurance agent, in company with S. W. Ambler, Ithaca, is a son of Thornton and Caroline (Strodes) Srodes, natives respectively of Vir- ginia and Iowa. Thornton Srodes went with his parents from Virginia to Ohio, and thence to Iowa, where he married Miss Strodes. After mar- riage, he lived some 20 years in the State of Ohio, and then came to Gratiot County and located in North Star Township, where he is still engaged in agricul- ture. His wife died in Wyandot Co., Ohio, in 1856.
The subject of this biography was born May 44, 1854, in Wyandot Co., Ohio, and at the early age of 12 began to do for himself. He worked during the summers to obtain money with which to attend school during the winter. He attended Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio, for three years, and thus at- tained a sufficiently liberal education to enable him to teach, which profession he has followed at times since.
May 10, 1877, he was married to Eunice, daughter of William M. and Eunice C. (McBride) Barstow (see sketch). She was born Aug. 11, 1859, in the county of Gratiot. Mr. Srodes is politically a staunch Re- publican. He is the second son of a family of three sons. The other two are: Solomon, a farmer of North Star Township, and George, a resident of the State of Colorado.
S ilas Randolph, farmer, section 8, Pine Riv- er Township, is a son of Cornelius S. and Margaret C. (Barber) Randolph. His father was born in the State of New York, Nov. 14, 18It, and became a resident of Michigan in the spring of 1834, when he settled in Seneca, Lenawee County. He was married June 10, 1838, in that township, and there resided until the autumn of 1882, when he removed to Gratiot County and now resides in Pine River Township (see sketch of Cornelius S. Randolph).
Mr. Randolph is the eldest of six children, five sons and one daughter, born to his parents. His birth occurred March 25, 1839, in Seneca, where he attended the common schools. He completed his education at the High School and Adrian College, at Adrian. When he was 17 years old he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road Company, and spent five years in their service save the terms of school which he attended mean- while. The following five years he was engaged in agriculture, taking farms on shares. In 1870 he came to St. Louis and was employed four years in the bath house of the Magnetic Springs, after which he engaged as ticket agent for the Flint & Pere Marquette Rail- road Company. The latter business not completely occupying his time, he also acted as clerk in a store. In 1877, he entered the service of the C. S. & C. R.
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R. Company, where he was occupied two years. He came to Pine River Township in the spring of 1880, and bought 40 acres of land, which was chiefly in a state of nature. Of this he now has 30 acres under tillage. Mr. Randolph is a Republican in political principle.
He was married Sept. 13, 1864, at Adrian, Mich., to Rachel, daughter of Eben and Fanny Sparhawk. The parents were natives of Vermont, and, after their marriage, settled in Medina Co., Ohio, and afterward went to Summit County in that State, where Mrs. Randolph was born, April 18, 1842. She is the young- est of seven children-four daughters and three sons. Three children have been born of her marriage to Mr. Randolph: Emma, Maggie and Frank E.
The parents are members of the Disciples' Church.
... ilbert C. Smith, salesman with Nelson & Barber, Ithaca, is a son of Elihu and Maria (Sellick) Smith, natives of Vermont. The father has always followed farming, and moved from the Green Mountain State to St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., and in 1867 came to Gratiot County. He now resides with his son, at the ad- vanced age of 89. Gilbert's mother died in St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., in 1860.
The subject of this notice was born Aug. 26, 1842, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and at 18 entered a tub factory, where he was employed two years. Coming to Michigan, he worked at carpentry in Kent County a year and a half, and then lived for eight years north of the village of Ithaca. Next, he bought Gen. Church's interest in the dry-goods business of Nelson & Church, which he retained for two years. The ensuing five years he was engaged in the hardware business, and then he engaged as salesman with Nelson & Barber, in which capacity he has since continued.
He was first married in 1867 to Celia E. Putnam, daughter of Israel and Jane (Barber) Putnam. She was born March 8, 1845, and died Dec. 8, 1877, in the village of Ithaca, leaving two daughters-Lottie M. and Minnie J. He subsequently, in January, 1879, married for his present wife Molly Handy, who was born in Pontiac, this State, March 11, 1853. Mr. Smith has been Treasurer of Arcada Township,
and has been connected with the School Board ever since he has lived in Ithaca. He is a Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Baptist Church.
illiam Barton, of Ithaca, was born in Kinross, Scotland, May 22, 1798, and is the son of William Barton, a native of County Tyrone, North Ireland. He was brought up and educated in the classic city of Glasgow. In 1814, he enlisted in the Duke of Wellington's regiment, and served nine years. He was in the famous battle of Waterloo, on which occasion only four privates and a sergeant be- sides himself, out of all his company, were able to walk away from the battlefield. Jan. 1, 1822, he crossed the ocean to the island of Jamaica, and the ensuing fall went to New Brunswick, thence to East- port, Me., Quebec, Portland, Boston, Pawtucket, R. I., and to Columbiana Co., Ohio, in 1823, where he engaged in wool-manufacturing until 1854, when he came to this county, settling in Hamilton Township.
Jan. 17, 1827, he married Catharine Stickels, and five of their eight children are living, namely : Samuel, Sarah J., Mary L., Cassie and Laura H. William was starved to death in the prison at Salis- bury, N. C. Cassie is the wife of Prof. A. E. Barstow. Mr. Barton is 86 years of age, and his wife 77 : a venerable pair.
unean Cameron, farmer, section 28, Beth- any Township, was born in York Co., Can., Oct. 29, 1844, and is a son of Archibald and Barbara (Lyon) Cameron, the former a native of Scotland, a farmer, and died in the Dominion of Canada, where the latter is still living.
In 1864, Mr. C. left Canada, resided a year in St. Clair Co., Mich., then a year at Richmond, Ma- comb County, this State, where he commenced to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he fol- lowed about a year at Ann Arbor, Mich. He next resided several years at Jackson, Mich., where he fol- lowed his mechanical vocation and erected some very fine houses, six of which he sold for the proprietors.
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GRATIOT COUNTY.
In the fall of 1878 he bought, in Rives Township, Jackson County, 80 acres of improved land, resided there three years, and in the fall of 1881 came to Bethany Township, this county, and purchased the 40 acres where he now resides, on the southeast quar- ter of section 28; 20 acres are improved and in a high state of cultivation. Since residing here he has built a number of residences in this township.
On national questions, Mr. C. is a Democrat, and in religion he, as well as his wife, is a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.
While a resident of Aurora, Can., Dec. 25. 1866, Mr. Cameron was married to Jennie Mckinley, a native of that Dominion. Of the six children born by this marriage, four are living, viz. : Maggie, born April 12, 1868; Gracie May, April 15, 1871, and died in Bethany Township, April 12, 1882; Minnie Maud, born Aug. 2, 1873; Annie Albertha, June 8, 1876; Arthur A , Jan. 14, 1879; and Albert E., April 14, 1880, and died August 7th following. The first four were born in Jackson, and the last two in Rives Township.
Mrs. C. died in Rives Township, May 2, 1880, and Mr. C. was again married, in Jackson, Dec. 25th fol- lowing, to Miss Annie B., daughter of George and Belle (Furgeson) Grindall, who was born in Jackson, Feb. 19, 1861. They have been the parents of two children : Georgie, born Aug. 22, 1881, and died Sept. 7, 1881 ; Frankie, born Dec. 31, 1883.
orenzo Squire, section 21, North Star Town- ship, was born in Portage Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1821, and was the son of Aaron Squire, a native of Connecticut, who moved to Geauga Co., Ohio, in 1823 cr '4. Lorenzo was reared on a farm, and educated in the common school, also at Meadville, Pa., and at the Twinsburg (Ohio) Seminary. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Califor- nia, where he followed mining, mostly in the mount- ains, until the fall of 1853, when he returned home by water; but the next year he went to Callfornia again, remaining until 1859. The following year he commenced to establish a home in this county, and Feb. 13, 1862, he married and settled here. His wife is Caroline C., a daughter of Bohan Blair, de- ceased, and a distant relative of ex-Gov. Blair. The
two children of Mr. and Mrs. Squire are Aaron 1 .. and Julia E.
Mr. S. has been Township Supervisor one year, and is a member of the Adventist Church.
yarlow Cramer, farmer, section 24, Bethany Township, is a son of Jeremiah and Ruth, nee Lowry Cramer, and was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 28, 1830. His parents moved from that State to Freedom Township, Washte- naw County, this State, where they purchased 60 acres of land and followed the occupation of farming until their death, which occurred in 1843 and 1846 respectively. Mr. Cramer continued to follow the vocation of his father until 1855, when he came to this county and located 320 acres of land, being the south half of section 9, Bethany Township, on which he settled and began the arduous task of clearing and improving a home.
Mr. Cramer was married in North Plains Town- ship, lonia County, July 4, 1858, to Miss Mary C., daughter of Eli and Mary, nee Stevens, Dalrymple, and was born in Livingston Co, N. Y., April 14, 1 8.40.
The husband and wife are the parents of nine children : Emily, wife of Elbert E. Ostrander, farmer in Bethany Township; Cheever, deceased ; Adela, Harlow J., Minnie A., deceased, George I)., Herbert R., Mary E. and William H.
Soon after his marriage, in August, 1858. Mr. C. moved on his farm and from thenceforth he threw all his energy and perseverance into the clearing and improving of the same. IFis trials were numerous, and yet his indomitable energy overcame them one and all. For his first residence he had eight sticks driven in the ground equidistant from each other, covered with boards and a blanket for the door. That same fall he cleared three acres of timber and put the land in wheat. He resided on this land until 1864, and then purchased 120 acres, on which he is at present residing. Here he began anew the clearing and improving of a home, and has cleared and improved 60 ocres of it, and has a good resi- dence, barn and orchard. He is a man of strong constitution, and on two occasions carried a bushel of wheat to St. Louis on his back and brought the
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