Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 49

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 49

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Mrs. Betsey (Placeway) Burgess is still living and

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Franklin Squire

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and resides on the homestead. She was born Oct. 10, 1806, in Vermont, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Robbins) Placeway. Her parents were natives respectively of Nova Scotia and Massachu- setts. She married Hiram Burgess Jan. 10, 1830, and became the mother of the following children : Nancy M.,, Frederick L., Julia A., Ann M., Mary A., Emery W., Clarkson L., James W., Seth C. and Bet- sey A.

ohn B. Mallory, farmer on section 2.4, Se- ville Township, is a son of Isaac and Amy (Briggs) Mallory, natives of the vicinity of Glens Falls, N. Y. The father was early in life a blacksmith, but later was in agricultural pursuits. Both parents died in the Empire State.

The subject of this biography was born May 12, 1821, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and lived at home with his parents until 28 years old, attending school during the winters of his youth, and working on the paternal farm in the summers. At the age men- tioned, he was married to Corinna L. Wright, the second daughter of a family of one son and three daughters. Her parents were James and Julia (Strong) Wright, natives of Connecticut. James Wright was a farmer, and moved to Oswego Co., N. Y., and thence to Chautauqua County, same State, where he and wife both died.

Mr. Mallory resided in Hillsdale County, this State, two years, and in 1856 came to Gratiot Coun- ty. lle located on section 24, Seville, but a part of his land was situated on section 23. Settling in the midst of a dense wilderness, he has by persever- ance brought into good shape a farm of about 100 acres, with good house and barns. lle has been Treasurer of his township five years, and has also held the office of School Inspector. Ile has been elected Justice of the Peace several times, but has declined to qualify. Mr. M. is politically a Repub- lican. He and wife are the parents of ten children : Walter C., Fayette A., Julia B., Frances C. (died June 19, 1873), Mina, Maurice, Eunice M., Nevada, Ralph and Anna.

ranklin Squire, farmer, section 30, North Star Township, was born in the County of Geauga, State of Ohio, Feb. 15, 1827, and is a son of Aaron Squire, deceased, a native of Connecticut. The son remained with his parents in his native county, assisting the father on the farm and receiving such instruction as was obtainable from the common schools and de- veloping into manhood.

Feb. 23, 1851, Mr. Squire was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Ann, daughter of John Ilerrington, de- ceased, and he and his " life partner " came seeking a home in this State, and settled in Lenawee County. They remained there for three years, when, in 1854, they came to this county, and Mr. C. entered a 160- acre homestead for himself, and over 500 acres for his brothers, who soon afterward came to the county. His early settlement was characterized by all the trials and hardships experienced by the pioneer settler of the county. Nobly did he battle against all difficulties, and truthfully hath he demonstrated that the hill of adversity requires indomitable energy and perseverance to ascend it. He has continually resided in the county since he entered his home- stead, following the occupation of a farmer, and has met with signal success in that calling. He has been honored with the offices of Clerk, Supervisor and School Director of his township, and possesses the respect and esteem of the citizens.

In religious sentiments Mr. Squire is an ardent ad- herent of the doctrines of the Seventh-Day Advent Church. He believes especially in the doctrine "that Saturday is the true Sabbath," and offers to those who dispute his belief the Decalogue to sub- stantiate it. He is also a firm believer in the 13th chapter of Revelations and likewise the spirit of prophesy.

Mr. and Mrs. Squire have had eight children born to them, seven of whom are living, namely: Frank E., Helen, Eli E., Alice, John, Lucy and Sarah E. One daughter, Adell (Harphan), died in her 21st year, leaving two children to the care of her husband.

This work would be incomplete without a portrait of Mr. Squire, which is accordingly given, on the preceding page.

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FFRi auncelot H. Treat, farmer, section 11, Ar- cada Township, was born in Riley Town- ship, Clinton Co., Mich., July 9, 1844, and is the son of Gordon and Mary (Willett) Treat, natives of New York. Gordon Treat was by occupation a farmer, and came to Michigan when a young man, locating in Oakland County, where he was married. He afterwards went to Clin- ton County, and died at his home in Riley Township, May 20, 1859, aged 59. He was one of the pioneers in both counties. His wife now resides in Clinton County, at the age of 63.

Launcelot was the third child and second son of a family of five, and received a good education in the common schools. After the death of his father, he lived three years with his mother, and at the age of 18 left home to serve his country in the war. Aug. 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 23d Mich Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land. He fought at Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Moun- tain, and other engagements. At Kenesaw, June 25, 1863, he was wounded in the left shoulder by a rifle ball, cutting the shoulder blade in two. Excepting this, he escaped unhurt, and was honorably dis- charged July 12, 1865, after which he returned home.

Jan. 26, 1871, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Ann (Gardner) Fisk, natives of Poult- ney, Rutland Co., Vt., and Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and of mixed descent, they having English, French and Dutch ancestors. Henry Fisk was by occupa- tion a carpenter and joiner, and died in Richland, Montcalm Co., Mich., in August, 1881. Ann (Gard- ner) Fisk is still living in that county, aged 58. Sarah Fisk was born in Bengal, Clinton County, Aug. 23, 1851, and received a fair education in her native county.

Two years after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Treat re- moved to Westphalia Township, Clinton County ; and five years later, Aug. 22, 1878, they came to Gratiot County, purchasing 124 acres ou section 11, Arcada Township. He has since purchased 30 acres, and now has one of the best farms in the county, 134 acres being well improved. Ile has recently erected a magnificent barn, at a cost of over $2,000. Mr.

and Mrs. Treat have two children, as follows : Alta, born March 9, 1870; and Gordon D., born Feb. 1, 1873. In political sentiment, he is a liberal Repub- lican.

ansler R. Reed, of the firm of Leckenby & Reed, wagon manufacturers at St. Louis, was born Jan. 6, 1826, at Norwalk, Ohio, and is the youngest son of Hanson and Eliza- beth (Powers) Reed. His father was a native of Kentucky, and, after marriage, went to Huron Co., Ohio, where, with the parents of his wife, he was among the pioneer settlers. The dates of birth and location in the Buckeye State have not been preserved, but the nativity of the father occurred about 1788, and that of the mother about three years later. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Reed was a soldier of the Revolution, and was more than 100 years old when he died. At the date of the settle- ment of Mr. Powers and his son-in-law in Huron Co., Ohio, inhabitants and improvements were very scarce. Where is now the beautiful city of Norwalk, there was then but an Indian encampment, and the father and grandfather of Mr. Reed erected and put in running order the first saw and grist-mill in that section. They were obliged to travel 70 miles for the fixtures of the establishment, which were con- veyed all that distance on horseback. Hanson Reed was a prominent man in the section where he spent many active years engaged in aiding in the substan- tial progress of Northern Ohio. Ile was a tiod-fear- ing man, and on his death left a family of six sons, whose records in no sense detract from the remem- bered uprightness and integrity which characterized the life of the father. The latter died suddenly in 1828, when about 40 years old, at l'errysburg, Ohio, where he was engaged in fulfilling the conditions of an extensive contract to build a macadamized road over the "Black Swamp," a region which was the source of untold annoyance and dread to the emi- grants, who were obliged to traverse its sloughs anu quicksands. His widow survived until 1865, when she died, aged 74 years. The six sons are all living, and attest the tenacity of life and fine physical vigor which marked the ancestral lines from which they are descended. Franklin D., eldest son, lives at Norwalk, Ohio; James P. is a resident of Mason,

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Ingham Co., Mich .; Eli H. resides in the northern peninsula of Michigan; Abraham P. lives in Mis- souri, and Dennis A. in Wisconsin. Eli, Dennis and Mr. Reed of this sketch became sailors, and the first-named has followed that calling all his life, during the business seasons. He spends his winters in hunting and trapping, and has made an extra- ordinary record with his rifle. Ile became a sailor when he was nine years old and has been on the lakes nearly 60 years.

Mr. Reed was less than two years old when his father died. At the age of 15 he became a sailor, to gratify an inclination to obtain a wider view of the world than what he saw bounded by the horizon inclosing the fields and hills of his native place. He followed the lakes until he was 32 years old and rose to the position of mate, which he occupied on a number of vessels. On becoming a landsman, he engaged in the calling of ship-carpenter, as he had a natural aptitude for the use of tools. In 1860 he came to Tonia Co., Mich., and bought So acres of land, on which he pursued farming and combined the labors of a builder with the duties of agriculture. Later, he went to Adrian, where he worked at his trade two years He went thence to Macon, in the same county, where, associated with Israel Perring- ton, he bought a saw-mill, which they conducted two years. Mr. Reed next went to Corunna, Ind., where he owned a third interest in a lumber-mill. Two years later he went to Kendallville, in Indiana, where he engaged a short time as a wagon-maker. His next business venture was at Atwood, Ind., where he managed a lumber-mill in his own interest seven years, and afterwards pursued agriculture at that place about the same length of time. After working as a carpenter at Warsaw, Ind., a short time, in May, 1882, he came to St. Louis and bought out a furni- ture store, which he conducted six months and sold out. He entered into his present business relation Dec. 15, 1883, with E. Leckenby, and is engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons. Their works require four assistants, and each of the princi- pals manages a different branch of the business. Mr. Reed is the owner of 36 feet frontage on Sagi- naw Street, and the lot runs back 30 feet, the tract containing two buildings, which are used for store- rooms, painting and turning rooms. The blacksmith and ironing shop connected with the establishment is the property of the senior partner.

Mr. Reed was married Dec. 4, 1843, in Norwalk, Ohio, to Cyrena M., daughter of Alvin Blodgett, a farmer of Huron Co., Ohio. Their three children are : Rose, Lora D. and Ella D. The first-named is the wife of Samuel Hatch, traveling salesman for Thorb & Hawley, of Detroit. The second daughter is the wife of John W. Ackley, foreman of the lum- ber-mill of the Grand Haven Lumber Company. The youngest is the wife of A. S. Thompson, foreman in the employ of 11. L. Ilolcomb, of St. Louis. Mr. Reed is a member of the Order of Masonry and of the Odd Fellows. Himself and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church.

homas Gallagher, farmer, section 5, Pine River Township, was born April 4, 1833, in Pennsylvania, and is the son of Thomas and Lucy (Hubbs) Gallagher, both of whom were born in the Keystone State. They removed in later life to Ohio, and after a residence there covering a period of nine years, they came to Michi- gan, where they passed their subsequent lives. The father died in Ingham County, the mother in Eaton County.

Mr. Gallagher was an infant about one year old, when his parents went to Ohio, and when he was ten years of age they came to Michigan. His father died the following year and he went to live with a man named Alexander Ingersoll, a miller by vocation, and was under his care and guidance until he was near- ly 21 years old. He then engaged in a saw-mill, and continued there a year. The following season he rented a farm, which he conducted one year. In Jan- uary, 1855, he came to Gratiot County and bought 160 acres of wild land, on which he has since resided He has sold 40 acres, and of the remaining portion he has placed 90 acres in a fine state of improvement and cultivation. His farm buildings are such as will compare favorably with any in the township. He is independent in political views, and has held various local official positions. He has been School Inspect- or and taught a term of school in his own district.

Mr. Gallagher was married Nov. 28, 1852, at Grand Ledge, Eaton County, to Amanda, daughter of Oli- ver and Catharine (Grant) Russell. She was born in Shelby Co., N. Y., March 23, 1835. Her parents

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were natives of the same State and her mother is cousin to General Grant. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher: Emily V., Mary J., Adelbert C., William J. and Charles H. The father and mother are zealous and active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

garius Ingalsbe, farmer, on section 25, Arcada Township, was born in Ontario Township, Wayne Co., N. V., April 13. 1827, and is the son of Ebenezer and Alzada (Aldrich) Ingalsbe. Ebenezer Ingalsbe was a native of Vermont, of English and Scotch de- scent, and a farmer by occupation. When very young he went to Wayne Co., N. Y., when that part of the State was covered with the primi- tive forest. He afterward removed to Alabama Township, Genesee County, where he died, June 15, 1855, a little over 77 years old. Alzada Aldrich was a native of Connecticut, of Welsh descent. After receiving her education in her native State, she re- moved to New York State, where she was married. She died in Wayne County, that State, Sept. 3, 1839, leaving a large family, of which the subject of this sketch, at that time 12 years old, was the sixth child.

Remaining with his father until of age, Darius then worked as a common laborer until his marriage, Feb. 12, 1852, to Clarissa, daughter of Israel and Laura (Jennings) Halleck. Israel Halleck, a rela- tive of Gen. Henry W. Halleck, was a native of Long Island, and of Welsh descent. He farmed most of his lite in Wayne Co., N. Y., and died in Wheatland Township, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Nov. 14, 1865, at the age of 78. Laura Jennings was a native of Truxton, N. Y., and of English parentage. In 1845 she came to Hillsdale County, this State, where she died April 12, 1882, at the age of 84. Clarissa (Halleck) Ingalsbe was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 3, 1832, and at the age of 13 came with her parents to Michigan. Here she was educated and lived until 19 years old, when she returned to New York and was married.

A few months after that event they removed to Spencer, Medina Co., Ohio, locating on a farm. After one year they removed to Lenawee Co., Mich.,

and a year and a half later they went to Hillsdale County. They lived there on a farm for 9 years, and, April 27, 1863. they came to North Star Town- ship, Gratiot County, locating on section 3. Four days were required, on account of the muddy roads, to draw their load from St. John's, a distance of 22 miles. They located on 160 acres of heavily tim- bered land, and lived through most of the familiar experiences of all pioneers in a new country. The luxuries and many of the necessaries of life were wanting. Mr. Ingalsbe resided there 16 years, im- proving his land, and in April, 1880, he sold and purchased his present home on section 25, Arcada Township, one mile from Ithaca.

Mr. and Mrs. Ingalsbe are the parents of three living children: Lydia, born Sept. 21, 1853; Dee, born Sept, 25, 1859; and Laura, born April 3, 1865. Three are dead: Mary, born Oct. 25, 1855, and died Jan. 12, 1861; Amelia, born June 22, 1861. and died Oct. 10, 1874; and Clara, born Sept. 11, 1867, and died Sept. 2, 1878. Mr. Ingalsbe is one of the most respected citizens of the county. He is a Royal Arch Mason, of Ithaca Chapter, No. 70. He has held the office of Overseer of Roads for several years, and in politics is an active Republican.

amuel Gordon, tanner and currier at St. Louis, was born in the District of Montreal, Canada, July 28, 1838, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Dickson) Gordon. His father is a native of Scotland and is now living in Canada, aged 96 years. His mother was also a native of Scotland and died in Canada, in the year 1855.

Mr. Gordon began to learn his trade when he was 16 years old and spent three years in preparation for the business which he has made the vocation of his life. After completing his indentures he entered the employ of the same man and remained until he was 26 years old. In 1862 he went to Redford, Clinton Co., N. Y., and there worked at his trade three years. In the spring of 1865 he came to St. Louis and built a tannery, which was located near the residence of Dr. Cheeseman. Two years after, be built his pres- ent place of business. The structure is 28 by 36 feet, with two wings, one of which is 16 by 26 feet in

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dimensions, the other 15 by 36 feet. In addition to the various branches of his business, he buys and sells grain, lime and coal, in company with J. O. Ilil- ton. They are doing a heavy business and are the only dealers in coal and shippers of grain at St. Louis. Mr. Gordon owns his residence and an acre of land at St. Louis, and 40 acres in Jasper Town- ship, Midland County. He was married at St. Louis, April 17, 1865, to Attie Slack, a native of Jackson Co., Mich. Five children were born to them, three of whom are deceased-Frank, Charles and Pearlie. Those living are William and Robert.

Mr. Gordon is a member of the A. O. U. W. He as- sisted in building the first church edifice erected at St. Louis. It was built by the Presbyterian society, and Mr. Gordon hewed the first stick of timber used in its construction.

enry R. Pattengill, Superintendent of Schools at Ithaca, was born Jan. 4, 1852, at Mount Vision, Otsego Co., N. Y. Lem- uel C. Pattengill, his father, was born June 3, 1812, in New Lisbon, Otsego Co., N. Y., early in life was a farmer by vocation, and later en- tered the ministry and spent many years laboring in the interests of the Baptist Church. In the latter part of 1852 he removed to Akron, Erie Co., N. Y., where he spent six years as a minister of the gospel, and went thence to Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y., with his family. During his residence there he acted one year as Chaplain in the hospitals and among the sol- diers, under the auspices of the Christian Commis- sion, with headquarters at Harper's Ferry. In the fall of 1865 he removed to Litchfield, Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he was occupied in ministerial labor. In 1872 he removed to Ann Arbor, and in the sum- mer of 1874 he came to Ithaca, where he died in March, 1875.

Lemuel Pattengill, paternal grandsire, was a native of Canterbury, Windham Co., Conn., and was a Cap- tain in the Federal army during the second war with England. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Queenstown Heights, and exchanged a few months later. The great-grandfather was a carpenter and passed most of his life at Canterbury, where he died. The patronymic was originally "Pettengill," and a

large number of representatives of the name live in Connecticut. The mother of Mr. Pattengill, Mary G. (Gregory) Pattengill, was born in New Lisbon, Ot- sego Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1814. Her father, Seth Gregory, was a Baptist clergyman in that place and officiated over one charge there about 30 years. She now resides at Ithaca with the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Pattengill was in infancy when his parents went to Akron and was a lad of seven years at the date of their removal to Wilson. While the family resided there he met with a terrible accident. He was visiting in the adjacent country, and, while riding the leading horse attached to a reaping machine, the team became unmanageable and he was thrown. The fleeing horses dragged the reaper over him and he was caught in the gearing, the knives cutting into his hip and nearly severing his left leg, besides badly mutilating his left arm and hand. His life was de- spaired of many times during the months of suffer- ing and illness that followed, but at the end of a year he was sufficiently recovered to move about with the aid of a cane, and he gradually came back to health. He had had a strong desire to become a sailor, but during his long struggle for life and health he de- termined to obtain an education, and as soon as he was sufficiently recovered he entered the Wilson Academy, which he attended as long as his family lived there. On their removal to Litchfield he be- came a pupil at the graded school and studied there five years. He then went to Hudson, where he pur- sued a preparatory collegiate course and entered the Literary Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with the class of 1874. He came to St. Louis, this county, where he received the appointment of Superintendent of Schools and occupied the position two years. In the fall of 1876 he succeeded to the same position at Ithaca, and has continued the incumbent since.

He has received an offer of an associate editorship of the School Moderator, published at Grand Rapids, which position he intends to accept at the close of the present school year.

He was " prophet " of his class when he was grad- uated, and was one of 11 selected Commencement speakers of 1874. While in college he acted two years as an editor of the Chronicle, a college paper. published by the students. He has been Township Superintendent a number of years, and since 1877 has held the position of President of the Gratiot

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County Teachers' Association. He has identified himself witir all educational movements, and has conducted Teachers' Institutes in several counties hereabouts. In the fall of 188; he was elected member of the County Board of School Examiners. In January of that year, he was chosen Secretary of the State Teachers' Association.

Although Mr. Pattengill has been untiring and un- remitting in the duties pertaining to his official posi- tion and incidental interests, he is nevertheless keenly alive to all other issues likely to affect ma- terially the general welfare of the community, and takes a proper and manly interest in local politics. In 1881 he was a delegate to the State Convention at Lansing to nominate Regents for the University, and in the fall of 1882 was a delegate to the Gratiot County Convention. Ile "stumped " the county during the State campaign of 1882, in the interests of the Republican party. In ISSI he was elected President of the village of Ithaca, running on both tickets, and was re-elected in 1882.

The portrait of Mr. Pattengill, appearing on a 1.receding page, is an eminently fitting addition to the Biographical Album of Gratiot County.

ustavus Quick, farmer and stock-raiser, on section 11, Sumner Township, is a son of Ralph and Calista (Treat) Quick, and was born in Oakland Co., Mich., Feb. 8, 1846. He was engaged with his father on the farm until he was 20 years 'old, and in the mean- time received a good common-school education. He then left home and for six years worked as a carpen- ter and joiner in the summer and whatever he could find to do in the winter. In the spring of 1871 he came to Gratiot County and purchased 40 acres of partly improved land. He has since added 20 acres, and of his whole farm 40 acres are now well im- proved. He has also built ample farm buildings. He is an active and shrewd farmer and at the same time stands high socially.

Oct. 11, 1871, he was married in Lyon Township, Oakland County, to Miss Rosaletta Taylor, daughter of Jonathan and Caroline (Christopher) Taylor, natives of Seneca Co., N. Y. She was born April 11, 1852, in the same town in which she was reared,

educated and married. She is the mother of one child, Jennie, born May 31, 1880. Mr. Quick is the present Treasurer of his township, and has held the office of Drain Commissioner two years. Politically he is a zealous Republican.

Charles J. Willett, attorney, at St. Louis, was born at Essex, N. Y., June 5, 1849, and is the son of Rev. Joseph T. and Corne- lia A. (Whallon) Willett. His father was a Presbyterian minister and came to Grand Rap- ids in 1865, removing to St. Louis two years later, for the purpose of laboring in the interests of the Chris- tian religion. He discharged the duties of his minis- terial office at St. Louis and vicinity until 1879, when he went to Cincinnati and is now living there in re- tirement, aged 66 years. The mother is also living.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 49

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

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