Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 57

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 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In the spring of 1883, Mr. McNall was chosen Supervisor of Lafayette Township, which office he now holds. In politics, he is a staunch Republican.

evi G. White, farmer, section 21, Pine River Township, was born in Plainfield, Hampshire Co., Mass., Oct. 13, 1821, and and is the son of Norman and Albina (Gloyd) White. The family removed to Lake Co., Ohio, in 1825, and went afterwards to Medina County in the same State.

Mr. White remained at home with his parents un- til he was 24 years old and followed farming as a vo- cation. His eyes became diseased and for some years he occupied his time in peddling. He came to Gra- tiot County in February, 1865, and bought .10 acres of land, nearly all of which was in an unimproved condition. He now owns 80 acres and has one half his place under fair cultivation. Mr. White is a Re- publican in political faith and has held the various school offices in his district. While in Ohio, he was for three years Assessor of his township.

He was married Oct. 16, 1845, in Medina County, Ohio, to Fanny W., daughter of Seth and Mehitabel (Randall) Robinson, natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. White was born in Plainfield, Hampshire County, March 3, 1824. Three of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. White are deceased. Those surviving are : James H1., Annie E., Elliott L., Florence E., Myra A., Edward F. and Alta M.

ewis Hood, farmer, section 27, Lafayette Township, is a son of William and Louisa (Bartlett) Hood, natives of New York. They came to Michigan in an early day, and settled in Lenawee County, where Mr. Hood took up 160 acres of land, and he has resided on it ever since. Mrs. Hood died in December, 1883. Lewis was born in that county July 21, 1840. At the age of 18 he left home and learned the black- smith's trade, at which he worked till 1881. In the

spring of 1876, he came with his family to Gratiot County, and located in Ithaca, where he resided for nearly six years, working at his trade. He then ex- changed his property in the village for 160 acres of partly improved land on section 27, in Lafayette Township, where he now lives.

He was married in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Jan. 31, 1863, to Elizabeth J., second daughter of Richard R. and Ellen (Collins) Britten, natives of New York, who came to Michigan in an early day, and settled in Hillsdale County, where Mr. Britten died, in the fall of 1875. His wife is still a resident of Hillsdale County. Mrs. Hood was born April 11, 1840, and lived at home (except seven years spent in teaching) until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hood have had two children, but one of whom now survives. Dora D. was born Dec. 27, 1865; Myrtie M. was born June 10, 1871, and died June 6, 1872.

Mr. Hood was elected School Director in the fall of 1883. He is a member of the Masonic Order. Ile and wife and daughter are members of the Pres- byterian Church. In politics, Mr. Hood is a Dem- ocrat.

illiam H. Brower, farmer, section 32, Pine River 'Township, was born in Seneca, Lenawee Co., Mich., March 31, 1841, and is the son of Archibald and Julia A. (Mil- lett) Brown. His parents were natives of the State of New York and settled in Lenawee County about the year 1833. The father is still living in that county ; the mother died in 1853.

Mr. Brown remained at home as his father's as- sistant until he was 23 years old, when he engaged in the manufacture of brick, in which he continued three years. Since that time he has given his atten- tion exclusively to farming. He owned several places successively in Lenawee County and followed agriculture there until September, 1883, when he re- moved to Gratiot County and located on 120 acres of land he had purchased in April previous, and on which he has since resided. Of this, 40 acres are located on section 5, Arcada Township, and So in Pine River Township. He has 100 acres under good cultivation. Mr. Brower is an adherent to the principles of the National Greenback party.

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He was married Jan. 8, 1871, at Adrian, Lenawee Co., Mich., to Margaret M., daughter of Robert R. and Cynthia A ( Phetterplace) Fuller, natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Brower was born Nov. 13, 1846, in Palmyra, N. Y. The family includes three children - Nellie C., Hattie M. and Charles W.

dward L. Drake, of the firm of Drake & McCurdy, druggists, general merchants and undertakers, at Estella, was born in Scipio, Cayuga C'o., N. Y., April 3, 1811, and is the son of Elijah and Abigail (Stoddard) Drake, natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and o puritan and English descent respectively. Elijah Drake was by occupation a farmer, and in 1835 came to Oakland Co., Mich., where he died in 1846, at the age of 92. He was one of the pioneers of Oakland County.

When the subject of this biography was ten years old, his parents removed to Genesee Co., N. Y., where he lived until 15 years old, being educated in the common schools. He then apprenticed hinself to Willard J. Cheapen, a tanner at Perry, N. V., and worked for him for four years. For the ensuing 11 years he taught school winters and worked at farm- ing in the summers, alternately. In 1849, he con- nected himself with the publishing house of Allen & Co., of Detroit, and for five years was engaged in supplying township libraries. He afterwards became a resident of Ingham County, where he carried on farming for a time. He was also engaged in buying wool and selling cloth for a New England company, being the first man to establish a wool trade in that ₹ county.

He came to Gratiot County in 1862, and engaged in mercantile business at St. Louis. Two years later, near that place, he engaged in farming; and after being thus occupied for two years, he was again for two years in mercantile life at St. Louis, Thence, in the same calling, he removed to Estella. Here he has been occupied in his store ever since, excepting when busied in official duties. The finin carry a stock worth $3,500, and do an annual business of about 85,000. Mr. Drake is also engaged in dealing in real estate.

Jan. 12, 1836, in Wyoming Co., N. Y., he was

married to Miss Ambrosia Lacey, daughter of David and Polly (Williams) Lacey, natives of New York. Mrs. Drake was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 24, 1813, and died at Ann Arbor, Mich., in August, 1839. Mr. D. was again married in Allegany Co., N. Y., April 15, 1842, to Mrs. Cynthia B. Caper (nce Condevy), born in Vermont, March 23, 1810. She is now in her 74th year, and in excellent health.

Mr. Drake's first marriage was performed by the father of President Chester A. Arthur, a Baptist min- ister, and the President was himself for two years a member of Mr. Drake's Sunday-school class. Mr. D. has held every township office from Supervisor down, excepting Pathmaster. He is now Justice of the Peace, which office he has filled for six years. Politically, he is a zealous supporter of the Republi- can party. Ile is highly respected as a citizen and liked as a neighbor.

srael B. Wolfe, farmer, section 5, Arcada Township, was born in Jefferson Co., Pa., Jan. 1, 1839, and is the son of Henry and Susanna (Bigley) Wolfe, natives of Pennsylva- nia, and of German descent. Henry Wolfe was a farmer, and died in Gratiot County in 1862. Mrs. Wolfe still lives in Pine River Town- ship, aged 68.

When four years of age, Israel was taken by his parents to Portage Co., Ohio, and settled in the vicinity of Ravenna. They went 16 months later to Lucas County, where they lived until 1850. They then came to Monroe County, and lived five years on a farm in Whiteford Township. Israel then came to this courty, and worked on a farm for one of his father's acquaintances until his majority, giving the proceeds to his parents. For a time he then worked on farms in the summer and in the lumber woods in the winter. Later, he purchased a threshing-machine, and engaged in threshing during the proper season. Hle was the first to cross Pine River with such a ma- chine.

Dec. 21, 1862, he was married to Martha, daughter of Emery and Maria (Lewis) Adams (see sketch). She was born March 17, 1846, and died Feb. 10, 1864, leaving an infant, which survived her but a few months. She was a woman of excellent character,

THE NEW 12 IK PUBLIC LIBALY7

ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FO IN A. R

Marcus Pollasky

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and of one of the first families in the county, and her loss was a great one to her many friends. Jan. 1, 1866, he was married to Mrs. Amanda Turner (nee Hildreth), daughter of John S. and Diana (Ganung) Hildreth, natives of New York. Amanda was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Feb. 12, 1843, and when five months old was taken with her parents to Oak- land Co., Mich. They afterwards removed to Clin- ton County, where her first marriage occurred to Burr Turner, a native of New York. He was a farmer, and was accidentally drowned in Pine River at St. Louis, this county. She had one son by that mar- riage, James W., now a resident of Fulton Township, this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe settled on 40 acres on seetion 5, Areada Township, and have since added 40 acres by purchase. He has 60 acres nicely improved and cultivated on the banks of Pine River. The have had two children . Ida B., 14 years of age, and Allie H. died when three years old. Mr. Wolfe is a mem- ber of Alma Lodge, No. 244, F. & A. M. He has held the offices of Treasurer in the lodge and School Assessor, of which latter office he is the present in- cumbent. Politically, he is a liberal Democrat.

3 arcus Pollasky, attorney and real-estate broker at Alma, was born Sept. 6, 1861, at Detroit. He is the son of Michael and Celia (Wix) Pollasky. (See sketch.) In 1863 his parents came to Alma. He was an infant in his mother's arms, and the early years of his life were passed at home. Until he was ten years of age he was a pupil at the district schools of Alma, when he was sent to Detroit, where he attended English and German schools in that city for three years.

On returning to Alma Mr. Pollasky engaged in mercantile occupations as his father's assistant. In 1876 he went to Ann Arbor and entered the High School, where he studied two years preparatory to entering the University. After a year of study in the Literary Department of the latter institution, he went to Detroit to accept a situation as traveling salesman in the interests of J. K. Burnham & Co. He continued with them two and a half years, and returned to his early habits and inclinations, entering

the Law Department of the University of Michigan, and at the same time resuming his studies in the literary course. He pursued a full course of legal study, to which he devoted two years, and was gradu- ated in March, 1883, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. At the close of the first year of his legal course at Ann Arbor he was admitted to the Bar of Michigan at Ithaca, and during his vacation he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State. He was afterward admitted to practice in the United States Court at Detroit.

Mr. Pollasky is still in the earliest years of his manhood. Although so young, he has all the privileges of a practitioner in the State and Federal Courts, and is already distinguished in his profession, in which he holds a deservedly high rank as an advocate.

He is a Republican in polities and liberal in his religious convictions. In April, 1883, he was elected Village Attorney of Alma, which position he still holds. Ilis marriage to Nellie A. Waldby occurred Jan. 16, 1884, at Adrian. She is the only daughter of Ebenezer I. and Emmeline (Backus) Waldby, and her father is one of the pioneer bankers of Michigan. He is still engaged in the prosecution of a general banking business, having succeeded the First Na- tional Bank of Adrian. The young wife of Mr. Pollasky had won enviable position among the famed daughters of Southern Michigan through her lovely character and personal merits. Mr. Pollasky is an ardent admirer of pleasant domestic surround- ings, and in this latest addition to his successes he considers himself newly equipped for struggle and achievement.

The portrait of Mr. Pollasky is presented on page 546. It is that of a fine type of the manner of men who are to be incorporated in the immediate and future annals of Gratiot County.

oseph Grover, farmer, section 13, Arcada Township, one of the representative citizens of this county, is a son of Thomas and Maria (Sherwood) Grover, natives of Yorkshire, England. Thomas Grover was by occupation a carriage smith, and came to this country in 1850, locating in New York State. Two years later,

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he came to Michigan and settled in Lenawee Coun- ty. Seven years afterwards, he came to this county, where he died at his home on section 2, Arcada Township, Aug. 27, 1877, at the age of 65. His wife now resides at St. Louis, in this county, at the age of 68.

The subject of this sketch was born March 12, 1837, and attended the common schools in his native country until 13 years old, when his parents emi- grated to this country, and came first to New York State and then to Michigan. Excepting one year spent in the far West, he lived with his father until 32 years of age.

Jan. 13, 1868, he was married to Mary A., daughter of William Barnes, a native of England. William Barnes was a farmer, and came to this State and county, and located in North Star Township about 30 years ago, where he and wife died in the latter part of 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Grover lived on the old homestead about four years, and then removed to Lenawee County. Nine years later they returned to Gratiot, and purchased 160 acres of good land on section 13, Arcada Township. He now owns 159 acres, of which 125 acres are well improved.

They have a family of four sons, as follows: Will- iam 11, born June 20, 1870; Thomas A., Sept. 16, 1872; Joseph, Aug. 30, 1874 ; Charles, April 30, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Grover are highly respected by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Grover is politically a Democrat. He invariably declines all offices.

clarissa Baxter is the widow of Benjamin Baxter, who was a resident on section 34, North Shade Township, and farmer by occu- pation. He was born Dec. 10, 1841, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and was a son of Asa and Lucinda (Campbell) Baxter, natives of the same State.

The parents came to this State and located in lonia County in an carly day, and thence removed to this county, and located on section 34, securing 200 acres, 131 acres of which, by energy and persever- ance, have been placed under a good state of culti- vation, and adorned with suitable and substantial buildings.

The son accompanied the parents to this county,

and after the death of the father, which occurred June 24, 1847, he assisted in the support of the fam- ily until he attained the age of 23 years. He was married to Miss Clarissa, daughter of William and Clarissa Edmister, April 15, 1863.

Mr. Baxter died Sept. 3, 1883, in this county, leav- ing five children to the care of the mother, namely : Ellsworth, Anna, Asa, Elgivie, Benjamin.

Mr. Baxter was a member of the Disciples' Church. In political sentiment and belief, he was a staunch Republican.

olcott L. Stebbins, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes at St. Louis, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1822, and is the son of William and Sarah (Bra- dish) Stebbins. His father was a builder by vocation and was born March 19, 1795, in Springfield, Mass., where he died in September, 1858. Flis mother was a native of Vermont and is also de- ceased.

Mr. Stebbins passed the first 18 years of his life in obtaining his education, and, in 1840, turned his at- tention to acquiring the details of the calling which he has since made the business of his life. Hle served an apprenticeship of three years. In 1845, his parents removed to Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and a year later he went to Rochester, N. Y., and owned a boat on the Erie Canal. He engaged in freighting until 1849,when he made a trip to Philadel- phia for the purpose of obtaining a load of coal, and on his way homeward his barge sunk, at New York, whereby he incurred a loss of $300 above the insur- ance. He went to Troy, N. Y., and there obtained a position as clerk, which he filled until January follow- ing, when he let himself to learn the business of a wood-turner. In 1853 he removed to Lansingburg, and there spent three years acting as foreman in a bedstead factory. He went thence to Warren Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in the erection of a saw- mill and remained there some months, when he re- turned to Troy and found employment in a nail factory. lle made his next change of base to War- ren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he resided from De- cember, 1857, until March, 1859. In that year he came to St. Louis, where he bought 156 acres on sec-

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L

A.F. Wright

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tion 6, in Bethany Township. After clearing 20 acres of this, in 18044 he exchanged for property in St. Louis, consisting of six village lots, which he yet owns. He then engaged in the sale of general merchandise, which enterprise he continued two years. He next entered the employ of Holcomb & Evens, in a saw- mill, and remained in that situation and in other branches of lumbering until 1874, when he entered the foundry of the same firm and operated as fore- man two years. The firm became Holcomb & Clark, and he acted in the same capacity until 1876, when Mr. Holcomb became sole owner of the business and retained Mr. Stebbins as chief manager until July, 1877, when he was stricken with paralysis. He recov- vred his health to some degree, and in August, 1883. he opened his present shop, where he is doing a fair- ly prosperous business. While he was on his farm, Mr. Stebbins held the office of School Director two years, and also officiated as Highway Commissioner. He has been Justice of the Peace and Township Treasurer since his location at St. Louis.

Mr. Stebbins was married in Troy, N. Y., May 22, 1850, to Lucinda Francisco. She was born in Rens- selaer Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins are the happy parents of eight children, all of whom are liv- ing. They are named : Edgar A., Arthur M., Clara F., Frederick A., Orville W., Minnie M., Bessie B. and Myrtie B.

ciel F. Wright, hardware merchant at St. Louis, was born Aug. 15, 1846, in Parma, Jackson Co., Mich. He is the son of Deo- datus and Serena (Fox) Wright. His father was born April 25, 1812, in Wayne Co., N. Y. His mother is a native of the same county. and both parents are still living in the township of Parma, whither they removed about the year 1837, and purchased 320 acres of land. Their farm now includes 240 acres, and is one of the finest in that section of Michigan justly noted for its agricultural progress.

Mr. Wright did pioneer duty on his father's farm, and aided in clearing it of timber and otherwise im- proving it. He attended school winters until he was 18 years old. In 1870 he came to St. Louis, and in company with his brother, Smith W. (since deceased),

opened an establishment for the sale of agricultural implements, and they continued to prosecute the business until the death referred to, when Mr. Wright became sole proprietor. He has by degrees changed the character of his trade, and now deals in general hardware, tinware, cutlery, etc., and makes a spe- cialty of stationary and portable engines, boilers, saw- mills and all fixtures pertaining to the machinery in which he deals. He employs about half a dozen men ; carries a stock estimated at $15,000 in value, and is doing a prosperous business. When Mr. Wright came to St. Louis, the town was in its first days. He purchased a building site, and erected a structure for the establishment of his business, which was one of the first for the purpose in St. Louis. The building at the commencement was 16 x 24 feet in dimensions, but since has grown to the following sizes : the hard- ware store, 20 x 120 feet ; small ware room in the rear of store, 16 x 32 feet ; and a large store house near the railroad, 24 x 70 feet and two stories high. The latter is used for the storage of buggies and ma- chinery of all kinds. The term " self-made " has become trite in its frequent application, and in the case of Mr. Wright simply means that, starting empty- handed, he has held the confidence of the business world by integrity and devotion to his business re- lations, and by his strong good sense and reliable judgment, which constitute a man's best capital.

Mr. Wright is a Democrat in political affiliation, and has held the office of Town Clerk of Pine River two years; he has been a member of the Town Coun- vil the same length of time. Ile belongs to the Royal Arcanum, is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and for 12 years has been a prominent mein- ber of the Fire Department of St. Louis. About 187 3 he was appointed Secretary of the Company, and held the position two years, when he was elected Foreman, and continued in that capacity until 1 882. He was appointed Chief of the Department, and at- tended the first Firemen's Convention at Battle Creek; is now First Assistant Chief of the organization. In 1876, the Company presented him with a fine silver trumpet as a testimonial of their esteem and appre- ciation of his services. The Company is considered the best in the State, an estimate amply justified by its achievements. In 1882, the organization went to the tournament at Charlotte, and bore away the sec- ond prize for merit, including $1oo, with a hand en-

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gine. At the contest at Marshall in 1883, it took the first prize, $125 in money, and the State Banner of Championship, valued at Sioo.

The property of Mr. Wright consists of his business building and site, residence and two lots, a store building, and a farm in Isabella County, comprising 40 acres of land.

He was married at Parma Nov. 25, 1868, to Re- becca, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Geiger. Parents and daughter were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been the parents of two children : Hattie 1 .. , born at St. Louis Nov. 18, 1876, and Serena, who died when she was ten months old.

The portrait of Mr. Wright, which appears on page 550, has more than a common value to his genera- tion from the family to which he belongs, and in his connection with the affairs of St. Louis.

nce

andrew Townsend, farmer, section 8, New Haven Township, was born in Ireland,

0 Dec. 10, 1810, of Irish parentage. His father, a farmer, died in the old country, March 11, 1846, at the age of 82. His mother died a few years later, aged about 70. Young Andrew worked with his father upon the farm until 1830, when they emigrated to America, locating first in De- troit, Mich., and afterward buying some land near that city in Wayne County, where they pursued agri- culture until 1840. Andrew then enlisted in the United States frontier service, as a member of Co. I, 4th Artillery, and served five years, in Michigan and the East.

On receiving his discharge, at Fortress Monroe, Va., he returned to farming again in Wayne Co., N. Y., until 1866, when he sold out and purchased 80 acres of section 8, New Haven Township. The place was slightly improved. Three weeks after his location here with his family, his son Joseph, 1212 years old, lost himself in the swampy wilderness while out hunting, and died from sheer exhaustion in run- ning to find himself. He was found a corpse in the deep wild-wood, and indescribable was the conse- quent terror of the community.

Most of his original purchase Mr. Townsend has improved, and added the usual farm buildings. He

is an exemplary farmer, an earnest Republican and faithful in the discharge of the duties of the public offices which his fellow citizens have given him.

Dec. 24. 1845, in the Emerald Isle, Mr. Townsend was married to Miss Jane Rodgers, a native of that country, of Scotch-Irish descent, and a great-grand- niece of John Kodgers, of martyr fame. Others of her ancestral relatives have also been martyrs. Her father, Joseph Rodgers, was in early life a weaver. lle educated himself for the ministry, but ill health compelled him to abandon the idea of entering that profession. and he became a merchant and a writer for various periodicals. He died in 1844, at the age of 62. Mrs. T.'s mother, Mary, nee McCory, is of Scotch ancestry and is yet living. Mrs. Townsend was born Feb. 2, 1827, about 25 miles from Belfast, Ireland. She was educated in the common school of her country, but, owing to the prejudice of the people at that period, she was not allowed more. Neverthe- less, she is a well-informed, intellectual, affable lady, blest with a happy memory and sound faculties. She and her husband are members of the Reformed Pres- byterian Church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. T are six, namely : Mary, Agnes, Eliza, Margaret, Jo- seph and Leander ; Joseph being deceased, as be- fore mentioned.

aron M. Wheeler, farmer, occupies the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 26, Bethany Township, a 40-acre tract. This gentleman is a native of Wash- ington Co., N. Y., where he was born Feb. 23. 1821, the son of George and Sally (Patten) Wheeler. He was reared as a farmer's son, but when he was ten years of age his father died. He was married June 23, 1843, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., to Eliza J. Preston, a sister of the well-known banker of Detroit, David Preston. Of the three children born of this marriage, Melissa is the wife of Julius P. Gilmore, a book-keeper in Mr. Preston's bank at De- troit ; Ellen is the wife of Henry Bridge, foreman of the Detroit Water works; and David is a member of a paint-manufacturing firm at Des Moines, Iowa.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 57

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

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