Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 58

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 58

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).

Mrs. W. died Jan. 19, 1849, aged 26 years ; and Mr. Wheeler again married April 19, 1849, in Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y., Lucy J. Landon. By this mar-

July William

الات

Eliza Youly

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 1 ASTOR, LEN AX AND TILDEN FONDATIONS R

557

GRATIOT COUNTY.

riage, there have been eight children, seven surviv- ing, as follows: Sarah, now the wife of Seth Burgess, a farmer in Pine River Township, this county ; Mary. the wife of Wm. C. Garbutt, a merchant at St. Louis ; Hattie, wife of Mba Sexton, a farmer of Bethany Township; Emma, the wife of Win. Holmes, of De- troit ; James A., clerk in the postoffice at St. Louis; Frederick, at home; and William, at St. Louis, Chesley D. is deceased.

Mr. Wheeler, the subject of this biographical notice, located in Bethany Township in November, 1867, upon his present place, where he now has 30 acres cleared and a comfortable home. A good residence, barn, etc., grace the premises. Mr. W. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his town- ship he has been Highway Commissioner three years.

illiam Culy, farmer and stock-raiser, sec- tion 36, New Haven Township, was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 24. 1826. Ils father, Benjamin, and mother, Ann (Ward) Culy, were also natives of Albion's Isle, and of pure English blood. The first mentioned, a farmer, emigrated in March, 1835, and settled in Washtenaw County, this State, in the vi- cinity of Dexter, where he improved an 80-acre farm. His wife had died in 1833, in Lincolnshire, England, at the age of about 40 years. Mr. (. died in Wash- tenaw County, in 1858, aged 73. He was one of the first settlers in Scio Township, that county, and was a prominent and highly respected citizen.

The subject of this sketch worked on the farm with his father until he was 26 years of age, receiv- ing a common-school education. At this age, May 26, 1851, in that county, he was married to Miss Eliza Naldrett, who was born in Middlesex, England, June 15, 1830, and came to this country when 19 years old. Her parents, also English and of Eng- lish ancestry, emigrated to this country two years afterward and located on 240 acres of wild land on section 36, New Haven Township, this county, which they improved and made of it a splendid farm. Mrs. Cs'. third child, Ann R., was the first child born in this township, her birth being Dec. 13, 1855. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Culy are : Eliza J., born

April 8, 1852 : George, July 21, 1853 ; Ann R., Dec. 13, 1855 ; Hannah M., Aug. 8, 1857 ; Alice J., Feb. 5. 1858; Mary II., July 25, 1860; Stephen B., Oct. 17, 1866; and Albert II., Feb. 19, 1867.

On national issues Mr. Only is a decided Demo- crat, and as a citizen he has been rewarded with various school offices in his district.

A portrait of this gentleman and also that of his wife appear in this Album, on pages just preceding.

....... eorge O. Doud, farmer, section 36, Wash- & ington Township, is a son of Theodore and Julia .A. (Brewer) Doud. Theodore Doud was born in Poultney, Vt., and, serving an appren- ticeship at Fair Haven, Rutland Co., Vt .. was employed as an edged-tool manufacturer. He afterward removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, where he died. Mrs. Doud was born in Boston, in 1797. The subject of this sketch was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Aug. 13, 1816. Leaving the parental roof at the age of 16, he was employed on a farm until 28 years old.

In IS40, he was married to Mary A. Lyon, daugh- ter of Ephraim and Eunice (Saunders) Lyon, natives of New Jersey. They afterward removed to Knox Co., Ohio, where Mr. Lyon died at the age of 65, and Mrs. Lyon at the extreme age of 107. In the year 1836, Mr. Doud came from Vermont to New York State, and in 1839 he went to Ohio, where he en- gaged at the carpenter's trade. In the fall of 1856, he came to Gratiot County, where he had purchased So acres on section 36, Washington Township, two years previously. To this he has since added 40 acres, and he has 50 acres well-improved. He and wife were among the first settlers in the township. He has filled the office of Township Treasurer for five successive years, but will accept no more offices. When first elected, the township was in debt $500. and at the expiration of two years the debt was clear- ed and the treasury in a sound condition. Political- ly, Mr. Doud is a Republican. He and wife are the parents of three children : Theodore, Julia A. and Eunice. Theodore enlisted in the 3d Mich. Vol. Cav. in 1862, and served in the Western army about six months. He obtained a furlough on account of dis- ability, and was then discharged, in May, 1863. In

558

GRATIOT COUNTY.

the spring of 1864, he re-enlisted and was assigned to the ed Mich. Vol. Inf. At Petersburg, in July, ". he was gallantly leading his company against the enemy, when he was killed by a shell from a Union gun. Mr. and Mrs. Doud now live alone, excepting with a young man named Daniel, who was given to them in infancy.

dwin Hasbrook, merchant, Breckenridge village, Wheeler Township, is a son of Gilbert and Sarah ( Roe) Hlasbrook, who followed farming in their native (Dutchess) County, N. Y., until 1857, when they moved to lowa. Their next move was to Ohio, where they lived eight years, and then they came to Beth- any Township, Gratiot County.

The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 26, 1839, in Dutchess Co., N. Y. Coming West, he located 240 acres of wild land in this county April 18, 1866. He cleared 36 acres. Commencing in 1876, he clerked six years for (. H. Howd in a store, and in the autumn of 1882 he started in business for him- self. He has a nice store, a good stock of dry goods, groceries and general merchandise, and a growing trade.

Oct. 28, 1873, he was married to Julia, the second daughter of Reuben and Hannah Coffin. This mar- riage resulted in one child, Eddie J. His second marriage occurred in 1880 to Cora B. Goodno, daugh- ter of Romanzo and Susan Goodno. Mr. Hasbrook is a popular citizen of his township, and holds the office of Township Clerk, to which he was elected in 1883. In politics, he votes uniformly with the Re- publican party.

ev. Francis T. Flewelling, minister and farmer, resident on section 31, Bethany Township, was born July 26, 1831, in Warren Co., N. V., and is a son of Francis and Jedidah (Tyler) Flewelling. The family patronymic is a corruption of the Welsh name Llewellyn, one of the titles of a former Prince of Wales, to whom the family trace remote kinship.

Francis Flewelling, Sr., was born in the vicinity of the city of New York in 1807. He was a wagon- maker by trade, and in the year 1829 he was married to Mrs. Jedidah (Tyler) Fletcher. The mother was born in 1790 in Crittenden Co., Vt., and belonged to the same family from which President Tyler descend- ed. The father pursued his vocation at different points in the State of New York some years. In the fall of 1844, he came to Michigan and settled at Hanover, Jackson County, where he purchased a farm and engaged in agriculture. He sold the place in 1864, and removed to De Witt, Clinton County, where he purchased another farm. He continued its management about 12 years, when, his health becom- ing impaired, he again sold his estate and bought property in the village of De Witt, to which he re- tired. His death occurred Dec. 6, 1879. The mother survives, and is residing with her son in Beth- any Township. She is 94 years old. The Flewelling family are among the heirs of Anneka Jans, and claimants to the Trinity Church property in the city of New York.

The Rev. Mr. Flewelling obtained his early educa- tion in the common schools. He received his dis- charge from his obligations as a minor at the age of 18, when he began his contest with the world. The year following he bought 40 acres of land in Jackson County, paid sufficient to secure his title and posses- sion, and ran in debt for the remainder. He taught school the following winter in Pulaski, receiving $1 2 a month and "boarding round." The board was assessed according to the " scholars," and sometimes the school money was six months in being collected, the method being pro rata. He continued teaching winters and working on his land summers until it was wholly improved and paid for.

In the fall of 1857, Mr. Flewelling applied for and obtained a position as an officer of the State Prison, located at Jackson. He became a "guard," and was assigned to a place on the wall, armed and un- der orders to shoot convicts who attempted to escape. On the third day, about 40 prisoners tried to escape by scaling the walls, and two succeeded. The bul- lets flew but no one was injured, and the rebellious convicts were secured.

The marriage of Mr. Flewelling to Mary C. Whit- ney, of Jackson, occurred in December, 1858. Her parents, Nathan and Elizabeth Whitney, were pioneer

559

GRATIOT COUNTY.

settlers of Wheatland, Hillsdale County. They came from the State of New York in 1837, and located 160 acres of land in the (then) wilderness. They en- countered all the varieties of pioneer experience, among which were frequent nightly visitations by wolves, and at one time a harvest of 50 heads was piled in the cellar awaiting the payment of the boun- ty. Mrs. Flewelling was born on the homestead June 24, 1841. In 1855, her father became an em- ployee at the prison in Jackson, where he officiated in various positions until 1862. The daughter is the only survivor of a family of four.

After his marriage, Mr. Flewelling assumed charge of the paint shop attached to the wagon works of the prison contractors. Three years later, he engaged in farming on a place he had purchased near De Witt, Clinton County. He sold the place in the winter of 1882, and bought the farm where he now resides, including a quarter of section 31. It is in fine agri- cultural condition, and fitted with a nice residence and highly creditable farm buildings. Ilis family includes two children : Frank L., born April 14, 1860, in Jackson, and Ralph Tyler, born Nov. 23, 1871, in De Witt.

Mr. Flewelling was ordained a minister of the Free Methodist Church in the fall of 18So at Gaines, Shiawassee Co., Mich. He was in the traveling connection two years while a resident of De Witt, since which time he has been in the local ranks.

3ichael S. Howell, farmer on section 18, Fulton Township, is a son of William L. and Belinda S. (Taft) Howell, natives of New York State. Soon after marriage they came to Michigan and settled in Macomb County, afterwards removing to Hillsdale County. In 1858, they came to Gratiot and made their home in North Shade Township, where Mr. Howell still resides, and where Mrs. Howell died in June, 1868. Their family consisted of five sons and three daugh- ters.

The eldest son, Michael S., was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Aug. 11, 1839, and made his home with his parents until 21 years old, although much of the time after he became old enough he worked by the

month for others. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in the Ninth Mich. Vol. Inf .; and he was in the ser- vice of his country about four years, most of the time on detached duty. He was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., and coming to Gratiot County he bought 40 acres of wild land in Fulton Township. There he settled and lived two years, when he traded for So acres in North Shade. Eleven years later, he sold, and then bought So acres on section 18, Fulton, where he now residles. He has about 45 acres under cultivation.

Aug. 18, 1866, at Maple Rapids, Clinton County, he married Miss Hattie M., daughter of Henry and Roxy (Francis) Ilnyck, natives of New York State and Massachusetts. Mrs. Howell was born in Huron Co., Ohio, May 5, 1844. She and her husband have been the parents of four children, three of whom survive,-Arthur W., Myrtie B. and Laura M. Floyd R. died when six months old. Mr. Howell is a member of the Masonic Order, and supports the Democratic party.

ohn Christman, retired capitalist residing at St. Louis, was born June 20, 1807, in Tonawanda, N. Y. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Nellis) Christman, and resided in his native place until the fall of 1836, when he bought 160 acres of land in Williams Co., Ohio. In February, 1839, he came to Washtenaw Co., Mich., where he prosecuted his trade of builder, which he had learned in early life in his native State. He pursued that business a number of years, and at length bought 135 acres in Saline Township, in Washtenaw County, where he resided 2812 years. He then sold out and bought 90 acres in the same township, which he retained one year. His health failed, and he sold his farm, removing into the village of Saline. In the fall of the same year, 1865, he came to Gratiot County and bought 80 acres of land on section 25, Pine River Township, on which he made considerable improvement. In 1866, he bought some lots at St. Louis, near where he now lives, and the following year built his residence. He engaged in the grocery trade, in which he continued six years, and on selling out he retired from active business. He owns two lots near his home, which

560

GRATIOT COUNTY.

are devoted to the culture of strawberries and other small fruits, etc. He also owns seven dwellings in St. Louis, which he rents.

The marriage of Mr. Christman with Jane Decow occurred April 6, 1827, in Fonawanda, N. Y. She is a daughter of Eber and Susannah (Baumwart) Decow, and was born July 8, 1812, in Canada, near the present location of Simcoe. Ten children were born of this union, as follows : James D., farmer, re- siding at New Boston, Wayne Co., Mich. ; Henry C'., carpenter, living at Rome Center, Lenawee Co., Mich. ; Amanda J., wife of Winters White, a farmer of Winneshiek Co., lowa; Margaret D., wife of Henry Derow, farmerof Jasper Township, Midland County ; Frances, wife of Artemus Cook, a farmer of Pine River Township. The remaining five are deceased. Mr. Christman has been Constable of St. Louis five years, and has served a short time as Marshal of the village. He and his wife are members respectively of the Wesleyan Methodist and Methodist Episcopal Churches.

Mr. Christman's grandfather on father's side was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was wounded in the shoulder at Bunker Hill.

-di

¿ames A. Cassada, farmer on section 32, Fulton Township, is a son of James and Abigail ( Kinyon) Cassada, natives of Mas- sachusetts and New York. They settled in Tioga Co., N. Y., where he died in 1836, and she in 1842.

The subject of this biography was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1828. Losing his parents when quite young, he lived from the time he was 12 years old until of age with his brothers. He then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he had already worked to some extent. Ile worked diligently, and before he was 21 he was taking contracts on his own account. In this business he has since been engaged.

He came to Michigan in 1846, and lived in Mon- roe County eight years. lle then lived one year in Ingham County, and in the spring of 1855 came further North. In July he bought the farm he now owns.

Oct. 20. 1852, in Bedford, Monroe Co., Mich., he

married Miss Clarissa W., daughter of Matthias and Eunice (Kinyon) Gardner. She was born in South- port, Tioga Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. C. have had five children, three of whom survive: Lannes, Adelaide B. and Elmer E. Kansas and Harris Kendall are deceased.

Mr. C. is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and is po- litically an ardent supporter of Democracy. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for 12 years, Constable two years, and Township Clerk 14 years.

eorge W. McHenry, real-estate and loan agent at St. Louis, was born near Almond, Allegany Co., N. Y., Jan. 11, 1813. His father, Matthew McHenry, was born in Penn- sylvania, was a farmer, and died when the son two years old. Ilis mother, Anna (Dudder) McHenry, was a native of New Jersey, and died in 1853.

Mr. McHenry followed the vocation of farmer until he was 40 years old, when he met with an accident and sustained a fracture of his right thigh, which ne- cessitated some different calling, and he abandoned agriculture. He moved to Almond, and soon after was appointed Deputy Postmaster, a position he filled three years. He then engaged in the grocery busi- ness and also assisted in the postoffice, thus covering a period of two and a half years. In the spring of 1857 he came to St. Louis and built the first hotel structure erected in the town and named therefor. It was located on the corner of North and Pine Streets. He managed the St. Louis House about ten years, soll out and built his residence. Mr. McHenry act- ed as Deputy Postmaster two years, and, just before the breaking out of the war, was appointed Postmas- ter and held the position until 1876, when he estab- lished the business in which he is at present engaged.

The year in which Mr. McHenry came to St. Louis was that indicated as the "Starvation year," when the privations precipitated upon the people of Gratiot County by the rapid influx of the population invited the attention and interest of the surrounding States. Among other deficiencies which caused much incon- venience and, indirectly, suffering, was the lack of houses, there being literally none at this point. St.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTAR. LENOX AND NDA .. CNS 1

563

GRATIOT COUNTY.

Louis had but six houses, and Mr. MeHenry assisted in building the first bridge across Pine River. A , grist-mill was built the same year, part of which is preserved in the mill now owned by James Henry. He was elected Treasurer of Pine River Township, and held the position in 1879-80, and was also Town- ship Clerk six years. He has acted as Justice of the Peace 16 years, and is a member of the Pioneer So- ciety of Gratiot County.

Mr. MeHenry was married in Almond, N. Y., to Lucinda, daughter of Charles and Lucy Holloway. She was born June 5, 1812, and died June 10, 1880. She became the mother of five children, four of whom survive her: Susannah is the wife of Geo. L. Boyn- ton, a boot and shoe dealer at Hornellsville, N. Y .; Matthew is deceased ; Augustus is a jeweler at Hor- nellsville; Harriet is the wife of William Nelson, lumberman and farmer of Cedar Lake; Sarah mar- ried A. P. Foland, a merchant and farmer of Whee- ler, Gratiot County.

ohn T. Swigart, Clerk of Gratiot County, resident at Ithaca, was born July 5, 1845, in Bloom, Seneca Co., Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Maria (Dinkel) Swigart. His father was born in Maryland, was a carriage and wagon maker by trade, and died in Seneca Co., Ohio. His mother was born in Rockingham C'o., Va.

Mr. Swigart is of German descent, his grand par- ents on both sides having been emigrants to the United States from the Fatherland. When he was about ten years old, his mother came with her family of five children to Fulton Township, Gratiot County, and there bought 40 acres of land. William, the eldest son, was then a young man, and is now living near Dixon, Lee Co., Ill., where he is a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements ; Robert, third son, and Scott are engaged in the hardware business at Maple Rapids; Mary E., only daughter, is the wife of Warren F. Dewitt, proprietor of a sash and blind factory at Ithaca.

Mr. Swigart is the second son of his parents. He was 16 years old when the war of the rebellion broke out, and too young to enlist: but as youth is a disease which time is sure to remedy, he waited as patiently

as possible, and in October, 1863, he enlisted at De- troit, in Co. M, Ist Mich. Engineers and Mechanics, and served until the close of the war. The company was one that made a distinguished record for gallant- ry, and is mentioned specially for meritorious service in some of the most authentic histories of the South- ern rebellion.

Mr. Swigart is now the owner of 100 acres of farming land in Fulton Township, which he has ma- terially improved, and supplied with good buildings, farm fixtures, etc. Its orchards and other improve- ments render it one of the most valuable places in that section of the county. From 1874 to 1879, he and his brother, Robert, were engaged in buying staves and timber for Merrick, Fowler & Esselstein, of Detroit, handling large sums of money. He held the position of Township Clerk one year (1881), Justice of the Peace five years, and officiated in other positions of trust and responsibility. In the fall of 1882, he was elected County Clerk on the Fusion ticket, running against J. M. Trask, the previous in- cumbent. He received a majority of 48 votes. Mr. Swigart belongs to the Orders of Masonry and Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

He was married Dec. 25, 1876, to Ella A., daugh- ter of Lyman and Martha Crowley, a native of New York. Edna M., born March 26, 1879, and Ray- mond G., born May 22, 1881, are the names of their two children. The mother of Mr. Swigart married Roswell Reynolds, now deceased, and she lives at Ithaca with her son.

Mr. Swigart's portrait may be found on the last page. As a type of the possibilities within the reach of every American citizen under the fostering influ- ence of American institutions, it forms a valuable addition to the collection in this volume, and takes a finer worth from the manly integrity and unblem- ished character of its prototype.

Charles V. Bostwick, proprietor of the 1th- aca barber shop, was born Nov. 18, 1850, in Scio Township, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and is a son of Dr. Victor M. and Phebe W. (Ray) Bostwick. The father was a native of Eastern New York, and a graduate from the school

GRATIOT COUNTY.

564

)

of the Rensselaer County Medical Society. He was a practitioner in his native State some years, and came to Washtenaw County in its pioneer days. He died Aug. 2, 1862, in Webster Township. The mother is also a native of the Empire State, and is now living with her youngest son in Dexter. She is the mother of nine children, seven of whom survive : Electa, Henry, Harrison and Harriet (twins), Sarah, Charles and Oliver, John and Robert are the de- ceased. The former was a soldier for the Union during the war of the rebellion, and lost his life in the serv- ice of his country. Harrison was also a soldier throughout the entire war, and spent three months in Libby Prison. Henry was in the service of the United States two years.

When he was 16 years old, Mr. Bostwick went to Dexter to learn the art of photography, which he fol- lowed six years there, and then removed to Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., purchased a gallery and remained two years. He followed the same business four years longer, operating successively at Detroit, Grand Rapids and East Saginaw. At the latter place he fitted himself for his present business, and in the spring of 1876 opened a shop at St. Charles, in Sag- inaw County. A year later he came to Ithaca and established himself, and has continued to do a suc- cessful business. Bath rooms are connected with his operating rooms, and his business requires the aid of one assistant.

Mr. Bostwick was married Dec. 25, 1871, at Plym- outh, to Josephine, daughter of James and Olive Miller. She was born April 20, 1852, in Plymouth. James, Katie and Charles are the names of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick, born in Plymouth, Jan. 31, 1876, May 25, 1879, and Jan. 16, 1884, respectively.

ichard Hughes, machinist, section 30, Bethany Township, adjoining the village of St. Louis, was born in Cheshire, England, April 21, 1836. When 16 years of age, Mr. Hughes went to Manchester, England, and there learned the trade of a machinist. This was not accomplished until six years of apprentice- ship had passed. In 1857, he emigrated to Canada and located at Hamilton, where he was engaged in

the Great Western railroad shops for four or five years.

Hle was married at Hamilton, Sept. 30, 1858, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Clark) Pritchard, and was born in Simcoe, Canada, Nov. 26, 1837.

Mr. and Mrs. H. are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, namely : John R., born Aug. 9, 1859 ; William H., Nov. 8, 1861 ; Richard E., Sept. 13, 1865; Alice E., Oct. 22, 1867 ; Emma I., Apil 20, 1870; Maud M., June 9, 1872 ; Charles C., Oct. 21, 1879. Margaret is deceased.

The parents originally owned business property in Detroit, this State, which they exchanged for the So acres on which they at present reside. Mr. H. is at present engaged in the Alma Machine and Black- smith Shops. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, though he believes in voting and working for the best candidates regardless of party.

eorge H. Newton, farmer on section 32, Fulton Township, is a son of Harris and Eliza A. ((Perrin) Newton, natives of Ver- mont and New York. (See sketch of T. T. Newton.) He was born in Avon, Oakland Co., Mich., March 29, 1840, and received a com- mon-school education, also attending for three terms the academy at Rochester, Mich.

He lived at home until 21 years of age, and Aug. 6, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th Mich. Vol. Inf. Go- ing into the service as a private, he was promoted for gallant conduct to First Sergeant. He fought in 38 engagements, and at the battle of the Wilderness was wounded in the left leg by a minie ball, which in- jury confined him for eight months. At Hatcher's Run, he was twice taken prisoner on the same day; but he made his escape both times, on the first occasion by his own efforts, and on the second by being retak- en by the Union forces. He was in the service of the United States for four years.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 58

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

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