Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 60

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

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He enlisted in the third year of the war, in Co. M, ist Mich. Eng. and Mechs., and served nearly two years. He now resides in Maple Rapids, and owns a farm on section 32. Fulton.

He was married in 1847, in Ingham Co., Mich., to Maria J., daughter of Watson and Eliza Boardman. She was born in Connecticut, in the year 1822. The following children have been added to the household : Sarah L., John A., Arastine M., Daniel W., Gilbert R., Lizzie J., Emmett J. and Caroline J.

Mr. Payne is politically a Republican. He is a member of the Christian Church.

ichael MeNamara, a prominent farmer, resident on section 10, Sumner Township, was born in County Clare, Ireland, Nov. 1, 1826 ; and is a son of James and Mary (Curtis) McNamara, natives of the Emerald Isle. James McNamara was a farmer by occu- pation, and died in his native country, in October, 1846. His wife died a year and a half later, in the spring of 1848.

The subject of this biographical notice passed his youth on the farm on which his father was tenant, as- sisting in the slavish life of an Irish farmer in that landlord-ridden country, who has more powerful ob- stacles to his success than the Michigan pioneer who goes into the dense forest zo miles from the nearest settlement. In spite of adverse circumstances, how-

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIVARY

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Emery Adams

Maria Adams

THE NEW YORK PERLIL BRARY

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ever, he acquired a fair common-school education, as well as a practical knowledge of life. At the age of 17, he set out to make his fortune, and at Bristol, England, he worked for a master builder for six months. Going then to Cardiff, Wales, he was em- ployed on a railroad. Thence he went to Doules, and thence to Rummay, where he was employed in the iron works for one year. Next, he proceeded to Tradaga, where he was similarly engaged for three years.

He then returned to his native place, and after a few days' visit he, in company with a sister-in-law, embarked at Liverpool for the United States. Land- ing at New York city in May, 1849, he went first to West Stafford, Conn., where he worked for farmers. In 1851, he journeyed to Springfield, Mass., and work- ed for one summer in the stone quarries there. He then came to Chicago, Grand Rapids and Ionia. While operating a hotel at the last named place, he met Messrs. Isaac and George Gee, of Gratiot Coun- ty, who prevailed upon him to come into the woods, " keep shanty " and work for them. He consented, and in April, 1855, made the move. For one year he was thus employed as a common laborer, his wife doing the housework. During this time he purchased So acres of Government land under the pre-emption act, on section ro, and at the expiration of the year he commenced working for himself. He built him a log house, covered with shakes, and gradually, in time, he redeemed his fertile acres from the dense forest and useless stumps, and brought into being a model farm. From time to time he has added to his original 80 acres, and now he has 400 acres, with 250 acres under high cultivation, the most extensive farm in the township. In place of his first rude dwelling, with puncheon floor, and with but three boards of sawed lumber in its whole construction, he has now one of the largest and finest residences in Gratiot County, and barns and other farm buildings in pro- portion.

Dec. 31, 1854, near Springfield, Mass., he was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Margaret Hollarron, a native of Clare Co., Ireland. She came to this country with three sisters when quite young, and for the first four years after her arrival she worked as a domestic in New York City. She then went to Massachusetts, where she was similarly employed until her marriage. She has been an earnest worker, a faithful wife and

affectionate mother, and a fit companion to her hus- band in his life work. She is the mother of seven children, of whom six survive: James, born June 6, 1855; Cornelius, Dec. 29, 1857 ; Henry, Dec. 26, 1859; Michael, March 10, 1862; Mary, March 31, 1864 (died in July, 1866); Katie, July 31, 1869; Sarah, Nov. 12, 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. McNamara are connected with the Roman Catholic Church. He has held many of the township offices, and is at present Drain Commis- sioner. Politically, he is a National Greenbacker. His oldest son, James, born June 16, 1855, was the first white child born in any of the three northern tiers of townships in the county.

mery Adams, farmer, section 5, Arcada Township, was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., March 17, 1813, and is the son of Jason and Olive (Bears) Adams, natives of New Eng- land, and of the old Puritan stock. His early boyhood was spent with his parents in his na- tive county and in Seneca Co., N. Y., and later in Niagara Co., N. Y. He lived with his parents until his marriage, Dec. 24, 1836, in Newfane Township, Niagara County, to Rachel M., daughter of John and Phebe (Case) Lewis, natives of New York and of English and German descent. She was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1818. At the age of 14 she removed with her parents to Orleans County, and afterwards to Niagara County, where she lived until her marriage.

In the fall of 1837, Mr. and Mrs. Adams came to Jackson Co., Mich., where they lived in Liberty Township until February, 1854. They then came to this county and purchased 360 acres of unbroken forest land in Arcada Township. They were among the first white settlers in that part of the county, but were surrounded by friendly Indians. By his own efforts, Mr. Adams has succeeded in improving 100 acres ; and he has given his three married children all a good start in farming. He and wife have a very pleasant home two miles from the village of Alma, and stand exceptionally high in the estimation of their friends, for upright character, energetic mind and hospitable disposition.

Aug. 12, 1861, Mr. Adams enlisted in Co. C, 8th

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Mich. Vol. Inf., and he served under Gen. Stephens. The principal fighting he saw was in the South Car- , olina campaign, at Port Royal, James Island and Wilmington. He was often detailed for special duty while in the service. He was neither captured nor wounded, but his health was seriously impaired by hard marching and by continued exposure. He was honorably discharged Dec. 9, 1862, when he returned home and gave his attention to improving his farm. And well has he succeeded. The first nine days after he brought his family to this county, they lived in a tent. They then had a log cabin, and from that they have come to have a residence and farm build- ings that are an honor to the community in which they live.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams have had 12 children, but Death has with unkind hand robbed them of eight. The living are: Cynthia C., born Oct. 14, 1855; Edwin J., Feb. 26, 1841; Phebe J., Nov. 29, 1843; Loda G., Oct. 17, 1854. Lewis was born Dec. 25, 1845, and died in October, 1846; Ralph A. was born April 8. 1850, and died Sept. 17, 1852 ; Martha Maria, was born March 17, 1845, and died Feb. 10, 1863 ; and five others died in infancy. Mr. Adams held the office of Township Treasurer for three successive terms, being the second one elected to that office in the township. In politics he is an ardent Republi- can. Hle and wife are active members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church at Alma.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Adams appear on other pages. The biographical records of Gratiot County are rendered more valuable to the future by the addition of the likenesses of these members of its pioneer settlers who have borne the labors and privations of its early history and now enjoy its pros- perity.

James M. Wood, farmer, section 2, Pine River Township, was born. March 10, 1832, in Greene C'o., Pa. He is the son of Will- iam and llannah (Hartley) Wood, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Until he attained his majority, Mr. Wood passed his life in attending the common schools and working on his father's farm. On reaching the period of his legal freedom he rented a farm, which he conducted

several years, after which he bought a saw-mill, in company with two partners. This enterprise lasted about three years, and on detaching himself from it, Mr. Wood, associated with his brother, bought 150 acres of land. His brother was then a soldier in the Union army, and his interest in the property contin- ued until March, 1865, at which time he came to Gratiot County. During the year he bought the farn; he now owns, comprising 165 acres of wild land. Of this he retains 125 acres, and his tillable land now includes 40 acres. Mr. Wood is a decided Re- publican.

He was first married in Greene Co., Pa., to Eliza- beth Leonard. She was born in the Keystone State, and became the mother of nine children : William L., Archibald H., Levi L., Cephas E., Lena L., Sarah Belle, Hannah A., George T. and Henry F. Mrs. Wood died in August, 1876. Mr. Wood was again married in May, 1880, to Mrs. Emily (Baker) Acker, widow of Jonas Acker. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Disciples' Church.

acob Burnham, one of the oldest living pioneer settlers in Gratiot County, resident at St. Louis, was born April 22, 1805, near Coburg, Canada West, and is a son of Nathan and Joanna (Ferguson) Burnham. He was reared on a farm ard bred to the calling of an agriculturist. On reaching his majority he bought a farm and entered upon active, independent life with every prospect of smooth, safe progress to prosperity, but, in an unfortunate moment, he signed obligations for other parties, whose failure to discharge their own indebtedness involved him in a loss of $5,000, by which he became dispossessed of his farm. He made a determined struggle through the next four years, working at carpenter work and in a saw-mill, and again bought a farm in the Dominion, located in Reach Township, Ontario County. On this he resid- ed until the fall of 1856, when he came to St. John's, Clinton Co, Mich. A year later he came to St. Louis, and entered the employ of Richard G. Hillyer in the management of a saw-mill belonging to him and Henry 1 .. Holcomb, who afterward became the sole proprietor of the property. Mr. Burnham conducted

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the business of the mill 17 years altogether, since which he has been variously engaged.

The marriage of Mr. Burnham with Nancy Brown occurred Sept. 16, 1827, near Grafton, Canada. She was the daughter of Edward and Rachel (Cole) Brown, and was born May 4, 18to, in Brockville, Can- ada. She died Jan. 14, 1860, at St. Louis. Of nine children born of this union, four are living: Julia A., wife of Alexander Chisholm, a farmer of Lafayette Township; Phatima B. Z., wife of Moses Thompson, a farmer in Dickinson Co., lowa; Ursula, wife of Elijah Going, a miller in Salt River village, Isabella County ; Sophronia, wife of Herbert L. Lord, a build- er, resident at St. Louis with Mr. Burnham.

The old home first occupied by Mr. B. and his fam- ily on coming to St. Louis was built by Mr. Grooms, and it was the first house built on the present site of the village. At the date of Mr. Burnham's purchase, the town contained less than a dozen families, and everything was in the most primitive condition. No streets had been opened and he assisted in opening the first thoroughfare. The old home, which was purchased by him, together with one and a quarter acres of ground, has been recently torn down. It was situated on the bank of the river on Main Street, in block 46. The first grave was dug in the garden at- tached to the house, and received the remains of a young girl, Alice Clark. They were afterward in- terred in the St. Louis cemetery. Betsey Campbell, sister of Miss Clark, was the next to require a final resting place, and her body was also buried in the same garden, but was sent after some time to Salt River village, Isabella County.

eorge L. Kemp, farmer, section 16, Pine River Township, is the son of Jacob M. and Harriet (Hoy) Kemp, the former a native of West Virginia, the latter of Maryland. After their marriage they located in Richland Co., Ohio, and in 1857 came to Isabella Co., Mich., and thence to St. Louis, Gratiot County, where they still reside.

Mr. Kemp was born May 25, 1846, in Richland County, and was a lad of 11 years when his parents came to Michigan. At 18 he became a soldier in

the Union cause and enlisted in the 2d Mich. Vol. Inf. He was in the service 17 months and received an honorable discharge. He was 21 years old soon after the close of the war, and on attaining his legal freedom he settled upon a farm his father bought for him while he was absent in his country's defense. It was situated in Isabella County, and included 160 acres, which he continued to improve for 11 years, when he sold out, and in December, 1879, he re- moved to Gratiot County, where he bought 120 acres of slightly improved land on section 16 in Pine River Township. He has placed 50 acres under good cul- tivation, and in the summer of 1881 he built a fine modern barn on his farm. In political faith he is a Republican.

Mr. Kemp was married March 14, 1877, to Fran- cinkey, daughter of Samuel and Elma Abbott. Her mother was born in Kentucky, her father in Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Kemp was born in Kosciusko Co., Ind., Oct. 20, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Kemp are the parents of three children : Kittie B., Samuel M. and Freddie S. The parents are members of the Disciples' Church.

hilip Fritz, farmer, section 36, Newark Township, was born in Venango Co., Pa., Feb. 8, 1822, and is the youngest son of his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Huffman) Fritz. They were both natives of the Keystone State and of German ancestors.

When Mr. Fritz was seven years of age, his father moved to Medina Co., Ohio, where he lived till 1880. He then came to Gratiot County, where he died May 3, 1882. On reaching manhood, the brothers, Philip and Amos, bought their father's farm and managed it in company for 18 years, when the former sold his interest to his brother and, purchasing a share in the estate of his father-in-law, conducted the place six years, then sold out, and in April, 1868, he came to Gratiot County and purchased 1581/2 acres of land, on which he has since resided. To this he has ad- ded 60 acres, and at present writing 136 acres of his farm are under cultivation. Mr. Fritz is a "dyed-in- the-wool " Republican, and interested in all matters that seem to possess inherent elements likely to ben- efit the general public. In 1870 he gave half an acre

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of land to the township of Newark, adjoining the school-house in district No. 1, on condition of the plat being surrounded with shade trees and the pro- per grading done.

Mr. Fritz was married June 6, 1851. in Medina Coun- ty, to Barbara, second daughter of John and Barbara (Giesinger) Wideman. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, removed thence to Canada and later to Ohio, where the father died. The mother came to Michigan to pass her remaining days and died March 9, 1879, in Newark Township. Mrs. Fritz was born in Ohio, Dec. 29, 1826. Ten children born of this marriage are all living. Their names are, Francis J., William O., Amos W., Jacob M., John E., Radintha J., Rosalinda, Joseph A., Mary E. and Florence A.

Mr. Fritz has served the township of Newark as Collector of taxes five years, and has held the vari- ous school offices. He is connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

eorge Rockafellow, farmer and stock- raiser on section 16, Summer Township, is son of John and Elizabeth (Fraley) Rock- afellow, natives of New Jersey, and of Scotch and German descent. The father has follow- ed the occupation of carpenter and joiner, and is yet living, in the State of Nebraska, aged 83. The mother died in 1849, in Crawford Co., Pa.

The subject of this biography was born April 29, 1839, in Livingston Co., N. Y., and when two years old his parents removed to Crawford Co., Pa. Here he lived with his parents until 18 years of age, and was then apprenticed to the trade of wagon-maker, under Elliott Byres, of Crawfordstown, Pa. Serving his time, he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and was employed as a driller until July 1, 1861. On that date his patriotic feelings led him to enlist in Co. (', 62d Pa. Vol. Inf., and he was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Mcclellan. July 2, 1862, at Malvern Hill, he received a gunshot wound in the right leg. A permanent lameness resulting, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He fought in the seven-days' battle before Rich-

mond, and in other engagements, and was discharged, July 11, 1864, after serving three years.

Returning to his father's farm, he worked there for a few months ; and in the spring of 1865 he was ap- pointed mail agent on the Warren & Franklin rail- road, in Pennsylvania. After a year he was trans- ferred to the Farmers'railroad, where he remained a year. Coming then to this State, he located 160 acres on section 16, Sumner Township, then entirely in its primitive wild state. After chopping about 10 acres, he sold, and bought 120 acres on the same sec- tion, where he has since resided. He has since im- proved 45 acres, has sold 50 acres, and purchased 80 acres additional on section 20.

Sept. 28, 1871, at Salt River, Isabella Co., Mich., he was united in marriage to Miss Jane, daughter of William and Susanna (Huff) Smith, natives of Somer- set Co., Pa. Mr. Smith died in Wood Co., Ohio, in 1862, aged 60; and Mrs. Smith died in 1870, aged 59. Jane was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1842, and was reared and educated in Wood Co., Ohio, where she went with her parents when five years old. In 1871, she came to Michigan, and one year later she was married.

Mr. and Mrs. Rockafellow are the parents of four children : Charles E., George F., Samuel L., and John A. He has held the office of Highway Com- missioner, and has also held various school offices. Politically, he is a zealous and uncompromising Re- publican.

Eugene Kirby, manager of the Wright House at Alma, was born Sept. 12, 1853, in Oswego, N. Y. His parents, Capt. Allen M. and Hannah (Scott) Kirby, were natives of Vermont. After their marriage, they located at Oswego. In 1860 they removed to East Saginaw, where they were resident about 23 years. The father there engaged as a Captain on the Lake steamers. In the summer of 1883 they removed to Detroit, where they now reside.

Mr. Kirby was nearly six years of age when his parents came to East Saginaw. He was there edu- cated, and continued to reside until the fall of 1883. In 1876 he became Clerk of the Bancroft House, in which capacity he served about one year, when he

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engaged as steward of the same house. After dis- charging the obligations of the position three and a half years, he resumed the duties of clerk, and offi- ciated as such two years. He terminated his engage- ment in the autumn of 1883, and removed to Alma, where he assumed the management of the Wright House, which justly claims precedence of similar establishments in the Peninsular State.

Mr. Kirby was married Oct. 30, 1883, at East Saginaw, to Hattie M., youngest daughter of Amos and Rachel (Ingals) Martin. Mrs. Kirby was born July 27, 1863, in Goderich, Canada, where her parents located after their marriage.

Mr. Kirby is identified with the interests and issues of the Republican party. He has been " mine host" of the Wright House but a comparatively short period, but long enough to render himself popular, and he has won a highly flattering degree of the public confidence. His affable, genial temperament and attention to the small considerations which con- tribute so largely to the comfort of the patrons of an establishment possessing the uncontested claims which pertains to the Wright House, is conclusive evidence that. in this instance, " the right man is in the 'W'right ' place " literally.

illard Davis Tucker, editor and proprie- tor of the St. Louis Herald, and President of the Village of St. Louis, was born March 25, 1841, in Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N. V. His father, Davis Tucker, was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 21, 1808, and was the second of eight brothers, sons of Caleb and Thirza (Foster) Tucker, their grandfather being Joshua Tucker. This branch of his ancestry was from Connecticut and Vermont stock, and was orig- inally from England and Wales.

His mother, whose maiden name was Catharine Lake, was born Sept. 24, 1808, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and was the fifth in a family of 1 1 children. Her father, John McCord Lake, was a Connecticut Van- kee of French and Irish antecedents, and her mother, Betsey (De La Matyr) Lake, daughter of Capt. Will- iam De La Matyr, of Brooklyn, descended from Hol- land stock, and belonged to the now numerous family

of De La Matyrs who trace their ancestry to one Hollander of that name, who immigrated to this country and located at what is now Brooklyn, some time in the sixteenth century.

Davis Tucker, father to the subject of this sketch, was a farmer and came to Michigan with his family in May, 1844, and located in Grass Lake Township, Jackson County, where (and in adjoining townships) he engaged in his occupation till the spring of 1854, when, having purchased a large farm in Branch Coun- ty, 11 miles west from Coldwater, he removed with his family to the new home. Here the father died, Oct. 4, 1854, and the property, passing into the hands of an administrator, mainly disappeared in costs and fees. The remaining members of the family migra- ted to Springport, Jackson County, in which town- ship, and in the adjoining townships of Hamlin, Eaton County, and Clarence, Calhoun County, they were engaged in agriculture, having purchased farms in each of those townships.

The subject of this sketch was one of a family of seven children, five girls and two boys, being the sixth in order, and the second son. Only the two sons are living at the present time, the girls one by one having all passed away, all having arrived at womanhood, and all, excepting the youngest, mar- ried and with families. The brother, Albert C., resides in Charlotte, Eaton County. From and after 1859, the subject of this sketch, his youngest sister, Martha De Ette, and his mother, constituted "the family," the others having all gone for themselves. Mr. Tucker received a common-school education. and has taught three terms of school ; the winter of 1863-4 in his own district in Clarence, the winter term of 1868-9 in St. Louis, in what is now called the " West Branch," and in 1871-2 in District No. 2, fractional, of Pine River and Atcada.

At the breaking out of, and during, the war, Mr. Tucker greatly desired to respond to the country's call for defenders, but, owing to the duties devolving upon him in the care of an aged mother and young sister, it seemed a thing impossible to do. In the summer of 1864, however, circumstances seemed more propitious, and he enlisted as a private in Co. D, 28th Mich. Vol. Inf., and was mustered into the service at Marshall, Sept. 1, afterwards going to Kal- amazoo, where the organization of the regiment was completed. The regiment went South in October,

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halting at Louisville, where Companies Dand B were put to detached service, and did duty at Louisville, Nashville and intermediate localities, till February, 1865, when the regiment was assigned to the 23d Army Corps, and ordered to join the command in North Carolina. Proceeding to Alexandria, Va., a three-weeks halt was necessary to await the breaking up of the ice in the Potomac, after which the regi- ment proceeded by water to Beaufort, N. C., thence to Newbern, where Mr. Tucker was left in the small- pox hospital, having contracted that dread disease in Alexandria, and suffering everything but death dur- ing the week's stormy passage on the Atlantic. When partially recovered from this, he passed through a siege of pneumonia, supplemented with hernia of the lungs and mumps, and when discharged, June 15, 1865. after the close of the war, his health was very much broken. Ile gradually recovered, but it was two years before he regained his usual health.

In August, 1866, Mr. Tucker, with his mother and sister, removed to St. Louis, Gratiot County, then a small hamlet, and engaged in the business of build- ing, which calling he followed until March 1, 1881, when he bought the St. Louis Herald, and the duties of editor and publisher have since occupied his time and attention. The Herald is the oldest paper by priority of establishment published at St. Louis, and is the only National Greenback paper in the county. It has a large and growing circulation in Gratiot and adjoining counties, and enjoys a liberal advertising patronage. The job work and ornamental printing clone at this office is of the best, and would be a credit to towns of a much larger size. The Herald's influence in politics is considerable, it being a fear- less exponent and advocate of anti-monopoly and the principles of the National Greenback Labor party.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 60

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

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