Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 63

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

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Mr. Cheesman is one of the survivors. resident at St. Louis. The Doctor inhabited a primitive log house, situated in front of his present residence, and his wife and daughter (Mrs. Nelson) attended to the customers of the store. Dr. Cheesman maintained his practice until 1880, when on account of infirm health he retired.

He has been active in all the duties of citizenship and devoted much attention to the substantial prog- ress and prosperity of St. Louis. On the organiza- tion of the county he was elected Judge of Probate, and held the position one year. He has served on the Board of Village Trustees, and is now one of the oldest members of the Masonic Order in the county. The first Masonic meeting was held at St. Louis over his store when the lodge was organized. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife belongs to the Baptist denomination. He was elected President of the County Pioneer Society on its organization, and has occupied the position con- tinuously since.

Dr. Cheesman owns 40 acres of land on section 26, Pine River Township, and has a brickyard in the village of St. Louis, where he owns a fine bed of fire clay. He was a member of the School Board of St. Louis for several years; and was first President of the Michigan Central Union Fair Association of Isa- bella, Midland, Gratiot and Montcahn Counties, the first meeting of which was held Oct. 5, 6 and 7, 1875, midway between the villages of St. Louis and Alma.

The portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Cheeseman appear on other pages. In presenting them in the Biograph- ical and Portrait Album of Gratiot County, the value of the work is increased in many respects. As the likeness of pioneers, no estimate can be made of their worth and fitness, but it is insignificant com- pared with their value to those of St. Louis and Gratiot County, to whom the patronymic became a household word under circumstances which have left indelible impressions upon all concerned. The worth of Dr. Cheeseman to his generation can only be understood and appreciated by the beneficiaries of his skill and timely aid on occasions of sore need. A pioneer physician who spends his life and devotes his strength and abilities to the amelioration of the suffering incident to most newly settled localities, consecrates himself to one of the noblest works pos- sible to humanity.

esse Trapp, farmer and stock-raiser on sec- tion 6, Sumner Township, was born in Lu- cas Co., Ohio, Aug. 27, 1836, and is the son of John and Barbara (Mathews) Trapp, na- tives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The father was early in life a carpenter and joiner, and later a farmer. Jesse lived with his father, working on the faim and attending the common and graded schools of his native county, until nearly 25 years of age.

Aug. 5, 1861, he enlisted in Co. 1, 14th Ohio Vol. Inf, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- land, under Gen. Buell. He fought at Nashville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Goldsboro, Resaca, Mill Springs and Shiloh, as well as in minor engage- ments. He was shot through the arm at Jonesville, Tenn., and received two other flesh wounds. Enter- ing the service as a private, he was successfully pro- moted Corporal, Sergeant, Orderly Sergeant, Sergeant- Major, and finally, in September, 1864, First Lieuten- ant, which last rank he held when discharged, July 5, 1865, after serving faithfully nearly four years.

Returning home to Lucas County, one year later he came to Michigan and took charge of the 320 acres on sections 5 and 6, Sumner Township, which had been left him by his father at the latter's death. He has retained 200 acres, of which 100 are well im- proved and under cultivation. He has erected a suitable dwelling and necessary farm buildings, at a cost of $2,000.

June 23, 1867, at Grand Rapids, Wood Co., Ohio, he was married to Miss Anna E. Sterling, daughter of Seneca and Mary (Blaker) Sterling, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and Scotch descent. She was born in Wood Co., Ohio, Jan. 21, 1841, and was reared and educated in the common and graded schools in that county. At the age of 17, she began teaching, which occupation she followed for nine years, previous to her marriage. She is the mother of one daughter, Winifred G., born July 17, 1875.

Mr. and Mrs. T. are active members of the United Brethren Church, and he is Chairman of the Board of Trustees in the Church. He has also been for 17 years Superintendent of the Union Sunday-school,

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of Elm Hall. He has held the office of Township Clerk for two years, Superintendent of Schools for three years and other minor offices. Politically, he is an active and influential Republican.

aron C. Brown, farmer and lumberman, section 32, is a son of Abner and Anna (French) Brown, and was born in Niagara Co , N. Y., in Hartland Township, Feb. 4, 1833. When ten years of age his parents moved with him into Newfane Township, near by, where he was married, Feb. 24, 1853, to Miss Jane E. Lake, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Sowle) Lake, who was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., July 23, 1834.

In 1859, he came to Bethany Township, this county, and bought So acres where he now resides. Feb. 24, 1861, he arrived with his family at the house of Judge Nelson, Arcada Township, on their way to their Western home. Here he has now 55 acres un- der cultivation, with 20 acres more cleared ; has also a nice residence, barns, etc.

Thus has Mr. Brown arisen from primitive begin- nings in a pioneer country. When he first came here there were only 19 families in St. Louis, and only three frame houses. There was no road to his place. He and his family are the oldest residents in their neighborhood, and ever since his location here he has followed farming, and for fourteen win- ters he has also followed lumbering. He at present keeps a boarding-house where the Toledo, Ann Ar- bor & Northern railroad is being built. Mr. B. is a member of the Good Templar lodge at St. Louis.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brown are : Elmer, born March 23, 1854, and died Sept. 8, 1861 ; Charles H., born Nov. 21, 1857, died Aug. 18, 1876; Laura E., born April 8, 1861, is the wife of Ellis Colburn, a farmer of Emerson Township.

illiam H. Coventry, farmer, section 22, Pine River Township, is the son of Robert and Rachel (Clark) Coventry, and was R born Nov. 7, 1833, in the State of New York. His parents were also natives of the Empire State, settled there in married life, and there completed the round of their earthiy existences.

Mr. Coventry entered upon his single-handed con- test with the world when he was 16 years old. Ile spent one season as a farm laborer, and obtained employ in a machine shop, where he operated seven years. He then resumed farming as a vocation. In 1865 he came to Ingham Co., Mich , and bought So acres of land, which he managed four years. In 1869, he exchanged the property for a house in Litchfield, Hillsdale County, removed to that place, and spent 18 months in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. He again traded his property for a farm in the same county. He afterwards went to Branch County, and spent two years in farming. In February, 1877, he came to Gratiot County, and bought the farm on which he has since lived and labored. It comprised 75 acres of land under partial improvement, and he has brought the place to a profitable and creditable con- dition. In political affinity, Mr. Coventry is a Re- publican.

Ile was married April 4, 1861, to Hannah, daugh- ter of Jacob and Sarah (Stringham) Iden. She was born Dec. 14, 1838, in Orleans Co., N. Y. Her par- ents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. Following are the names of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Coventry : Sarah J., Anna M., William, Francis, Minnie M. and Harriet A.

illiam J. Carr, farmer on section 14, Ful- ton Township, is a son of Thomas and Lucinda (Atwater) Carr, natives respect- ively of Ireland and Connecticut. They first settled in Madison Co., N. Y., where Thomas Carr followed farming until his death. The mother also died in that county. Their family con- sisted of two sons and three daughters, William J. being the youngest.

He was born in Madison Co., N. Y., June 28, 1821, and received a very limited amount of schooling. He lived with his parents until 34 years of age, that is, until their death. He has never worked for others except his father, in his life. In the fall of r$60 he came to Gratiot County and contracted for 160 acres of land in Washington Township. He soon gave this up, however, sacrificing $too, which he had paid on the same. He then purchased, for $700, 80 acres on

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section 14, Fulton Township, which, after he had erected a house, cleared 6o acies, and made other small improvements, he soll for $4,000, a handsome profit. This was in 1875. The same season he bought 40 acres on section 14, where he now resides. Hle has erected suitable buildings and has all his land in a good state of cultivation.

Oct. 13, 1840, at De Ruyter, Madison Co., N. Y., he married Miss Sarah A, daughter of Andrew and Clarissa (Hotchkins) Sornberger, of German and AAmerican descent. She was born in the State of New York, April 23, 1823, and bore to her husband 12 children, of whom the following six survive : Clarissa L., Harriet A., Stephen S., Esther L., Mary A. and George W. Six are deceased : Thomas A., Harvey W., Arthur E., Ernest F., Henry S. and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Carr died May 13, 1863. Mr. C. was again married, July 3, 1864, to Rebecca R., daughter of Erastus and Orpha (Fisk) Tinklepaugh, born in Greenbush, Clinton Co., Mich., Dec. 5, 1843. This marriage has been blessed with five children, of whom one, Archie I., is deceased. The living are: Cora A., Eda M., Maggie B. and Edward L. Mr. Carr's second wife died Oct. 7, 1880. ITe is a member of the Congregational Church, and a Republican.

illiam A. McOmber, of the firm of M. B. Smith & Co., real-estate, loan and in- surance agents, St. Louis, was born in Saratoga C'o., N. Y., in the town of the same name, July 15, 1812. He is a son of Pardon and Eunice McOmber, and is the youngest of six children born to his parents, four of whom yet survive. His father was born July 6, 1777, and was a native of the Empire State ; was a carriage-maker by trade, and died Dec. 25, 1860, in Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y., where he settled in 1819. The mother was born Feb. 27, 1783, and died in August, 1869.

Mr. McOmber was educated with considerable care and attended the academy at Gaines until he was 16 years old. In 1829 he went to Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., where he conducted a stage route about three years. He came to Michigan in its Territorial days, reaching here Oct. 10, 1832. He came at once to Gratiot County and found the country

covered with the primeval forest and populated by Indians. He remained but a short time and returned to his native State, passing the succeeding several years in or near Lockport.

In 1840 he came to Adrian, Mich., and there he began the fur trade with the Indians in the interests of the American Fur Company, which he carried on extensively for some years, gradually extending his field and operating from various points. He estab- lished trading posts at Adrian, Jackson and DeWitt. In 1851 he rented the old Lansing House, which he conducted two years, and then became clerk with John Swegles, Auditor General of Michigan. He was employed in the capacity of clerk in that office about two years, and, in 1854, he came to St. John's, reach- ing there during the progress of its survey. He was still in the employ of General Swegles, who had a store there, and he remained in that capacity about a year. He then engaged in the Indian trade sev- eral years at St. John's, in company with David Stur- gis, with whom, in 1861, he went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania. They spent some time sinking for cil and Mr. Sturgis came back to Michigan and died. Meanwhile the celebrated United States oil well was sunk by Thomas Brown and others, and proved one of the best and most profitable. Mr. McOmber bought an interest therein and eventually became in- terested in several oil wells in that region, all of which were of celebrity and value. He was at Oil City, Titusville and other places which have become famous, when oil was first struck, and his operations in that commodity were very successful. In 1868 he returned to Orleans Co., N. Y., and the following year to St. John's, Mich.

In 1870 he came to St. Louis, and the firm of Fer- ry & McOmber, real-estate agents, was formed. This relation continued until 1872, when the style became McOmber & Paddock, and the new organization con- tinued in operation until 1877, when it became Mc- Omber, Smith & Brook. In 1881, Mr. McOmber commenced operations in the several branches of his business singly, continuing until July, 1883, when the present firm known as M. V. Smith & Co. was es- tablished. The concern is doing an extensive busi- ness, in their own interests and in behalf of others.

Mr. McOmber has been Township Clerk of Pine River one year and has been Notary Public all the time since he came to St. Louis. He was one of the

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC ARY

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Sono Et Chwarty

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original projectors of the Saginaw Valley & St. Louis railroad, and did much by way of obtaining sub- . scriptions, right of way, and in other avenues. He was one of the originators, in 1875, of the agricul- tural society known as the Michigan Central Union Fair Association, and was its Secretary one year. He is a member of the Order of Masonry and also of the fraternity known as the Knights of Labor.

Mr. McOmber was married near St. John's, Clin- ton County, to Ann E. Gardner. Lena E., only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McOmber, is the wife of Thomas P. Potts, cigar manufacturer at Mononga- hela, Pa. Charles H., only son, is traveling salesman for Henry F. Kohlbock & Co., machinists and man- ufacturers at Pittsburg, Pa.

john F. Schwartz, a member of the manu- facturing firm of J. M. Montigel & Co., at Alma, was born Feb. 1, 1852, at Erie, Pa., and is the son of Stevan and Barbara (Segrist) Schwartz. His parents were born respectively in Germany and Switzerland. His father died when he was but rig years old, and at the age of eleven years, Oct. 14, 1863, he moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he acquired a good com- mon-school education and afterwards attended the academy at Kingsville, Ohio. At the age of 16 he began to learn the business of a molder. In 1871 he came to Alma, where he formed an association with J. M. Montigel, his step-father, and established what is to-day the best equipped foundry and ma- chine shop in the county.

In 1879, Mr. Schwartz saw the need of a good carriage and wagon shop, and accordingly the same year they branched out into this business, to which he has since given his whole attention, the works hav- ing grown into one of the leading industries of the place.

Mr. Schwartz is a member of the Masonic Order, and in political action and sentiment affiliates with the Republican party. He has been Village Clerk for three years, Assessor for one year, and has been a member of the Village Board for a number of years, and at present fills that position.

He was married Oct. 16, 1876, at Alma, to Au-

gusta, daughter of George and Lena Bahlke, natives of Germany. Mrs. Schwartz was born in Trenton, Mich., May 25, 1856. The two children born to this marriage are Lena and Edna.

The portrait of Mr. Schwartz is presented on the opposite page.

homas Franklin, farmer, section 19, North Shade Township, was born Feb. 15, 1838 in Bedfordshire, England. His parents, Samuel and Sarah (Muns) Franklin, were na- tives of England. The former was a gardener by occupation, and served more than 20 years as a soldier in the British army. He died in Eng- land in 1840, and Mrs. Franklin died Jan. 18, 1881.

Thomas remained under the parental roof until 1857, when he came to America, coming immediately from New York, where he landed, to Wayne Co., Mich. Here he was employed at various kinds of labor until 1860, when he came to Gratiot County, located 40 acres of land on section 5, North Shade Township, and embarked in life as a farmer. Only a few months had rolled by, however, ere the Gov- ernment called for volunteers to suppress the rebell- ion that had broken out in the South. Of the thou- sands of true and loyal men that responded to the call, none were more devoted to the old flag than Thomas Franklin, the subject of this sketch. He enlisted in October, 1861, in Co. D, 13th Mich. Inf., and served three years and ten months, having veter- anized at the close of his first term. He was a par- ticipant in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stevenson, Ala., Perryville, Ky., Savannah, and at the battle of Bentonville received a wound, a minie ball passing through his right leg and striking the left. He also fell in the hands of the rebels at this place. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. He was discharged, after making a brilliant record as a soldier, July 26, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. He re- turned to Gratiot County, and again resumed the quiet and peaceful role of a farmer, and since has been quite successful. He owns a farm of 120 acres on section 19 of North Shade Township, of which 90 acres are under a good state of cultivation, with ex- cellent dwelling and farm buildings. He also owns 79 acres of timber on section 22.

In 1865 (Oct. 4), Mr. Franklin was united in mar-

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riage with Miss Julia A., daughter of Abijah and Freelove (Gale) Reynolds, both of whom were natives of West Chester Co., N. Y. They removed to lli- nois, where they remained for two years ; then they returned to Cayuga Co., N. Y., where the former died in ISSo, and the latter in 1878. Mrs. Franklin was the eldest daughter, and was born Aug. 19, 1825, in Orange Co., N. Y.

Mr. Franklin is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in poli- tics is a Republican.

Charles W. Giddings, attorney-at-law, St. Louis, was born in Sherman, Fairfield Co., C'onn., Feb. 9, 1847. in the same house where his father, Jonathan C. Giddings, was born Oct. 5, 1822. llis mother, Mary E. Giddings, was born in the town of New Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 31, 1822. The subject of this sketch was about one and a half years of age when his par- ents moved to Palmyra, Portage C'o., Ohio, where the father engaged in farming for a time, but again turned his attention to the mercantile business, in which he had been educated in his boyhood days, until shortly after the war broke out, when he became a soldier in the Union army and there remained until nearly the close of the war. In 1866, the family came to St. Louis, where the senior Giddings purchased 60 acres of land within the present limits of the village. This land has since been platted and recorded as " Gid- dings' Addition." The father was elected Supervisor of Bethany Township the year following his removal hither, and he was elected seven years successively. He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors sever- al times and held the position of member of the Vil- lage Council two terms. Ile served eight years as a Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity ; and after he located at St. Louis, he devoted considerable time to transactions in real es- tate, in which he was interested to the time of his death, Jan. 14. 1883. He was a man of ability and influence, and his death was deeply lamented by a large number of friends.

Mr. Charles W. Giddings acquired his education

while his parents resided at Palmyra, attending the common schools until he arrived at the age of 13 years, when he was placed in a private school, which for most of the terms he attended until, in company with his parents he came to St. Louis, where he has since resided. Shortly after his arrival here he learn- ed the carpenter's trade. He was 22 years of age when he commenced business independently as a builder, and combined with that the furniture and undertaking business. In 1873, he was appointed Under Sheriff of the county by Sheriff Pratt, and held this position for four years, during which time he also held an appointment as Deputy United States Mar- shal of the Eastern District of Michigan. After his appointment as Under Sheriff he closed his other bus- iness interests and devoted his entire attention to the duties of his office and the study of the law, enter- ing the office of James K. Wright of St. Louis, who during his period of study formed a law-partnership with Freman W. Whitney, under the firm name of Wright & Whitney. In March, 1877, he was admit- ted to the Bar after passing a very satisfactory exam- ination, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession as the junior partner of the firm of Whit- ney & Giddings, which existed one year. He then opened an office on his own account, but was for a time associated with Judge Paddock in the real-estate business in connection with his interests as an at- torney.

In January, 1883, he associated with him in the law business, B. H. Scoville, under the firm name of Giddings & Scoville, which continued until October, 1883, when the firm dissolved, and Mr. Giddings took into his office as a partner, Joseph A. Crandall, a young man of fine education and marked ability. The firm of Giddings & Crandall are doing a pros- perous business, and combines therewith transactions as loan agents.

Mr. Giddings, since his admission to the Bar, has been a member of the Village Council and Corpora- tion Attorney.

In 1878 he was elected Circuit Court Commission- er on the Republican ticket, and in 1880 received the nomination for Prosecuting Attorney, but was de- feated by the Fusion candidate, who was endorsed by the Democrats.

He is a member of the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workman, and is

THE REY

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Dannes Afright

GRATIOT COUNTY.

Past Master of the latter organization at St. Louis. He was married at St. Louis, Nov. 26, 1871, to Lo- vila, daughter of Horace Higby. She was born in Niagara Co., N. Y. Her parents were natives of that county, and removed to Michigan at an early day. Mr. Giddings' earliest traceable ancestor was George Giddings, who came from St. Albans, England, to Ips- wich, Mass., in 1635.

ames K. Wright, Prosecuting Attorney of Gratiot County, resident at St. Louis, was born in Parma, Jackson Co., Mich., March 3, 1844, and is the son of Deodatus and Serena (Fox) Wright. His father was born in William- ston, Mass., April 27, 1812, and in early life accompanied his parents to Wayne Co., N. Y., where he grew to man's estate on his father's farm, and was brought up to that profession.

In 1837 the parents of Mr. Wright came to Michi- gan. They left the State of New York in what is now known as a prairie schooner-a covered wagon -and in this case drawn by horses. The journey was long and wearisome, and they settled on 160 acres of land in Parma, then a wilderness of timber. But they had health, hope and courage, and bent the best energies of their young lives to securing a home for themselves and the little ones who came to bless and brighten the pioneer home and refresh their am- bitious desires to do and dare. Clearings were made and improvements pushed with great rapidity. The nearest wheat market was Detroit, nearly roo miles away, and sometimes wheat brought but 60 cents per bushel after the wearisome toil of planting, waiting, harvesting and drawing to market; but it kept affairs moving, and gradually the ingress of civilization, with its facilities, relieved their burdens, which in the light of to-day, and the memory of sad experiences and loss by death in the family circle, fade into noth- ingness. The marriage of the senior Wright with Serena Fox occurred in Huron, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1836. Of their marriage, ten children were vborn, seven sons and three daughters. Five sons and two daughters yet survive. The father has been one of the leading citizens of Parma, and has served as Justice of the Peace 30 years. He was elected

Supervisor 12 times and has always been actively connected with the public interests of the township.

Mr. Wright grew up in the manner common to the sons of pioneer farmers of Michigan, attending school winters and working on the farm summers. He was a youth of keen perceptions. Whether the school methods of those days were better incentives to intel- lectual capacity than those of modern date, is an open question ; but the local history of the entire country manifests what sort of men they developed. At 17 Mr. Wright came to Pine River Township, where his uncle, Frederick Wright, was then resident, and taught a winter term of school in the " Wright " dis- trict. He returned home and passed the next sum- mer on his father's farm. The succeeding winter he taught school in the same place, where he opened his career as a pedagogue, returning, as before, to the home-roof at Parma. The following winter he was a student at Albion Seminary, where he studied six terms, and aided in the management of the farm. He thus employed his time three years. His father's large family and increasing expenses rendered it necessary for him to depend on himself for his edu- cational privileges, and he managed his own do- mestic affairs during the time he was a student at Albion. He had a room and did his own cooking and maintained his frugal way of life until he had finished his studies and was admitted to the Bar at Jackson. In the spring of 1865 he entered the law office of Thoms G. Pray, of Albion, where he read for the profession of attorney, and was admitted to practice in the State Courts Sept. 26, 1867. He opened his office at St. Louis, Dec. 2, 1867, and has since continued the prosecution of a large and pros- perous practice. He is of the Democratic faith, but wins and holds the confidence of men of all political beliefs, as is evidenced by the results of his various elections. In 1869 he was elected Supervisor of Pine River Township, and in the fall of 1870 was elected Prosecuting Attorney and Circuit Court Commissioner on the Democratic ticket, of which he ran ahead about 600 votes, the county being strongly Republi- can. He was re-elected Prosecuting Attorney in the fall of 1874, and held the position two years. He was again elected in 1882 and is discharging the obligations of the position with the same conscien- tious faithfulness and rectitude which has secured and perpetuated his popularity. He is a member of

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 63

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

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