Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 66

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

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the possession of Dr. Wheeler is one of the most valuable individual collections in the State, and com- prises thousands of mounted specimens, indigenous and foreign. The latter were obtained by exchange from Europe, and have been collected by corre- spondence. The fora of the Pacific coast is largely represented, and the collection of Lake Superior plants is very complete. In 1882, Dr. Wheeler pre- sented to the Homeopathic State Medical Society a full list of medical plants indigenous to Michigan, a very material service.

In April, 1883, he located his practice at St. Louis, succeeding to the business of Dr. C. H. Lutes, a phy- sician of the same school, who had been a practi- tioner of popular standing and repute for some years. Dr. Wheeler has been resident but a short time, but has secured the confidence of a large circle of pat- rons. Ile gives special attention to surgery and sur- gical diseases, in which branch of his profession he has had unusual facilities. While in charge of the University Homeopathie Hospital at Ann Arbor, he had the benefit of the rare and difficult cases treated by the faculty under his observation, and left to his care after operation, a responsibility which tended to qualify him for the practice of that branch of his profession, and render him careful and reliable in the discharge of its duties.

ohn O. Clark, farmer, section 12, North Shade Township, is a son of John and Mary (Orr) Clark, the former a native of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and the latter of Kilbarchan, Scotland. Father was a soldier of the British navy in the Revolutionary war, after which he returned to his native heath, where he ultimately died, in the town of Paisley. His wife died nearly the same time.

The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 1, 1829. in the town of Paisley, Scotland. At Ir he ventured out as a sailor upon the briny deep, serving his ap- prenticeship on the vessel " Maggie Mitchell," Capt. Clark commanding. They were engaged in the East India trade. Mr. C. served on this ship five years, and on other vessels six years-that is, until Oct. 27, 1851, when he landed in New York city from the bark "Riley," Capt. Volume commanding. He then

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settled in Niagara C'o., N. Y., and was then engaged on the Erie Canal until 1852; he next engaged in railroading on the branch from Lockport to Buffalo; in June, 1854, he went to Ohio, and was employed on the railroad from Cleveland to Columbus until 1865 ; from May 1, 1864, to Aug. 24, 1864, he was in the army as a member of Co. H, 145th Ohio Vol. Inf., with the Army of the Potomac. Ilis regiment did not participate in any battles. He was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, and immediately returned to the Cleveland & Columbus railroad. In the spring of 1865, he came to Gratiot County and located on section 12, North Shade Township, on a farm of 115 acres, to which he has since added zoo acres in one body.

In public affairs Mr. Clark is a Republican ; he has been Assessor of his school district; is a member of Maple Rapids Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M., and also of Bill Begole Post, G. A. R., at Maple Rapids.

Dec. 12, 1851, Mr. Clark married Miss Dorotha, daughter of Frederick and Christina Mugkelberg, natives of Prussia. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the par- ents of eight children, namely : John IT., Albert W., Augusta MI. (who died Feb. 13, 1859), William J., George D., Frank L., Mary C. and Anna M.

eorge J. Coleman, farmer on section 20. Emerson Township, was born in Morenci, Lenawee Co., Mich., Sept. 22, 1854, and is the son of Isaac N. and Lovisa J. (Moon) Cole- man, natives of Medina Co., Ohio, and Niagara Co., N. Y. They have followed farming during most of their lives, and now live on a farm and pass their time in social and religious pleasures, in Emer- son Township, section 30. George J. came with his parents. at the age of one, to this county and lived with them near Ithaca until 17 years old. He at- tended the graded schools of the village a portion of the time. He worked for a season in the lumber woods near Saginaw, and then was employed for two and a half years in Nathan Church's mill at Ithaca, losing scarcely a day from his work the while, Going to Mecosta County in the fall of 1875, he worked in the woods until the spring of 1879, when he returned to his father's home.

March 25, 1880, at Ithaca, he was united in mar-

riage to Celia, daughter of William and Lydia Putnam, natives of New York and of New England descent. They followed farming in their native State until 1869, since when, except one year in Saginaw County, they have lived in Emerson Township, this county. Celia was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Jan. 5, 1862, and coming, when eight years old, with her parents, to this county, she grew up and was educated in Emerson Township. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman settled on a farm purchased seven years previously, on section 20, Emerson Township. At this time the land was covered with the virgin forest ; but they have cleared 35 acres and made other im- provements. They have one child, Roscoe L., born Oct. 19, 1881. Mr. Coleman is an active Republi- can, and now holds the office of Highway Commis- sioner, which he has filled for two terms.

ames A Nelson, farmer, section 14, Ful- ton Township, is a son of James and Sarah (Eddings) Nelson, natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage they settled in Ohio, four years later returning to Pennsylvania. Their next move was to Mahoning Co., Ohio, and later they removed to Hancock County, where they died. Their family comprised fou sons and six daughters.

The subject of this biography, the third son, was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, Sept. 3, 1822. He re- ceived a common-school education, and assisted bis father on the farm until 22 years old. He then en- gaged in farming on his own account. He came from Hancock Co, Ohio, to Gratiot County in the fall of 1858, and bought 160 acres of wild land in North Star Township, on which he built first a log, and afterwards a frame house. After five years, he sold and bought So acres on section 13, Fulton Town- ship, where he lived one year. He bought and sold several farms, and in the fall of 1879 he moved to Arcada Township and bought 80 acres. Four years later, he returned to Fulton Township and bought So acres on section 14, where he now resides. All his land is now under cultivation.

Feb. 8, 1849, in Beaver Co., Pa., he was married to Miss Lucinda Newton, a native of Pennsylvania. She bore him one child. He was again married at Detroit, Mich., Feb. 8, 1859, to Mrs. Mary, daughter of John and Margaret (Gibson) Chiffin, and widow

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of George Fairchild, who died in Ohio July 9, 1856. Mrs. Nelson's parents were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and she was born in Wayne Co., Ohio. She had by her first marriage four children: Mar- garet M., John A., Lillie A. and Mary (died in in- fancy); and by her second three children : Eugene A., Charles C. and Ella M. Eugene A. died Oct. 26, 1881, when 20 years and 21 days old. Mrs. N. is an attendant of the Seventh-Day Adventist so- ciety. Mr. N. votes the Republican ticket.

Mr. Nelson enlisted Feb. 18, 1864, in a company of sharpshooters attached to the 27th Mich. Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He was in the battles of Spottsylvania, Wilderness, Mine Run, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He was slightly wounded in the hand by a spent ball at Mine Run. He was honorably discharged at Detroit, Mich.

oseph H. Seaver, a prominent capitalist of Ithaca, and one of the leading men of Gratiot County, was born Feb. 6, 1846, in Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. He is a son of Joseph and Diantha (Ober) Seaver, and in the paternal lines of descent comes of English and Scotch ancestry. The father was born in 1825, at Crown Point, Essex Co., N. Y., and died in 1869, in Clark Co., Wis. The mother was a native of Essex County, where she was born in 1826, of mixed Scotch and German lineage. She died in Stockholm, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 30, 1859.

Mr. Seaver was brought up on his father's farm until the death of his mother, when he was placed in charge of a farmer named Ralph Osgood, in whose care he remained until 1863, when he went to the little village of Keene, in the township of Rossee in his native county, and obtained a situation as sales- man in the establishment of A. C. Ellis, grocery and provision dealer. He remained in that employ until the spring of 1865, when he came to Michigan and remained one year on the farm of Mr. Ellis, in Coop- ersville, Ottawa County. In May, 1866, he went to Wisconsin for the purpose of assisting in the survey of the ship canal route from Sturgeon Bay to Lake Michigan. Two months later he returned to Coop- ersville and operated about three months in a tan- nery. His next employ was as a clerk in the iner-

cantile establishment of Miner & Miller, located at Berlin in Ottawa County. He came in the winter of 1868 to Hamilton, Gratiot County, where he arrived February 28th, and at once entered upon the duties of chief manager of the mercantile and lum- bering interests of Robert M. Steel, his brother-in- law, where he officiated until July, 1870, when he went to St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich. He discharged the duties of book-keeper for the St. John's Manu- facturing Company one year, and in July, 187 1, went to McLeansboro, Ill. Mr. Steel was building the Southeastern & St. Louis railroad and Mr. Seaver was placed in charge of the construction corps en- gaged in building bridges and putting in culverts. He remained four months and again returned to Ham- ilton, in the same capacity in which he had formerly operated. He remained in charge of " Steel's mill " until Jan. 15, 1877. In the fall of 1876 he was elected Register of Deeds of Gratiot County, and in the winter ensuing fixed his residence at Ithaca, in order to facilitate the discharge of his duties as in- cumbent of a county office. He officiated as Register four years.

In November, 1879; Mr. Seaver purchased a stock of dry goods of John W. Howd, of Ithaca, and became associated with Daniel C. Johnson in the transaction of mercantile affairs under the firm style of 1). C. Johnson & Co. Their business was conduct- ed satisfactorily and with success until the spring of 1881, when Mr. Seaver purchased the interest of his partner. He at once proceeded to the erection of the Bank Block, for the Jeffrey estate, a building 71 feet square and three stories in height, and, in company with John W. Lewis, established an exten- sive mercantile business. Their stock includes dry goods, ready-made clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, groceries, crockery and other lines of goods suited to the demands of the patrons of the establishment. In May, 1880, the banking house of Steel, Turck & Co. was organized, with quarters in the store of D. C. Johnson & Co. On the completion of the new building the banking firm took possession of elegant and commodious quarters arranged for their accom- modation.

In 1879, Mr. Seaver bought the old Ithaca flouring mill, the building which is now occupied by W. F. Thompson as a tub factory. He carried on the busi- ness of the mill at that stand upwards of three

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years, and in August, 1882, put into practical opera- tion a project for the building of a new mill, which was in complete running order in April, 1883. The structure is 36 x 56 feet in dimensions and is fitted with steam power and four run of stones. The mill is devoted chiefly to custom work and grinds 125 bushels of wheat and 400 bushels of feed daily (10 hours).

Ithaca is indebted to the energy, perseverance and capital of Mr. Seaver and Gen. Nathan Church for the extension of the Saginaw Valley & St. Louis railroad. The track was graded, the ties supplied and the culverts built through the combined instru- mentality of these gentlemen.

Mr. Seaver owns 320 acres of land on section 13, in Newark Township, which is finely improved and supplied with all necessary farm appurtenances of the best class. He is the proprietor also of 40 acres on section 26, in Arcada Township, and owns a half interest in 200 acres on section 4, in the township of Bethany. His town property includes the tub factory and three lots. Mr. Seaver was one of the original organizers of the banking house of Steel, Turck & Co., at Ithaca, and of Turck, Winton & Co , at Alma, and is still connected with the former in the capacity of stockholder.

His portrait is an appropriate addition to the col- lection of the business men of Gratiot County ap- pearing in this volume. Comment upon the enterprise and unremitting solicitude and activity of Mr. Seaver for the benefit of his generation is unnecessary. The statement of what he is achieving in his daily efforts is all the case requires.

Mr. Seaver was married Nov. 2, 1869, to Augusta M. Steel, of Craftsbury, Orleans Co., Vt. She died Aug. 28, 1877, at Ithaca. Mr. Seaver was again married June 18, 1879, to Mrs. Louisa Jeffrey, widow of John Jeffrey.

This book is honored in presenting the portrait of Mrs. Seaver. She is, so to speak, a part of the his- tory and wonderful progress of Gratiot C'ounty, of which she has been many years a resident. In her character of wife and mother, she is a typical woman, and in her interest and exertions for the advance- ment of the society which she adorns, has incontro- vertible claims as a leader. Her experiences and natura! traits of character fit her for any station in

life, and she is enjoying the advantages of the posi- tion to which she is justly entitled as one of the leading ladies of Ithaca.

- yman T. Cassada (deceased), late farmer on section 31, Fulton Township, was a son of James and Abigail (Kinyon) Cassada (see sketch of J. A. C'assada), and was born in the State of New York July 27, 1819. He was one of the pioneers of Gratiot County, coming to this county in the spring of 1856, when he bought 20 acres of land in Fulton Township, on section 31. He resided upon this place, to which he added five acres, until his death, which occurred April 30, 1870.

April 27, 1841, in Chemung Co., N. Y., he married Miss Thirza Minton, daughter of John and Phebe (Jones) Minton, natives of New Jersey and Connect- icut. Mrs. Cassada was born in Chemung Co, N. Y., March 12, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. C. had two chil- dren: Amanda, born Jan. 18, 1842, and died Sept. 29, 1866 ; Laura, born July 29, 1843, and died May 21, 1867.

Mr. C. held the office of Supervisor of Fulton for six successive terms, and was also Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He took an active in- terest in the welfare of his township. He supported the Democratic party, and was at the time of his death a member of the Masonic Order. Mrs. C. is a member of the Christian Church. She has"added 15 acres to the farm since her husband's death, all of which is improved.

B arney Swope, farmer section 21, Wheeler Township, is a son of Barnhart and Eliza- beth (Neff) Swope, natives of Maryland. Mr. Swope, Sr., was part of his life a far- mer, and a number of years was also en- gaged in mercantile life, in Hagerstown, Md. From 1847 to 1852, he resided in Ohio, and in the latter year he came to Jackson Co., Mich., where he died three years later. Mrs. Swope was a second time married, to John Yager, and they now live with their son-in-law in Bethany Township.

The subject of this sketch was born in Washing-

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ton Co., Md., June 12, 1840. He left home at the age of 15, and began to work by the month for a time on a farm and then in a dry-goods store, and then at various other things until he was 21 years old. Aug. 20, 1861, he enlisted in Co. 1, 6th Mich. Vol. Inf., which was transferred to the heavy artillery. He was on garrison duty at Baltimore until March, 1862, when he was sent to Ship Island, in the Gulf of Mexico. He fought at Pass Mauchac, Baton Rouge, at Vicksburg, Miss., and in other engage- ments, six in all. besides skirmishes. He was wounded by a gunshot in the shoulder, at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863, and was finally discharged at New Orleans, Sept. 7, 1863. He had four and a half inches of bone taken out of his arm, and now draws a pension, which he richly deserves, it being but an inadequate return for the loss he has sus- tained in the defense of his country.

In 1865 he was united in marriage to Margaret, daughter of William and Harriet (Thompkins) Par- rish, natives of the State of New York. They emi- grated to Jackson Co., Mich., in 1835, where Mrs. Parrish died, and Mr. Parrish and second wife after- ward came to Gratiot. Margaret was born Oct. 3, 1845, in Jackson Co., Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Swope are the parents of seven children : William J., John H., Agnes E., Edgar U., Walter E., Bessie M. and Frances R. Mr. and Mrs. Swope came to this county in 1864 and located on section 6, Wheeler Township, and after one year removed to section 21, on a tract of 80 acres. He has since added So acres more and has a fine residence, completed in 1883. He has been Deputy Township Clerk one year, Clerk one year, Justice of the Peace a number of years, and has been Supervisor for nine terms. Politically, he is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wheeler Village.

kidney Sessions, farmer and owner of So acres of land on section 21, Fulton Town- ship, is the son of Nathaniel and Chloe (Thompson) Sessions, natives of Connecticut. They first settled in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and in 1837 they removed to lonia Co., Mich., where she died Nov. 14, 1879, and he died shortly after, March 15, 1880.

Sidney, the sixth of a family of 14 (nine boys and five girls), was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., July 19, 1828, and was nine years old when his parents removed to Michigan. He was educated in the com- mon schools, and assisted his father on the farm un- til 18 years old, when for five years he worked by the month at farming in Wisconsin and Iowa. Returning to Ionia County, he shortly after bought a farm, which he worked for two years. He then bought village property in Pewamo, lonia County, where he lived a year and a half. In the winter of 1869, he came to Gratiot County and bought 80 acres on section 21, Fulton, where he now resides. He has 60 acres under good cultivation.

Jan. 1, 1861, at Charlotte, Eaton Co., Mich., he married Miss Elizabeth A. Wallace, a native of Ionia County. She died in October, 1862. Feb. 11, 1864, in Ionia County, he married Miss Sarah A., daughter of John and Lurany (Whitford) Stoddard, natives of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard first lived in New York State, and afterwards came to Michigan, finally locating in Clinton County, where Mr. S. died Aug. 14, 1862, and Mrs. S. Aug. 16, 1864. Mrs. Sessions was born in Washtenaw County, this State, July 16, 1837. Mr. and Mrs. S. have one son, Harry P., born Jan. 31, 1865. Mr. S. is politically an earnest Pro- hibitionist, and on general issues has usually support- ed the Republican party.

Henry Smith, farmer, section 29, Bethany Township, is a son of Ira and Zada (Hitch- cock) Smith, and was born in Skaneateles, On- ondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1825, and was reared and educated on the farm. In Septem- ber, 1851, he went to Butte Co., C'al., and was - engaged in gold mining about two years, having sev- eral claims on the South Fork of Feather River. He returned to New York a short time, and in the spring of 1854 came to the site of what is now St. Louis, this county, when but two families were living in the place. He "located " a number of tracts of land in the vicinity of St. Louis and also near Alma. He was also Clerk of the Township there two years. In the fall of 1856 he was elected County Clerk, over Orville Wood as an opponent. He was elected as a Republican by a good majority.

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After his term of service expired he settled on sec- tion 35, Pine River Township for two years, " keep- ing bach," and then moved to section 26, same town- ship, where he had a quarter-section of land, 100 acres of which he cleared.

Oct. 22, 1856, Mr. Smith married Miss Julia .A., daughter of Elijah and Julia (Bullock) Porter, who was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 28, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. S. had the three following children : Julius II , now mining in Colorado; Cornelia A., now attending college at Kalamazoo, Mich., and E. Louise. Mrs. S. died in Pine River Township, May 19, 1862, and he again married in the same township, May 4, 1864, Miss Sarah E. Porter, a sister of his former wife, who was born in Coshocton, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1839. By this marriage there have been six children, three of whom are deceased. Miles R. is clerk in a drug store in St. Louis; Mortimer and Arthur E. are the other two living. The deceased are Laura A., Mary B. and Virgil.

In February, 1882, Mr. Smith came to his present location, where he owns So acres, and has 30 acres in cultivation. He has a good home, all made by himself in spite of many adverse fortunes, and his energy and judicious management insure permanent prosperity. He is a member of the pioneer society, and also a charter member of the Masonic lodge at St. Louis, No. 188. He was the first Clerk of Pine River Township, holding the position two years.

stephen M. Boyle, farmer on section 29, Fulton Township, is a son of Andrew and Joanna (Barry) Boyle, natives of Ireland. They emigrated to Canada about 1825, and settled in Northumberland County, where Mr. Boyle died. His wife afterwards came to Gratiot County, where she lived until her death.

Their son, Stephen M., was born in Northumber- land Co., Ontario, Sept. 12, 1838, and received a good common-school education, remaining at home until 20 years old. In April, 1859, he came to Gratiot County, and for one year he lived in Newark Town- ship. He has owned at different times several tracts of land, and in 1872 he bought 160 acres on section 29, Fulton, where he now resides. He owns at pres-

ent iSo acres, of which So are in an advanced state of cultivation.

He was first married in Northumberland Co., On- tario, Oct. 19, 1865, to Mary Lang, a native of Can- ada. She died July 15, 1868. He was again mar- ried at St. John's, Mich., Sept. 25, 1872, to Sarah J., daughter of William R. and Mary (Page) Price. She was born in Belknap Co., N. H., July 25, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle have become the parents of two children, Winfield R. and Mary G. Mr. B. has held the office of School Inspector. He is politically a Prohibitionist. He belongs to the Masonic Order, to the G. A. R, and, with his wife, to Essex Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He and wife are also mem- bers of the Christian Church.

Dec. 10, 1863. Mr. Boyle enlisted in the 4th Mich. Vol. Cav., and served till January, 1865. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, as far as 30 miles south of Atlanta, when, in a hand-to- hand encounter, he was wounded in three different parts of his body. He carries two bullets to this day.

srael Cole, Postmaster at Edgewood, this County, is a son of Leonard Cole, a native of Ulster Co., N. Y., now deceased, and was born in Orange County, same State, Nov. 27, 1808. He received all the advantages which the common schools of his native county afforded, and lived and developed into manhood while a resident of the State, remaining there until 1833, except from the fall of '28 to the fall of '29, which time he spent in the South. In the spring of that year, having united himself in marriage a year previous, 1832, to Miss Mary J. Hopkins, he and his young bride moved to Orleans County, their native State, and entered on life's battles.

Mr. Cole then traveled as a Methodist Protestant preacher for 23 years, until 1856, when he and his partner in life settled in Erie County, New York. Here he followed the occupation of a farmer for six years, then engaged in working at masonry during the summers and working in a mill until November, 1878, when, having lost his wife, with two of his children he came to this State. He settled in Edge- wood and opened a general mercantile store, in which business, together with that of Postmaster, he

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is now engaged and obtaining his portion of the trade of the community.

Mr. and Mrs. Cole had born to them the following children : Margaret (Chapman, of Boston, Mass.), Agnes (Knapp), Leonard (of Las Vegas, N. M.). Isabella (Stetson, of Lee Co., Ill.), Theresa and Sen- eca M. (live at home), Alexander (La Junta, Col.), Louisa (Lawler, of St. Thomas, Can.), and Mary A. (Shuman, of this township).

Fon. William S. Turck, of the banking house of W. S. Turck & Co., at Alma, and Steel, Turck & Co., at Ithaca, is a resident at Alma. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Gratiot County and ranks among its prominent citizens. He is the son of Zachariah and Rebecca (Decker) Turck. His father was born in the State of New York and was by vocation a tanner and currier. His mother was a native of Schoharie Co., N. Y.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 66

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

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