Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 68

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

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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).

The record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. ('uff are as follows : Florence E., born Sept. 5, 1860, died Oct. 17, 1865; Horace E., born Feb. 1, 1863, died Oct. 12, 1870; Norman E. was born Oct. 15, 1867 ; William H., Sept. 7, 1869; Hattie E., June 24, 1877 ; D. O., born Oct. 24, 1880, died May 6, 1 883.

Thus He sent an answer to my earnest praying :

Thu- He keeps my darling free from earthly stain ; Thus He folds the pet lamb safe from earthly straying : But we miss him sadly and cannot still the pain.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Cuff are given in this volume in connection with this sketch.

icholas Joslin, farmer on section 3, Seville Township. is a son of Henry and Katie (Edee) Joslin, natives of Rhode Island and New York State, respectively. The father was by occupation a carpenter, and lived in New York until his children came to Michigan, his wife dying in the meantime, in 1830. He lived

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with his children in this State for many years, and a little previous to his death, in 1860, went to live with a daughter, in Joliet, Il1.

The subject of this biography was born June 3, 1816, in Monroe Co., N. Y., and lived at home with his parents until he was 14 years of age. His mother dying, he then left home, and served three years as an apprenticed chair-maker, and also as an apprentice to the house-painter's trade, which he fol- lowed until he came to Michigan, in 1837. He lived in Wayne County 20 years, during which period he served in the Mexican war, in the capacity of Arsenal Sergeant. In 1857, he came to Gratiot County and bought 240 acres of land on section 3, Seville. At that time almost all the vast territory north of him was a dense wilderness. He has nicely improved 80 acres, and now smiles contentedly at the recollection of past trials.

Oct. 10, 1841, he was married to Nancy M. Free- man, who was born March 2, 1824, in the State of New York. Her parents, Arial and Polly (Moore) Freeman, were natives of the State of New Hamp- shire. She died March 8, 1854, leaving three chil- dren, Edward, William and Ida. Mr. J. married for his second wife Minerva C. Freeman, a daughter of Adan and Elmira (Mason) Freeman, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont. To this marriage have been born seven children, -- Adan W., George W., Ella A., Uzal, Charles L., Irena L., Eda J. D. Mr. Joslin has been complimented with the offices of Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner, and he has held some school office ever since coming to the county. He is politically a Democrat. He and wife are consistent members of the Free)Meth- odist Church.

Charles H. Axtell, builder and contractor, located at Alma, was born Nov. 9, 1833, in New Jersey. He is a son of Jonathan R. and 'Mary E. (Smith) Axtell, both of whom were also natives of New Jersey. They came later in life to Livingston Co., Mich.

Mr. Axtell is the eldest of 11 children born to his parents, and at the age of 17 years he was appren- ticed to acquire the details of the profession of

builder and served three years. He embarked in business for himself on attaining his majority, and has since given his attention and energies exclusively to his interests in the avenues pertaining to his voca- tion, with the exception of the period of time he spent in the service of his country as a soldier for the Union. He enlisted in April, 1861, in the 3d Mich. Vol. Inf., and after one year of service he was discharged for disability. In the spring of 1863 he again enlisted and was mustered into the service as Brigade Band Master. At the end of the war he received honorable discharge at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., when he returned to Michigan and resumed the duties of his occupation. He is a Republican in political affiliation, and a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, of Masonry and of the fraternity of the A. O. U. W.

Mr. Axtell was married in Ionia. Dec. 5, 1858, to Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Orpha (Beck- with) Cornell. They were natives of Long Island, N. Y., and were among the pioneer settlers of Ionia County. Mrs. Axtell was born in Ionia County, Feb. 21, 1831. The household includes the following children : Hattie O., William B. and Fred R.

oseph I. Lovell, farmer and stock-raiser on section 16, Sumner Township, was born in Lordstown Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, April 28, 1824, and is the son of Ira and Lydia (Lewis) Lovell. Ira Lovell was born in Ver- mont, March 17, 1791, was a mason and farmer, and died in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in January, 1852, aged 61. Lydia (Lewis) Lovell was born in Rhode Island in 1789 and died in Clay Co., Ind., in Septem- ber, 1851, aged 62.

The subject of this biographical narrative remained at home until 24 years of age, the last four years, owing to his father's disability, having the active management of the farm. His father giving him $300, he then went to Indiana and purchased 80 acres near La Grange, La Grange County. Two years later he returned home to care for his father, who was becoming very feeble, and he remained at home until the death of both his parents, who died

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three months apart. All his little property was con- sumed in the expenses of sickness and death. " Mis- fortunes never come singly," but in groups, and Mr. Lovell was prostrated with fever and remained ill for about two years ; during which time he was helped by his father-in-law. Recovering sufficiently to per- form manual labor, he began to farm on shares in his native county, and four years later in the fall of 1856 he came to Michigan and located 40 acres in Seville Township, this county. The following year he pur- chased 40 acres on section 16, Sumner Township. He has since added 40 acres, and of his 80 he has by his own efforts redeemed 63 acres from the dense forest and placed them under cultivation. He has recently erected a large and commodious barn, at a cost of $600, and made other convenient improve- ments. He makes the breeding of Norman horses and Yorkshire hogs a specialty, and his stock shows his ability and success as a breeder.

Oct. 7, 1847, in Newton Township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia O. Gillmer, daughter of William and Catharine (Miller) Gillmer, natives of Ohio and of Scotch and Dutch descent. William Gillmer was successively a teacher, printer and farmer, and died in Trumbull Co., Ohio, May 4, 1850, aged 56. His wife died at the same place, Feb. 7, 1883, aged 84. Their daughter, Lydia ()., was born Dec. 4, 1828, and lived with her parents until her marriage at the age of 19. She is the mother of three children: Rachel A. (died when ten months old), William I. and Ella A.

Aug. 12, 1862, Mr. L. enlisted in Co. D), 26th Mich. Vol. Inf., and he was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He served generally on garrison duty in the reserve, etc., and was discharged for disability, May 5, 1864, his foot, early in his service, having been severely mashed by cars. He was under fire of the rebels every day, near Yorktown, Va., from April 20 to May 23, 1863. March 17, 1865, he was drafted into the service again and assigned to Co. K, 16th Mich. Vol. Inf. The close of the war was, how- ever, at hand and he was discharged May 20, 1865.

Hle is a member of Col. Ely Post, No. 158, G. A. R., at Elm Hall. He has been elected to the office of Township Clerk, and other positions, but being no office seeker he has always refused to qualify. Polit- ically, he is a zealous National Greenbacker.

ohn Kipp, farmer, section 35, Pine River Township, was born July 26, 1807, in Cay- uga Co., N. Y. His parents were Barnabas and Mary (Mckillip) Kipp, the father a native of the State of New York, the mother of Penn- sylvania. They first settled in Adams County, near Gettysburg, l'a , and went afterwards to Cayuga Co., when it was in its pioneer days. Later in life they went to Erie Co., N. Y., where the father died. The mother died in Michigan.

Mr. Kipp grew to man's estate after the manner common .to the sons of fariners of the period and place where he was brought up. He lived at home until he was 22 years old and was reared to the vo- cation of agriculture. In 1831 he went to Maryland, where he engaged in teaching three years, and after- ward became interested in mercantile pursuits, which he followed about 12 years, meeting with moderate success. In 1853 he sold his interests and came to Wyandot Co, Ohio, where he engaged in the hard- ware business and also in farming. He thus oper- ated seven years and in 1860 came to Genesee Co., Mich. He purchased 50 acres of land, which he continued to cultivate until 1871, when he sold out and came to Gratiot County. He bought 60 acres of partly improved land, which has since been his residence and field of agricultural operations: has 35 acres of his farm under improvements. He be- longs to the National Greenback party in political connection.

He was married May 4, 1834, in Maryland, to Elizabeth A. Leaming. She was born in that State, May 12, 1812. Of her marriage to Mr. Kipp, sev- eral children have been born, three of whom sur- vive-William J., Mary E. and Charles A. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church.

dward 1 .. Walbridge, attorney and mem- ber of the law farm of H. and E. L. Wal- bridge at Ithaca, was born Nov. 1, 1856, at St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich., and is a son of Henry and Zilpah (Allen) Walbridge. His father was born in 1819 in the State of Ver- mont, and has been for a long period of years a

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Mhm Anderson

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prominent attorney at Clinton and Gratiot Counties as well as a conspicuous member of the political ele- ment. In early life he was a Whig and was a dele- gate to the National Convention at Jackson, where the Republican party in this State came into being, since which time he has been one of its staunchest adherents, as are his three sons. He has practiced his profession in Clinton County 25 years and has held the office of Prosecuting Attorney two terms ; was also Circuit Court Commissioner several terms. He ranks high in his profession and is a leading cit- izen of the county. The mother of Mr. Walbridge was born Nov. 2, 1820, in Vermont. Her parents were Ethan and Hannah Allen, and her father was second cousin to the hero of Ticonderoga for whom he was named.

Mr. Walbridge was a student at the High School at St. John's until he was 19 years old, when he re- ceived the appointment of Deputy Postmaster of that place. He discharged the duties of the position about 18 months, when he entered the Law Depart- ment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he studied a year. Mr. Walbridge was in a sense to the "manner born," as his association with his father and interest in the details of the law, together with varied experiences and reading in his father's office, had familiarized him with the minutiæe of legal mat- ters to a valuable extent. On leaving the University he devoted himself to the full completion of his stud- ies for the legal profession, and took advantage of the opportunities afforded in his father's business. He left Ann Arbor in the spring of 1878 and in Febru- ary, 1879, he was admitted to practice in the State courts of Michigan. Soon after that event he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner of Clinton County and held the position one term. His election was most flattering, as he received a majority of 460 votes, the highest on the ticket. He was appointed Census Enumerator of St. John's the same year. He be- came a resident of Ithaca, Feb. 20, 1883, and opened an office under the firm name of H. & E. L. Wal- bridge, his father being senior partner, and well-known in the courts of Gratiot County. Their practice has already assumed substantial proportions and presents most flattering prospects of future success.

Mr. Walbridge was married Feb. 11, 18So, in De Witt, Clinton Co., Mich., to Mary, daughter of Dr. George W. and Lucinda (Hurd) Topping. She was

born in De Witt, Aug. 9, 1861. Dr. Topping is a physician of prominence in his profession and a mem- ber of the National Medical Society. In 1882 he was the President of the State Medical Society of Michigan.

illiam Anderson, farmer on section 10, Sumner Township, was born in Kent Co., Ontario, May 19, 1832, and is the son of Samuel H. and Chloe (Merritt) Anderson, natives of New York and Nova Scotia, and of Scotch extraction. Samuel H. Anderson was earlier in life a ship carpenter. He was a Captain in the army during the " Mckenzie rebellion." He is now living in Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich., aged 77. His wife died March 3, 1850.

When William was nine years old, his parents moved from Kent County to Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County, and four years later they moved to another part of that county. After six years there, they lived eight years in Elgin County. The subject of this notice then came to this State and county, and purchasing 61 acres of timbered land, he built upon it a log house and began to pioneer it. Slowly but surely has he supplanted a densly timbered tract with a fertile and rich farm, and he has now 50 acres of productive land, with large barns, and a beautiful brick cottage, octagonal in shape, built a few years since at a cost of $4,000. This is among the best residences in the township.

His first marriage occurred March 12, 1854, to Miss Catharine Emery, who was born in Canada April 29, 1836. She died at her home in Sumner Township Dec. 13, 1865, leaving a family of four : Sophronia, born Jan. 19, 1855; Ambrose C., July 24, 1856; Loren A., Feb. 3, 1858; Alonzo L., Oct. 8, 1860. Mr. A. was again married, in this county, Oct. 2, 1867, to C'elista, daughter of Albert and Ace- neth (Brown) Gavit, natives of Connecticut, and of New England ancestry. Mr. Gavit is a resident of Canada, aged 75, and has been a farmer all his life. His wife died July 18, 1867. Celista was born in Townsend Township, Norfolk Co., Canada, March 22, 1838, and came in 1860 to this State, living first in Kent County, and coming later to Gratiot County. Mr. and Mrs. A. are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of Pioneer Grange, No. 431,

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Patrons of Husbandry, and at different times in the last few years has been elected to the various school offices. Politically, he is an ardent Republican. By his second marriage, he has one daughter, Eula L., born Aug. 8, 1872.

Mr. Anderson has served his country in a military capacity as well as in that of a civil officer. In Oc- tober, 1864, he enlisted in Co. D, 4th Mich. Vol. Inf., and he fought under Gen. Thomas in the Army of the Cumberland. He fought at Decatur and Mur- freesboro, and many lesser engagements, and was discharged in June, 1865.

The portrait of Mr. Anderson appears on a pre- ceding page.

erbert N. Hayes, farmer, section 22, Pine River Township, was born Feb. 16, 1860, in North Plains, Ionia County, Mich. He is the youngest son of William and Tirzah J. (Kent) Hayes. (See sketch of William Hayes.) Mr. Hayes obtained his education at the com- mon schools of his native county, and, for a time, was a student at the High School at St. Louis. He was bred under the care and guidance of his father to the vocation of farmer, and now is the owner and proprietor of 40 acres of land which is partly im- proved. He is a Republican in political principle. He was married Dec. 6, 1883, to Adella F., daughter of Jacob and Mary (Grill) Bauer. She was born Aug. 6, 1860, in Summit Co., Ohio, and her par- ents were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are members of the Disciples' Church.

Bixi G. Hall, at Ithaca, was born Feb. 22 1853, in Homer, Calhoun Co., Mich. His father, Dr. Oscar S. Hall, is now residing at Rumney, Grafton Co., N. H., and is de- scended from English and Welsh ancestors. TIis mother, Kate M. (Merchant) Hall, was born in the State of New York. Dr. Hall practiced his profession at Bellevue, Eaton Co., Mich., some years and went thence to Marshalltown, Iowa. He returned to Charlotte, Eaton County, where he re-

sided until 1867, when he located at Ithaca and es- tablished himself as a druggist and physician ; there be operated until 1875, when he returned to New Hampshire.

Mr. Hall was six years old when his parents went to Iowa and there attended school, as at Charlotte, whither they removed at a later date. At the age of 16, he entered the drug-store of his father at Ithaca as assistant, and remained thus occupied until the establishment was sold, in 1875. He bought 60 acres of land on section 28, in the township of North Star, on which he resided three years. At the expi- ration of that time he entered Church's abstract of- fice, where he was employed until 1881, when he purchased a stock of drugs and groceries of George Richardson at the stand the latter now occupies. In the following fall he bought the jewelry stock of A. B. Scattergood and prosecuted the sale of both lines of goods. In June, 1883, he was appointed agent of the American Express Company at Ithaca, and is still attending to the business of the position. He sold his farm in the spring of 1883, and Jan. 11, 1884, he sold his drug business to its former proprie- tor, George Richardson

Mr. Hall was married at Ithaca, Feb. 10, 1873, to Sue V., daughter of Lafayette and Sophronia (Benja- min) Church. She is a native of Ithaca. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. HIall are, Lafayette C., Harlan and Ruth.

harles E. Barnhart, farmer on section 31, Fulton Township, is a son of Jacob and Lydia (Arnold) Barnhart, natives of the State of New York. They first settled, after marriage, at Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., where he followed farming, and where they lived until the completion of their lives. She died Dec. 30, 1878, and he followed her in March, 1881.

Their family comprised five sons and three daugh- ters. Charles E., the oldest son, was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., Aug. 13, 1830, and obtained his educa- tion in the district schools of Michigan, whither his parents removed when he was one year old. He remained at home in his father's employ until 23 years old, and then for four years worked out by the

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Joseph Freer

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month. Next, he rented a farm in Washtenaw County for one year. He then worked out a year, and afterwards rented in succession several farms. In June, 1868, he came to Gratiot County and bought 300 acres of wild land on section 32, Fulton. There he lived until February, 1882. He built good barns and residence, and improved 130 acres of land. In December, 1881, he bought 340 acres of improved land on sections 31 and 30, being the farm formerly owned by Roswell Jones.

Mr. Barnhart has the nucleus of a very fine stock farm, having dealt in blooded stock for four years. The first year he invested $450, which doubled itself in a twelvemonth. Among his present stock are five blooded cattle and eight graded, and 150 sheep. He has also four Poland-China hogs.

March 14, 1860, in Avon, Oakland Co., Mich., he married Miss Helen Graham, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Postle) Graham, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Graham lived during their married life in Oakland County, she dying Jan. 18, 1844, and he Oct. 13, 1864. Their family comprised five children. Helen, the second daughter, was born in Oakland County July 25, 1836.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart are the parents of three children : William G., born Sept. 9, 1862 ; Nettie G., April 5, 1864 ; and Newton I., June 29, 1880. Will- iam G. died June 29, 1866. Mr. B. has held the offices of School Director and Pathmaster, and sup- ports the Democratic party. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and, with his wife, are members of the Christian Church.

ohn Kline, farmer, section 26, Pine River Township, was born Aug. 13, 1834, in Ohio. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Briner) Kline, were respectively of German and English descent. Mr. Kline passed the earlier years of his life at school and afterwards worked with his father on the farm. At 20 he be- came his own man and learned the trade of a car- penter, which occupation he followed for four years. In 1858 he engaged in farming and after a little in the sale of agricultural implements; has pursued his twofold calling ever since. In April, 1879, he came

to Gratiot County and bo ught So acres of land,on which he has since resided and labored until he has placed 65 acres under cultivation. Mr. Kline ad- heres to the Republican party in political belief. ile belongs to the A O. U. W.

He was married April 12, 1853, in Seneca Co, Ohio, to Jane, daughter of John and Margaret Cul- bertson. Mrs. Kline was born in Pennsylvania, May 8, 1828, and her parents are natives of the same State. Jacob A., Winfield S., Joseph A., Robert E. and John are the names of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kline. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

oseph Greer, farmer, section 23, Newark Township, was born May 30, 1826, in Co- lumbiana Co., Ohio. He is a son of Thomas W. and Catherine (Rhodes) Greer, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Vir- ginia. Their family included nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom Mr. Greer is the third son.

He was engaged in farming with his father after he had passed the period of his early boyhood, until he was 25 years old. In November, 1854, he came to Michigan and bought 160 acres of wild land on the section of the township where he now resides. He is a " dyed-in-the-wool " Republican, and in the civil war indicated his claims as a friend of his country by responding to the summons of her rulers in her time of need. He enlisted in July, 1862, in the 26th Regt. Mich. Vol. Inf., and continued in the service until Feb. 16, 1864. He lost his right arm in the first battle in which he engaged, receiving the injury Nov. 23, 1863, in the fight at Mine Run, Va., and was discharged from service when sufficiently recovered to return home. As one worthy to be re- membered by a mighty and grateful nation, whose integrity he gave so much to preserve, he is now receiving a pension.

He has held the various school offices of his dis- trict and has been Township Treasurer four years.

Mr. Greer was married Oct. 23, 1851, in Wyandot Co., Ohio, to Lydia, daughter of John and Eliza Hawkins. The father was born in Rhode Island, the mother in New York. Mrs. Greer is the only daugh-

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ter, and was born July 7, 1832, in Knox C'o., Ohio Of her marriage with Mr. Greer, nine children have been born, of whom one, Thomas W., is deceased. lle died Jan. 7, 1876. The living are: Eliza C., James W., Maria 1., Mary J., Carrie S, Clara S., George W. and Bertha E.

As one of the pioneers of the county and a man in every sense worthy to be remembered along with scores of others of Gratiot's honored citizens, we place the portrait of Mr. Greer in this volume.

oseph W. O'Hara, M. D., eclectic physician and surgeon, resident at Summerton, was born Feb. 1, 1844, in the city of Philadel- phia. lle belongs to the sturdy rice born in the North of Ireland, his parents, Joseph and Eliza- beth (McHlenry) O'Hara, having had their origin respectively in the counties of Tyrone and Antrim. His father was born in 1812 and became a resident of the United States in 1828. The mother was born in 1816 and came to America in 1837. Their marriage took place in Philadelphia in 1840.

Dr. O'Hara was a pupil in the excellent public schools of his native city until he was 13 years of age, when he was sent to a Quaker school, located on a street situated off 12th and Market Streets, where he was a student during the years 1857-8. At the end of that time he entered the employ of Messrs. Bremer, Reichart & Co., dry-goods mer- chants. The house had a heavy Southern trade and failed on the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861. In 1862, Dr. O'Hara entered Crittenden's Commer- cial College, where he was graduated within the year, and immediately thereafter he began his pre- paratory medical course in the office of Dr. H. T. Hutchins, of Philadelphia. A few months later he attended lectures in the School of Anatomy in that city. He continued his course of study in the Eclec- tic Medical College of Philadelphia, and was grad- uated there April 27, 1865. He commenced his career as a practitioner in the city of his birth, where he operated ten years. In 1867 he took a course of allopathic study at Jefferson College, and during the succeeding years he availed himself of the facilities afforded by the medical schools of all varieties in

Philadelphia and. obtained the benefits of the hos- pitals and clinics.

In the spring of 1877, Dr. O'Hara came to Michi- gan and established his practice at St. Louis, Gratiot C'ounty, where he became physician in charge of the Magnetic Springs, then owned by H. L. Holcomb. In the fall of 1879 he went to Summerton, where he has since resided. His dwelling is situated in Coe Township, Isabella County, as the hamlet of Sum- merton is so located that it includes the adjacent corners of Pine River and Seville Townships of Gratiot County, and Coe and Lincoln Townships of Isabella County. Dr. O'Hara has built up a lucra- tive country practice, and manages in connection therewith a drug and general store. He is also present Postmaster, having received his appointment in October, 1882, from Timothy O. Howe, late Post- master General. He is a member of the Orders of Masonry and Odd Fellows.

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 68

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

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