Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 69

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

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His first marriage occurred July 8, 1866, in Jones C'o., Iowa. His wife was Esther L., daughter of Silas Fay. She was born Feb. 5, 1843, in North Java, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and died Dec. 24, 1879, at St- Louis, leaving one child, Warren, who was born in Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1867. She is buried in Se- ville Township. Dr. O'Hara was married a second time Dec. 25, 1881, to Jennie F., daughter of Marcus and Zilpha Ring, of Pine River Township (see sketch of Marcus Ring). The ceremony was per- formed by Rev. Mr. Gates, of the Disciples' Church. She was born March 20, 1860, and is a lady of ex- ceptional educational attainments. She graduated from the High School at Alma and taught 12 terms of school, with much success.

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liphalet Leckenby, of the firm of Leck- enby & Reed, wagon manufacturers at St. Louis, was born. Dec. 8, 1840, at Baker's Corners, Lenawee Co., Mich. He is the son of William and Charity (Shaw) Leckenby. His father was a native of England, a blacksmith by trade, and died in Virginia City, Texas. His mother is a native of New York, and is still living at Lansing. The parents came to Du Plain, Clinton C'o., Mich., in 1845, where the father carried on the business of a blacksmith until 1858, when he went

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West, and, on the breaking out of the war, enlisted and followed his trade while in the army.

Mr. Leckenby received a common-school educa- tion, and until he was 18 years old was trained by his father in the business of a blacksmith. On the removal of his father to the West, he went to Sagi- naw City, and was there three years as assistant with his brother-in-law, George Spangler, when they form)- ed a partnership, which existed a year. At its termi- nation, he returned to Du Plain and bought 65 acres of land. He made agriculture his business for 16 years and had a blacksmith shop on his farm. In 1881, he came to St. Louis and formed a partnership with C. W. Smith, firm styled Smith & Leckenby, which relation continued two and a half years, when Mr. Leckenby purchased his partner's interest and sold one half the business to R. R. Reed. (See sketch.) Their works are situated on Saginaw Street and include three buildings, with shops and store rooms. Their business comprises the branches of manufacture of carriages, platform wagons, sleighs, cutters, blacksmithing and repairing.

Mr. Leckenby owns 20 acres in the east part of St. Louis, and a farm of So acres in Jasper Town- ship, Midland County, which is partly improved. His marriage occurred April 5, 1865, at St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich., to Emmeline, daughter of Oliver and Rho- da Hammond. She was born May 22, 1843, in town- ship of Bradford, Allegheny Co., Pa., and her par- ents live at St. Louis. Her father is a retired farmer.

onald Alexander Gillis, architect, contrac- tor and builder, at St. Louis, was born Aug. 3, 1848, in Marguerite, Inverness County, in the Island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He is the youngest son of Alexander and Nancy Margaret (McDonald) Gillis, and both parents were natives of the Highlands of Scot- land, born in the county of Inverness, respectively in 1797 and in 1807. Their marriage took place in 1825, and in 1837 they emigrated to the Island of Cape Breton, where the father bought Soo acres of land from the Government. The family were among the earliest settlers at that point, and the homestead is still all retained in the possession of the original owners. The children born to them were 13 in num-

ber. An infant died unnamed. Eight sons and four daughters grew to maturity, and are still living, with one exception. Six of the sons are of magnificent physical proportions, stalwart in figure and develop- ment, in vigorous health, and doing credit to the hardy stock in which they had their origin, and the wholesome location in which most of them had their birth and growth, and of which it is very near the truth to say that in these days there are giants there. The sons and daughters of the Gillis household were named John, Mary, Allen, Donald, Andrew, Cathe- rine, Simon, Margaret, Angus, Alexander, Ronald A. and Nancy. Simon is deceased, and Mr. Gillis, of this sketch, is the only member of the family not resident on his native soil.

Mr. Gillis passed the years of his boyhood attend- ing the district schools, and at 16 went to Sidney, the capital of Cape Breton, to learn the trade of a builder. He spent three years there, and went thence to St. John's, New Brunswick, where he worked at his trade upwards of three years. In 1873 he went to Monckton, New Brunswick, where he was similarly employed several years. He there entered upon the most important and satisfactory event of his life. He was married May 10, 1875, to Mary Margaret Gas- kin, who was born, in 1858, in Coverdale, Albert Co., New Brunswick. She is the only daughter and sole surviving child of Alfred and Amanda (Gunning) Gaskin, both of whom were of English birth, and died in early life, the father at the age of 27, the mother when she was 26 years old. Mrs. Gillis was reared by her maternal grandmother. One other child was born to her parents, a boy, who died when he was three years old. After his marriage Mr. Gillis went to Boston, where he was employed as a builder nearly two years. In December, 1877, he came to St. Louis, where he has since held the lead- ing position as a contractor and builder, the most important of the buildings in the enterprising embryo city standing as testimonials to his skill. Among them are the Holcomb Opera-house Block, the Park House, Hart's Block, Wessells' Block, Fauth & Schlichtig's Block, the Episcopal Church, Martin & Goff's Block, and a number of dwellings. In De- cember, 1882, he became the proprietor by purchase of the sash and blind factory and planing mill of C. H. Hill at St. Louis, which he operated satisfactorily until it was destroyed by fire in June, 1883. The

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loss was heavy, as it was but partly covered by in- surance. Mr. Gillis is Chief Marshal of the Fire Department of St, Louis.

The portrait of Mr. Gillis is presented on page 680 in connection with this sketch. He is a superb speci- men of manly vigor and physical development, six feet six inches in height, and is, without doubt, the largest man in Gratiot County.

corge S. Bell, lumberman and farmer, Es- tella, Sumner Township, is a son of John C. and Anna (Stewart) Bell, natives of Massachusetts, and of Irish and Scotch de- scent. John C. Bell was by calling a farmer, and moved to Ohio in 1821, settling in Russell Township, Geauga County. He was the second set- tler in the township.

The subject of this biography was born in Chester Mass., July 30, 1812, and when nine years old his parents moved to Ohio. They drove oxen, and the trip of 700 miles took 28 days. Young George found himself in a new and sparsely settled country, and the educational facilities were very limited. He was persevering and ambitious enough to conquer diffi- culties, however, and walked to and from school three miles away. He was fortunate in his home surround- ings and parental influences, and the principles early inculcated into his youthful.mind had their effect on his after life. His father died April 18, 1842, aged 59. His mother died in her 93d year; and before leaving recalled with circumstance and particularity a moral example she had set for her son when he was but four years old.

George left the parental roof at the age of 22, and for five years worked on his own account in Geauga County. He then farmed for a time in Cuyahoga County, abandoning that occupation on account of poor health. For the next 12 years he followed sell- ing stone and wood ware and cast work (principally stoves). In the fall of 1854, he came to this county and located 400 acres of wild land in Sumner Township. He was one of the three first settlers in the township, and not a stick of timber was cut for ro miles around. He had to go 18 miles, to Matherton, to mill, and to lonia City for his household supplies. Indians and wild animals were very numerous. The roads, when

made, were so soft, owing to the swampy condition of country, that they would often mire. They would then be obliged to unload and carry their goods on their back. Mr. Bell has improved 160 acres since coming to Gratiot County.

He was first married in 1833 to Miss Triphena Barker. She was born in 1818, and died in Sumner Township, April 18, 1859, aged 41. She was the mother of six children, five of whom were living at her death. Nov. 10, 1859, he was again married, choosing for his life companion Mrs. Louisa Peters, nee Worthing, born in Waitsfield, Vt., Aug. 31, 1818. She is the mother of four children, one of whom died in the service of his country. Mr. Bell has one son living,-Phares. The deceased children are Aaron, Irene, Mary, Medora and John. The latter died in infancy. Mr. Bell is an intelligent man, and though advanced in years, of retentive memory. In politics he has always been a Republican. He has uniformly refused all offices tendered him.

B enjamin W. Ellison, merchant at Alma, was born in Jackson Co., Mich., Oct. 18, IS41. He is the fourth son of Owen W. and Mary A. (Bloomingdale) Ellison. His parents were natives of the State of New York, where they were married and settled. They subsequently removed to Ohio and after a residence there of three years, they came to Michigan and lo- cated in Jackson County, where they are still resi- dent. Six children were born to them: Jacob B., George W., Owen W., Benjamin W., Charles and Francis M.

Mr. Ellison obtained a good elementary education before he was 19 years old, and at that age he enter- ed the Wesleyan College at Leoni, Jackson County, where he studied four years. He was engaged in farming from the time he left school until 1868, oper- ating as a farm assistant. In that year he bought 135 acres of land in his native county, which he con- tinued to manage four years. In 1872 he came to Gratiot County and settled at Alma. He at once embarked in the business in which he is at present engaged.

Ile was first married in Summit, Jackson County, in March 1868, to Josephine, daughter of James E.

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and Lydia (Vandercook) Ferguson. The parents were born in the State of New York. Mr. Ellison is a native of the same State and was born in Steu- ben County. One child, Myrtie, was born of this marriage, who died at the age of eight months. Mrs. Ellison dying, Mr. Ellison was married the second time, at St. Louis, May 22, 1873, to Ella F., daughter of James and Deborah (Cornell) Wood. She was born at Ithaca, N. Y., May 22, 1850. Of the three children born of this marriage, one survives : Loyd O., born Dec. 20, 1874. Myrtie died in infancy, and Mabel died when nearly a year old.

Mr. Ellison is a member of the Masonic Order and in politics is a Republican.

evi Lincoln Smith, farmer on section 28, Fulton Township, is a son of Ashley and Miriam (Russell) Smith. They were mar- ried in their native State, Massachusetts, and afterward removed to Monroe Co , N. Y., where they died. The husband breathed his last Feb. 14, 1854, and the wife died Nov. 21, 1852. Their family comprised eight sons and one daughter, Levi being the third son.

He was born in Whately, Franklin Co., Mass., Jan. 12, 1826, and was only two years old when his par- ents removed to New York. He received an element- ary education in the common schools, and at the age of 14 went to live with an uncle, Abel Perry, in Cort- land Co., N. Y. He lived with him three years, then at home one year. Next, he was for two years ap- prenticed to the tanner and currier's trade, after which he went to Rochester, N. Y., and followed that trade for eight years, seven of which he was foreman in his shop. He was then similarly engaged for four years in Spencerport, N. Y. Purchasing next a farm in Hamlin, Monroe Co., N. Y., he operated the same for three years; and then, selling out, he bought a larger farm in the same county, on which he lived three years more. Selling out again, in the summer of 1866, he came to Gratiot County and bought 80 acres, 60 of which was wild land, on section 28, Ful- ton Township, where he now resides. He first occu- pied a small log house which had been built on the place. In the spring of 1875, he built a good barn,

and in the fall of 1880 he completed a neat dwelling house. He is a progressive farmer, as the condition of his farm testifies. He has about 63 acres in an advanced state of cultivation

Mr. S. was first married in Ogden, Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct 9, 1856, to Miss Mary J., daughter of George P. and Mary A. (Day) Hodges, natives of Vermont. She was born in the State of New York. Mr. Smith had by this marriage one child, Albert L., born Sept. 1I, 1857. Losing his wife by death, Oct. 6, 1864, he was again married. in Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1866, to Miss Emma L., daughter of Isaac and Phebe (Rall) Odell, natives of the Empire State. They were born in Rockland County, and lived after- ward in Monroe and Orleans Counties. In 1863, they came to Clinton Co., Mich., where he died, in July, 1871. The mother then came to live with her daughter, Mrs. Smith. She is now 82 years old. Mrs. Smith was born in the State of New Jersey, March 14, 1837, and has borne to Mr. Smith two children : J. D., April 18, 1868, and Gracie M., March 15, 1870.

Mr. S. was the first Drain Commissioner of Fulton Township, being elected under the State law, for one year. He has also been Highway Commissioner one year. He is a member of the Knights Militant, of the P. of H., the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. In the A. O. U. W., he has passed all the chairs, and has been Representative to the Grand Lodge. Po- litically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Christian Church.

lias Shaw, farmer, section 19, Bethany Township, is a son of Alanson and Mary (Stafford) Shaw, and was born in Troy, Geauga Co., Ohio, Sept. 14, 1834. His father, a farmer and dairyman, was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., and now resides in Troy. His mother, also a native of New York, is still living in Troy. He was brought up on the farm, attending the winter terms of school, and also seven months at Hiram Col- lege, with which President Garfield was at one time connected.

On attaining the age of 21, Mr. Shaw went to Law- rence Co., Pa., where he was employed in a nail fac- tory about 18 months; was at various places until

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1856, when he arrived in Grand Rapids, Mich., and six months later, namely, in the spring of 1857, he bought the 60 acres where he now lives. Hle resided in Grand Rapids a year longer, and then, in 1858, he built a log cabin on his place and made a small clear- ing. He next worked three months in Saginaw, and finally returned to his homestead. To this place he had to cut out the first road, one and a half miles. In 1862 he went on the Indian Mission farm in Bethany Township, and worked 120 acres of the farm three years. HIe now has about 50 acres of his farm under cultivation, and the place furnished with good buildings, etc. Ile and five of his neighbors contemplate building a cheese factory near the In- diantown bridge. He has bought cattle for several parties, and is now buying for James Jenne, of Fulton Township.

Mr. Shaw has held the office of Constable, High- way Commissioner seven years, Township Drain Com- missioner seven years, etc.

HIe was married in Fulton Township, this county, Ang. 14, 1859, to Miss Mary Smith, daughter of Levi and Annie Smith, who was born in Fairfield, Lenawee Co., Mich., Aug. 1, 1842. Their four children are: Levi L., Annie, Addie B. and James E. Mrs. Shaw's parents were also very early settlers in this county, being the seventh family in the county. They came from Seneca Township, Lenawee Co., Mich., when she was but eight years old ; and there were but six residences in St. Louis when Mr. S. located here.

illiam B. Scattergood, cashier in the bank- ing house of Church, Bills & Co., at Ithaca, was born Aug. 20, 1844, in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich. He is a son of Joshua and Caroline E. (Barker) Scattergood (see sketch of Joshua Scattergocd). He became a clerk in his father's store at the age of 18 years. He had been a diligent and faithful student at school and was well prepared to enter upon the duties of the position. In 1862 he went to Detroit, where he was employed successively in the United States Pension Office, in the Postoffice and in the statistical office of the Michi- gan Central Railroad Company. He remained in that city 18 months and returned to Plymouth.

Shortly after he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and en- gaged as a book-keeper with the hardware firm of Coombs & Co., where he remained eight months, and again returned to Plymouth to take charge of his father's affairs, while the latter went South on busi- ness. In June, 1866, he went to St. John's, Clinton County, where his father had established a grocery and provision trade, in which he took an interest. The partnership continued until the fall of 1870 and proved a profitable venture. In the spring of 1871 he removed to Minnesota, he and his brother-in-law, Robert Smith, engaging soon after this in the hard- ware business at Taylor's Falls, in that State. Both continued in that business there for about 15 months, when they sold out, Mr. Scattergood going to Man- kato, Minn. In the fall of 1872 he returned to Ithaca and became Deputy County Clerk with Nathan Church, serving in that position until Jan. 1, 1875. At the fall election of 1874 he was elected County Clerk and held the position through three successive terms. He entered the duties of the situation he is at present holding in April, 1880, leaving James W. Howd as Deputy in the Clerk's office. He is also doing a considerable business in insurance, and rep- resents several leading companies. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity and is a member of the blue lodge, Royal Arch Chapter and Council, of Ith- aca, and Commandery No. 24, at St. John's. He is a member of the Village Council.

Mr. Scattergood was married May 31, 1876, to Julia E., daughter of Lafayette and Sophronia Church. She was born Sept. 7, 1856, in Arcada Township. The three children born of this union are: William B., born May 1, 1878; Bessie, Jan. 4, 1880; Walter N., May 6, 1882.

ilbert E. Hall, farmer, Bethany Township, " occupies 40 acres of section 29, being the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter, and is an early settler of this county. He was born in Litchfield Township, Medina Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1834. His father, Frederick Hall, was a far- mer of Genesee Co., N. Y., and his mother was Eliza, nee Beedle.

When 20 years of age, Mr. Hall left his home in

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Ohio, came to Fulton Township, this county, and en- gaged in hard and steady work for two years at lum- bering and clearing land. Thus he accumulated sufficient means to buy 80 acres of land at 50 cents an acre, on section 26, Fulton Township, then cov- ered with timber. He cleared a little space in the woods, ereeted a log cabin and proceeded to clear up a farm. After reducing about 14 acres he exchanged for So acres on the same section, all timber, and when he had cleared about 30 acres here and made some other improvements, the war aroused his pat- riotie spirit and carried him away to the field of car- nage. Jan. 3, 1864, he enlisted in Co. I, 27th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Wood, and served until the close of the war, participating in the engagements of the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, at which latter place, June 5, 1864, a finger was shot off from his right hand. The wound was severe, as he came near losing his hand, and he was laid up until the following November, when he volunteered for guard duty, and returned to his regiment in June, 1865. He was discharged at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 26, 1865.

He then returned to Fulton Township. In March, 1868, he exchanged his land there for his present farm of 40 aeres, on which he has cleared about 32 acres and ereeted a nice house, barns, etc., and planted an orchard. He is now Highway Commis- sioner.

Mr. Hall was married in Fulton Township, Sept. 13, 1857, to Miss Lucy A., daughter of Palmer and Betsey Smith. She was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 29, 1832. They have one daughter, Ella A., who is now the wife of John J. Miller, of Bethany Township, and they also have one child, Maud A.

saac Gee, farmer and stock-raiser, seetion 15, Sumner Township, was born in Lyons Township, Wayne Co., N. Y., April 23, 1837, and is the son of Joseph and Eleanor (Seaton) Gee, natives of New England, and of Duteh descent. Joseph Gee was a farmer, and died in Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1839, when the subjeet of this biography was two years old. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Catherine Gargett, in Sumner Township, in February, 1883.

After the death of his father, Isaac lived with his mother until 1216 years old, she having married again. He then went to Ohio, and for seven years lived with his brother-in-law, James Gargett. He worked on farms and in saw-mills, and afterwards in a commission store at Cleveland. Here his fidelity and good behavior won for him a good salary, and after thus getting some start in the world, he came West to look for a suitable place to establish a home in company with his brother, George, who had been a farmer in New York. They first went to Ionia County, and at North Plains seeured the services of an old and experienced land-looker at $5 per day. This was in the fall of 1854. They came by compass through the unbroken forest, not so much as a bush being cut for 20 miles. They located 960 acres of land, all in a body, to be divided as follows between the three brothers : George, 400 aeres; Isaac, 320 acres ; and Joseph, 240 acres. Returning to Ionia, they purchased the land, under the "Graduation Act." Spending the ensuing winter in Cleveland, Isaac and George then came out to make a perma- nent settlement ; and being single men they secured Michael McNamara and wife as assistants-the lat- ter to do the housework, and the former to work in the woods. They arrived in the woods April I, 1855, at a time when the snow was two and a half feet deep, with a crust thick enough to sustain a man. On the seventh of the same month, they pur- chased a yoke of cattle of Mr. Ransom, on Pine River, the ice being strong enough on that stream to enable them to eross. Their first house consisted of one big log, and a small one on top, for one side, and several logs for the other side, with a covering of " shakes," poled down to keep out bears, and with a puncheon floor. It was in this shanty that James McNamara, the first white child in the township of Sumner, was born. To-day is seen, in vivid contrast, a mansion fit for a governor, and barns and other farm buildings to correspond. It is when we see such changes made under our own observation that we realize the rapid advancement of Michigan's pioneers from poverty to affluence. " The cabin and the palace, standing side by side, tell their own story of this people's progress. They are a history and prophecy in one."

Mr. Gee was married to Orpha R. Gargett, of Richfield, Summit Co., Ohio, in 1858, and has two

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children : Burton, born Sept. 11, 1863 ; and Zua, born April 10, 1869. He was chosen Supervisor in 1859, and has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner. Politically, he is a firm Republican. The portrait of Mr. Gee, which is pre- sented on the opposite page, is in all senses that of a representative citizen of Gratiot County.

onathan W. Salisbury, salesman with E. A. Sheffield, hardware merchant at St. Louis, was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., April 1, 1833, and is a son of Stephen and Nancy (Stockwell) Salisbury. His father was born in Vermont in 1790, passed his life in the pursuit of agriculture, and died in January, 1861, in Orleans Co., N. Y. His father was engaged in the war of 1812, at Sackett's Harbor. His mother was born in 1798, in Vermont, and died a month later than her husband, in the same county.

Mr. Salisbury grew to man's estate on his father's farm, attending school winters, until he was 21 years of age. He continued farming as a business until 1863, when he yielded to the pressure of convictions of duty and, Aug. 28th of that year, enlisted at Roch- ester, N. Y., in Co. B, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. He was in the service two years and was under fire at Cold Harbor and the siege of Petersburg, where he remained until the surrender. He was in a num- ber of other engagements of greater or less impor- tance, and received his discharge at Rochester. He returned to the farm, and in the fall of the same year -1865-canie to Lenawee Co., Mich., and was em- ployed as a clerk in a store at Rome Center, near the city of Adrian, where he operated about two years. In the winter of 1867, he came to St. Louis and spent the first two years in the nursery bus- iness ; he next engaged in the interests of Henry Smith & Co., of Grand Rapids, as traveling agent, selling agricultural tools, and remained with them three years, continuously through every season. He acted for them during the winters of three years fol- lowing, and in the summer of 1881 he engaged with A. II. Hart, grocer, at St. Louis, as salesman, with whom he continued two years. He next entered the store in which he is at present engaged. He is a

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 69

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

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