Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 71

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

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On leaving the service General Ely received an ap- pointment as Superintendent of the Freedmen's Bu- reau in South Carolina. He was also engaged for a time in settling freedmen on Government lands in Florida. The alluring attractions of the "land of flowers " tempted General Ely to purchase a planta- tion in Jacksonville and he devoted nearly two years to the work of setting out an orange grove. The invest- ment proved unprofitable, and in 1869 he returned to Gratiot County, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. But he was not allowed to relegate him- self to the retirement of private life. His public spirit and philanthropic character made him valuable as a citizen and his co-operation in general affairs was felt as a necessity. In 1873 he was elected

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Senator from the Twenty-sixth District and served the biennial term. In the fall of 1874 he was elected Auditor General of Michigan and was re-elected in 1876, serving four years. In the fall of 1879 he went to Emmett County, where he interested him- self in lumbering quite extensively, and remained there actively operating in that line of business un- til his death, which occurred April 4, 1883. He was buried at Cross Village, but in February, 1884, his re- mains were exhumed and re-interred at Alia.

General Ely was married Sept. 22, 1842, in Brook- ville, Franklin C'o., Ind., to Mary E., fifth daughter of Elisha O. and Phebe M. (Woodworth) Halstead. She was born in Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., Feb. 16, 1823. Mr. Halstead was born in New Jersey ; his wife was a native of Vermont. They were mar- ried in Seneca County and settled in Waterloo, after- wards removing to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died Dec. 24, 1876. Mrs. Halstead died July 16, 1875, while on a visit to her children in Gratiot County. General and Mrs. Ely became the parents of one son and five daughters-Townsend A., Louise A., Phebe E., Mary J., Lucy L. and Kate F. Of these, five are now residents of Alma.

hilip W. Creaser, farmer, section 16, Fulton Township, is a son of William and Emily (Leerett) Creaser, natives respectively of England and Canada. They settled after marriage in the latter country, and in the spring of 1868 came to Michigan. The following year they came to Gratiot County and settled in Ful- ton Township, where the father died, Sept. 17, 1873. The mother died March 11, 1881.

Their family included 13 children, of whom Philip was the fourth. He was born in Canada, March 31, 1832, and his time was spent mostly in farming until he was 21 years of age. After attaining his majority his time was largely employed in carpenter work until 1872. He came in 1862 to Saginaw, and for seven years made that city his home. He then lived for one year at St. John's, after which he came to Fulton Township, this county, and purchased 120 acres of wild land on section 16. He now owns So acres of good land, of which 60 are in a creditable

state of cultivation. In the summer of 1883 he built a fine residence, of modern design, which will compare favorably with any in the county.

Nov. 25. 1874, in Clinton Co., N. Y., he united his earthly lot with Miss Caroline A., daughter of Joseph and Nancy Hutchins, natives of New Hamp- shire. Mrs. Creaser was born March 4, 1838, in the county in which she was reared and married. Mr. Creaser is a popular man in his township, and was chosen Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1883. Politically, he is an earnest supporter of the Demo- cratic party.

alfred Holmes, a former resident on section 42 4, Pine River Township, now deceased, was a native of l'ennsylvania. His parents were born in Virginia. Mr. Holmes was a pioneer of Gratiot County and settled in Pine River Township in 1855. He bought 320 acres of land, on which he resided and continued to improve until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1876. He was married in Ohio, to Catherine Beery. Mrs. Holmes is a native of the Buckeye State. Of six children born of her marriage to Mr. Holmes, four are living, Jacob,-Nancy Naomi and Ellen.

eorge E. Walker, farmer, section 31, North Shade Township, is a son of Edward and 5 Charity (Rathbone) Walker. The father was a native of Massachusetts and followed the occupation of a clothier in Livingston Co., State of New York. The mother was born in that State, and they both died there, the former in 1828 and the latter in 1848.

George E. was born in Livingston Co., State of New York, July 16, 1822. He remained at home with his parents until his father's death, which took place when he was six years of age, whereupon he was cared for by relatives for two years, when he came to Macomb County, this State, with a gentle-

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man named Perkins. He remained with this gentle- man until he attained the age of 18 years, when he returned to his native State and made his home with a sister for a few years. He then went to the South- ern States and there remained until the year 1845, when he enlisted in the 7th U. S. Inf. and accom- panied his regiment to Mexico. Ile was engaged in four general battles, namely: Fort Brown and cap- ture of Monterey, under Gen. Taylor; siege of Vera Cruz, under Gen. Scott; and also at the battle of Cerro Gordo, where Santa Anna opposed the U. S. forces. After the battle, Mr. Walker was sent to Vera Cruz with a detachment of wounded soldiers, and then was ordered to the city of Mexico, but failed to arrive in time to participate in the capture of that city. He was discharged in Florida in 1849, and thereupon came to Jackson, this State, where his sister resided and where he made his home until 1850, when he came to this county.

Mr. Walker arrived in this county in 1850, and is consequently one of the oldest residents here, if not the oldest. He is without doubt the oldest living resident. He located on section 31, North Shade Township, securing 160 acres of land.

To relate the many trials and difficulties through which he passed, the indomitable pluck, push and energy he must have possessed, to locate his home in a wilderness, and look for the wonderful de- velopment which his good judgment told him would surely come, would require a volume.

He built his customary "log cabin " and supplied the "inner man " with the wild food so abundant in those pioneer days, and threw all his energy into the improvement of his land. He has lived to see the fulfillment of his prediction, the prosperity of the county, and his own success has been marked.

Mr. Walker was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of Alexander and Delilah (Andrews) Charles, natives of the State of New York. Mr. Charles was a sol- dier in the Mexican war. The mother came to this county in 1853, and died here in 1875.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker were among the first couples married in the county, and are the parents of two children, namely : Eva H., born March 12, 1856, and Edward C., born May 30, 1866.

Eva H., the eldest daughter, has been attending school and teaching for the past nine years. She attended the Normal School at Ypsilanti, and having

completed her course of studies at that institution in 1880, has for the past three years been teaching at Mount Pleasant, Isabella County. She commenced in the primary and closed her term in the high de- partment. She is a lady of rare ability and the prospects of her future as a teacher are bright and flattering.

Mr. Walker is one of the representative men of the county and his ability and worth have been recognized by the citizens of the county and his township. He was elected the first Sheriff of the county; has held the position of Supervisor of his town from 1864 to 1869, and was first Treasurer and also Clerk of the Town.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker are identified with the Con- gregational Church.

In the days when the Whig party existed, he was a member of that party, but is now a staunch Re- publican.

Charles H. Howd, Postmaster at Brecken- ridge, Wheeler Township, was born April 29, 1839, and is a son of John W. and Betsey (Sutherland) Howd. His parents were natives of the State of New York, and in 1848 came to Michigan, locating in Branch County. His father combined the two occupations of farmer and builder, and pursued the former calling on a farm of 120 acres, which he bought six miles west of Cold- water. At a later date they went to Rome Center in Lenawee County, where the father bought 80 acres of land and continued its management aboutone year. He then bought a grist-mill on the Raisin River, six miles northwest of Adrian, and spent one year in the manufacture of flour, after which he engaged some time in buying and shipping cattle. In the fall of 1854 he came to Gratiot County and bought about 225 acres of wild land on section 18 of North Star Township, then unnamed and unorganized. He was one of the earliest settlers in that portion of Gratiot County and was active in the day of " first things " in the township of North Star. After some years' residence on his farm he bought a hotel in Ithaca, which he managed some time. He and his wife are still residing in that village.

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When he reached his majority Mr. Howd, Sept. 26, 1860, went to Wheeler Township and located 320 acres of land on sections 29 and 30, of which 240 acres on section 30 are yet in his possession.

In the spring of 1861, he went to Ithaca and em- barked in the grocery trade. He continued to oper- ate in that village until the spring of 1870, when he removed to the township of Wheeler. Not long after his return, he opened a general store, where he has since been occupied in mercantile affairs until the fall of 1882, when he relinquished his business to give his attention to real-estate business and the du- ties of the office of Postmaster to which he had been appointed, and the office established, on May 19, 1873. Mr. Howd has been a prominent, leading fac- tor in the growth and prosperity of Breckenridge and has lavished time and money on its advancement. It was through his efforts that the postoffice was es- tablished. Mr. Howd is a member of the Masonic Order, and belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter. He has held the office of Township Treasurer, Clerk and Road Commissioner, and also Notary Public for Gratiot County. He is a Republican. His portrait, which appears on another page, will be warmly re- ceived by his numerous friends as a representative and public-spirited citizen.

Mr. Howd's marriage to Cynthia R. Putnam oc- curred in May, 1868. She was born June 6, 1847, and was a daughter of Seth R. and Jane M. (Barber) Putnam, natives respectively of New York and Ver- mont. The father died while en route to California. The mother, now Mrs. Smith, resides with Mr. Howd. The wife and daughter died July 25, 1883, leaving one child-Darwin P., born Feb. 1, 1871. Mrs. Howd was a Christian woman and possessed a char- acter of womanly worth which endeared her to a large circle of friends, and by whom her memory is faithfully cherished.

eorge S. Franks, farmer on section 19, Fulton Township, is a son of Conrad and Mary (Smith) Franks, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia. They first settled in Pennsyl- vania, and afterwards removed to Wayne Co., Ohio, where they lived until their death.

Their family comprised five sons and six daughters.

George S., the eldest son, was born in Fayette Co., Pa., April 21, 1813, and was six years old when his parents removed to Ohio. He was educated in the common schools, and remained at home until 22 years of age. With the exception of 18 months in Iowa his home was in Wayne Co., Ohio, until June, 1866. At that date he came to Gratiot County and bought 160 acres of partly wild land on section 19, Fulton, on which he has erected comfortable farm buildings. He has now under cultivation about 100 acres.

Dec. 8, 1833, in Wayne Co., Ohio., he married Miss Barbara A., daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Kibler) Miller, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania. She was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, May 6, 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Franks are the parents of three chil- dren : Cornelius A., Sylvanus and Mary B. Sylvanus died when three years old. Mr. Franks has held the different school offices in his district, and is politically a Democrat Mrs. F. is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

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ecil E. Decker, farmer, section 4, Seville Township, was born June 26, 1852, in the State of New York. He is the son of John J. and Henrietta A. (Bell) Decker, both of whom were natives of the Empire State. The father was a farmer and wagon-maker and in 1852, removed his family and interests to Lake Co., Ohio. In 1866 they came to Michigan and located in Ionia County, where the father died in 1873, aged 45 years. The mother is still living, in Portland, Ionia County.

Mr. Decker was in his infancy when his parents went to Ohio, and he accompanied them to Ionia County, where he remained until 1882. He received a good education and attended school in Portland nearly two years. In 1882 he came to Gratiot County and located on section ro, Seville Township, where he owns 120 acres of land. Later on he re- moved to his present location, where he resides on a farm comprising 160 acres of land. He also owns So acres in Lincoln Township, Isabella County. He is a member of the National Greenback party.

Mr. Decker was married in 1873, to Irena, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Mann) Lyon. Her parents

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were born in Genesee Co., N. Y. They removed to Ingham Co., Mich., where the mother died in 1851, and the father in March, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Decker are the parents of four children,-Arthur Jay, John Edwin, Ada May and Alva Newton.

ilbur Nelson, senior member of the mer- cantile firm of Nelson & Barber, at Ithaca, was born Jan. 15, 1839, in Madison, Lena- wee Co., Mich. His father, Francis Nelson, was a native of the State of New York, born in 1808. He became a citizen of the Peninsular State (then Territory of Michigan) in 1835, when he stayed briefly at Palmyra, Lenawee County, going thence to Madison, in the same county. He settled upon a tract of Government land, where he resided until 1848. He removed in that year to Medina, in Lenawee County, purchased a farm and there resided until his removal to Gratiot County in 1854. He bought 160 acres of land in the township of Arcada, and entered vigorously into the work of rendering his property creditable to its proprietor, and an addi- tion to the general condition of progress in the vicinity. He was a man of ability, clear judgment and upright character, and his value as a citizen was soon understood and appreciated by his fellow-towns- men. He became Supervisor of the township, and in 1856 was elected Judge of Probate; in 1860 he was again elected to the same position. He re- moved to Ithaca, where he at once became identified with the element of progress and lent countenance and aid to all enterprises that seemed to forward the substantial and permanent prosperity of the commu- nity. He formed an association with John Jeffrey and Lafayette Church, and built the third saw and grist mill established in Gratiot County. Ithaca had then about 100 inhabitants, and boasted one store and a log court-house. The mill was situated in the northeast part of the village and was managed nearly three years by its joint proprietors, when Messrs. Nelson & Church sold their interests to Mr. Jeffrey, and the former returned to his agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he went to Cedar Lake, Montcalm County, where he is now engaged in farming. The mother of Mr. Nelson, of this sketch, was, before marriage,

Deborah Cotton. She was born in New York, of New England parentage, and died in August, 1874, in Arcada Township.

Mr. Nelson supplemented his elementary educa- tion with a course of study at Gregory's Business Col- lege at Kalamazoo. He returned to Ithaca in August, 1861, and enlisted under the second call for troops after the disaster at Bull Run. The part of Michigan in the war is one that is seldom equaled in the annals of the world. The decade previous to the advent of civil war had been one of prosperity. The financial crisis of 1857 probably affected the real stability of the State as little as that of any other commonwealth under the Federal flag ; her educational interests had within that time been se- curely established, and through them the noble Pe- ninsula State had stepped forward to a dignity and position not inferior to Massachusetts.

On the firing on Fort Sumter, no words are ade- quate to describe the spirit aroused by the emer- gency. Michigan men had too much at stake and loved too dearly their heritage of Federal Union, to regard with indifference a blow aimed by a misguided people at the Nation's life. Mr. Nelson enlisted in Co. C, 8th Mich. Vol. Inf., under Capt. Ely. He was in the United States service more than four years, and participated in the brilliant actions in which that regiment attained distinction. He was promoted Sergeant of his company before he left the State. He was in the engagement at Coosaw Ferry, S. C., and in the action at James Island received a wound in the left side from a musket-ball. He was disabled two months, and on rejoining his command was promoted to First Sergeant. He was under fire at the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly and Fredericksburg, after which he was promoted 2d Lieut. The regiment after the last battle moved to Kentucky and went thence to Vicksburg, and on to Jackson, Miss. It was attached to Burnside's com- mand, and in the engagement at Campbell's Station, Tenn., Mr. Nelson was again wounded in the right knee by a minie ball. He resigned his commission and came home Jan. 1, 1864. He re-entered the military service of the United States, March 20, 1864, with a Captain's commission, in command of Co. I, 102d U. S. Colored Inf. (Ist Mich. Colored Inf.), or- ganized at Detroit. The regiment was in the service in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and was en-

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gaged in many important raids and skirmishes, in which the fighting qualities of colored troops were fully tested and proved most reliable and efficient.

Mr. Nelson returned to Ithaca in November, 1865, where, soon after, he entered into a partnership with Gen. Nathan Church in mercantile business, and they opened a general store at that place, which they continued to conduct with satisfactory results until July, 1872, when Gen. Church sold his interest in the business to G. C. Smith. Two years later, Mr. Nel- son became sole proprietor by purchase, and for one year continned the management of the house singly. In August, 1875, he formed an association with his present partner, A. S. Barber, under the firm style of Nelson & Barber. The building in which they are managing their business was erected by Messrs. Nel- son & Church in 1879. It is constructed of brick, is 34 x 100 feet in dimensions, and contains an opera hall in the upper story. The surplus apartments are devoted to office purposes. The business interests of Messrs. Nelson & Barber are extensive, and their yearly transactions in all branches cover an amount estimated at $200,000. In addition to their traffic in general merchandise, they buy and ship all kinds of produce, including grain, wool and pork. They have a fine elevator on Pine River Street by the Saginaw Valley railroad, having a storage capacity of 15,000 bushels.

Mr. Nelson has been extensively engaged in lum - bering interests in Cedar Lake, Montcalm County, where he manufactured about So,ooo,ooo shingles annually and several million feet of lumber. Ile owned four mills in the county in company with William S. Nelson, his brother, to whom he sold in 1882. He is also interested in the private banking house of Church, Bills & Co., at Ithaca, and owns considerable real estate in that village in connection with Mr. Barber, and also with Gen. Church.

Mr. Nelson has been an important factor in all the general interests of Gratiot County and Ithaca since he has been resident. Besides his heavy business transactions, which have been of inestimable advan- tage to the community, he has successfully discharged imeon A. Howe, farmer on section 15, Ful- ton Township, is a son of James and Cynthia (Jackson) Howe, natives of the State of Maine. They came from Maine to Lake Co., Ohio, and thence removed to Fulton, Co., Ohio, where he died, Aug. 11, 1852. His the duties of public positions. He was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue in 1867, and served four years in his district, which included Gra- tiot and Isabella Counties. His office was terminated by the re-districting of the State in 1871. He has served one year as President of the village of Ithaca, | wife died in Montcalm Co., Mich., in August, 1867.

and in the fall of 1880 was elected on the Republi- can ticket to represent his district in the Legislature of Michigan. He made a successful run against James K. Wright, of St. Louis, on the Democratic ticket, and Horace S. Taylor, of Arcada, candidate of the National Greenback party. In the Legislature, Mr. Nelson was made a member of the Committees on the State Public School at Coldwater and on Drainage; was Chairman of the Committee on Man- ufactures. He served his constituency in a most acceptable manner. He introduced and secured the passage of a bill to organize the township of Ithaca, which comprises four square miles, and is the small- est township in the State. It is located in the geo- graphical center of Gratiot County, absorbing a cor- ner section of the townships of Arcada, Emerson, Newark and North Star. Mr. Nelson was also in- strumental in the passage of several local bills. He was tendered a renomination for the same position, but peremptorily declined to permit the presentation of his name.

The marriage of Mr. Nelson to Cornelia, daughter of Rev. Lafayette and Sophronia Church, was solem- nized Nov. 22, 1865, in Arcada Township. She was born .Aug. 3, 1842, in Ionia County, and died March 23, 1878, at Ithaca, leaving two little daughters: Mary, born May 8, 1870, and Nellie, born June 29, 1873. Mr. Nelson was a second time married in Ithaca June 13, 1882, to Mary, daughter of Rev. D. D. Hamilton. A son, Arthur, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Aug. 11, 1883.

The portrait of Mr. Nelson appears on page 704 of this volume. It will be appreciated as the like- ness of a man whose influence has largely molded the affairs of the county in which he lives; whose well directed abilities have secured for him a compe- tence ; whose personal qualities have gained him many devoted friends, and whose unsuspected in- tegrity and uprightness, in all the relations of life, command for him universal confidence and esteem.

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Elle Smick

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Their family comprised two sons and ten daughters. Simeon .A., the younger son, was born in Maine, March 8, 1830, and was but five years of age when his parents removed to Ohio.

He received a common-school education and lived at home 'until the death of his father, when he was employed in a saw-mill for six months. He then came to Gratiot County and purchased 40 acres of Government land 'on section 15, Fulton Township. He now owns 225 acres on sections 15 and 16, nearly all of which is in a state of scientific cultivation.

Oct. 2, 1852, in Lenawee Co., Mich., he married Miss Cindonia E., daughter of Daniel and Sarah Pratt, natives of Vermont and New York. She was born in Eaton, Seneca Co., Ohio, June 13. 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had six children, three of whom survive: Arden N., Iva C. and John U. Simeon A., Owen C. and Eva E. are deceased. Mr. H. has been Township Clerk three years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. In politics he and wife are Nationals, but his family are loyal to the Repub- lican party.

lias W. Smith, deceased, was one of the earliest settlers of Gratiot County. He was born Aug. 23, 1831, in Sandystone, Sussex Co., N. J. He acquired the rudiments of an English education in his native place and in 1851 accompanied his parents, John and Catherine (Seaman) Smith, to Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where they arrived in the month of Sep- tember. That portion of the Buckeye State was al- ready in a comparatively well settled condition, and presented small capabilities in the way of advance- ment to the young and ambitious men of that gener- ation. The lumber districts of Northern Michigan were beginning to attract notice, and in July, 1853, Joseph Clapp and Sylvanus Groom, two young men of that section of Ohio, came to Gratiot County. Mr. Clapp located between 600 and 700 acres of land contiguous to Pine River and including the present site of St. Louis. He returned to Ohio and married Matilda Smith, sister of E. W. Smith. He at once'returned to his chosen location with his wife and her elder brother, Seaman Smith. Mr. Clapp

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 71

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

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