Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 72

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

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and Mr. Groom built two log houses, the first erected within the village of St. Louis.

Mr. Smith made his first entrance into Gratiot County on the 14th day of April, 1854, and entered the employ of Mr. Clapp. He continued to work for him fourteen months and received, in lieu of wages, 115 acres of unimproved land situated on the north bank of Pine River. He located his home on one of the finest sites in the neighborhood of St. Louis, and resided there until his death.

The marriage of Mr. Smith with Martha Ann Woodin occurred in August, 1857. He worked for years at his trade of carpenter and labored at inter- vals in the improvement of his farm until it became one of the most valuable in the vicinity. Later he platted 40 acres included within the corporation of St. Louis, and it was recorded as Smith's Addition. During his whole life at St. Louis he was identified with its interests, growth and prosperity. The build- ing which he used as a shop has been removed from its original position opposite the bath house to a lo- cation near the old bath-house buildings. In 1858, he raised his first crop of wheat, about eight bushels, which he thrashed and cleaned with the assistance of G. W. McHenry, of St. Louis. The same year he received the appointment of Postmaster and he discharged the duties of the situation seven years. His entire course of life was marked by untiring in- dustry, economy and good judgment. His energy and perseverance were the natural outgrowth of his robust and hardy constitution ; and, although he was honored and esteemed to an unusual degree, he could seldom be induced to lend his name as a candidate for a public office. He received an injury in 1871, from a falling limb, which incapacitated him for out- door labor for some time. He resided continuously upon his farm from 1856 to his death, which occurred on Friday, Dec. 29, 1882. He was in the woods at work in the forenoon of that day and, not returning to dinner, a search was instituted, which resulted in the finding of his dead body. Appearances indica- ted that he had made a sudden spring to escape in- jury from a falling tree, which caused the rupture of a blood-vessel at the base of the brain. Respiration must have ceased instantly and his death have been painless and without struggle, as his face was in per- fect repose, and the position of his hands indicated that they had grasped his axe but the instant previ-

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ous to dissolution. The funeral ceremonies, con- ducted by the Rev. Theodore Nelson, were attended by one of the largest assemblages ever convened upon a similar occasion at St. Louis. The county press honored his memory with spontaneous expres- sions of regret and appreciation, fitly appropriate to his useful life and blameless record.

The pioneer history of Mr. Smith would fill a vol- ume. He was among the first in the place to set out fruit trees, which are now standing in their maturity near the homestead on the hill, The place contains : 125 acres in the finest possible agricultural condition. Among other business interests which he managed was an establishment for the sale of agricultural implements, which he instituted in ISSo, and was conducting at the time of his death. He owned nine blooded horses of Kentucky stock, chief among which was the celebrated stallion, Probability, noted for speed.

Mrs. Smith is the daughter of Abraham and Anna M. (Bassett) Woodin, born in Harmony, Chautau- qua Co., N. Y., June 23, 1834. (See sketch of E. W. Burgess.) Her parents were both natives of On- tario Co., N. Y., and after their marriage resided in Harmony, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. In 1847, they re- moved to Spring Creek, Warren Co., Pa .. where Mr. Woodin was extensively interested in lumbering and in mercantile pursuits. His business was prosperous and he had placed his family in a luxurious home, with the surroundings of wealth and position, and his children were entering upon life with glowing pros- pects, when the whole bright outlook vanished in an hour through the practice of assuming other men's liabilities, then so common. and the foundation of more financial disaster than any other traceable cause. The energy and courage of Mr. Woodin were un- daunted, and, as he saw the accumulations of years of honest and praiseworthy endeavor vanish like a dream, he resolved on further effort to place his chil- dren where his aspirations dictated. The resources of this section of Michigan were well-known to him, and in 1854 he came alone to Gratiot County and lo- cated a homestead of 40 acres of land, lying now on the Alma and St. Louis thoroughfare, one mile cast of the former place, and owned by Jay Woodin, the brother of Mrs. Smith. In the spring of 1855, the family of Mr. Woodin came to Michigan. He met his wife and seven children at Maple Rapids, with an

ox team and wagon and carrying an axe to chop away obstructions from the the road. The family, hitherto accustomed to all the comforts of wealth and advanced civilization, made their way to their new home by the rude means named, and the emo- tions of those old enough to contrast the one situa- tion with the other can be imagined. The party made but slow progress, staying nights in shanties in the woods, excepting the last one out, when they remain- ed with the Nelsons, and in the morning they pro- ceeded to their home. It was a log house and Mr. Wcodin had utilized the place for a store as well as a residence, and the domestic and mercantile appur- tenances were arranged somewhat indiscriminately, groceries and dry goods alternating with household utensils, and all in the mostaccessible situation without regard to assortment. Mrs. Smith thinks this the first mercantile institution in the county. She was a young lady of 21, and had reached that period of her life with all the hopes and dreams common to girls of that age under the circumstances under which she had been reared. The new home and its surround- ings were tolerable only because they were shared by father, mother, brothers and sisters, and she interest- ed herself in the efforts for a better state of things, which were being put forth by all about her. A log school-house had just been finished, of which she was installed mistress, and in June, 1855, she opened the first school taught in Gratiot County. The furniture of the school-room consisted of desks extending along the whole length of the sides, with benches in front, Serving for seats and recitations, the pupils turning around to write on the desks. The situation was too primitive for the manipulations of publishers of school books, and susceptible School Boards, and the range of text books was varied. No two were alike and the curriculum of study was arranged accordingly. Class- es were countless or arranged only by the mumber of pupils in a geometrical ratio; but, notwithstanding all the perplexities, the progress was satisfactory, and foundations for solid educations were laid in more than one instance. The teacher received 12 shillings per week and boarded around. The daily bill of fare included bread, butter, onions and lettuce, and the successive meals were the changes rung on the four articles named. One enterprising woman made an extra effort on the schoolma'am's behalf and treated her to sorrel pie. The term continued three months,

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and Mrs. Smith taught two subsequent terms of school in that vicinity. During that summer the first Fourth of July celebration in Gratiot County was held. It consisted of a picnic and a flag-raising. The " extras" for the former included a roast pig, and the other re- freshments were such as the settlers used in every-day life, neither abundant nor varied. Mrs. Smith and Mrs Gen. Ralph Ely, of Alma, made the flag which is still in possession of the last named lady, who fur- nished the red and white. Mrs. Smith cut the blue lining from the skirt of a brocade silk dress to supply the rest of the needed material, and the chief cere- monial of the day was the raising of the pole which lifted heavenward the standard of the United States Government, floating for the first time over her loyal children in Gratiot County. Mr. Woodin owned a hand-mill in which he ground corn for the bread, on which his family subsisted, and other settlers accom- plished the necessary crushing of the grain by shav- ing it from the cob with a jack plane,-a common method at that period ; and the first breadstuff pre- pared in the town was manufactured after that proc- ess. Mr. Woodin died in 1869, on the homestead. The widow resides there with her son, and is 73 years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married Aug. 29, 1857. Their children. seven in number, were born as fol- lows, at St. Louis : Iola E. B., July 19, 1858; John, Dec. 4, 1860 (died March 20, 1861); Idella M., May 31, 1862 (died Oct. 9 following) ; Kate M., Dec. 5, 1863 ; Holcomb, April 25, 1866 (died Jan. 11, 1868); Willard E., July 21, 1868 (died July 13, 1870) ; Sea- man W., Aug. 28, 1870.

No more fitting portraits than those of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which appear on other pages, could be added to the pioneer list to be found in the Album of Gratiot County. At the time of his death, Mr. Smith was the oldest resident at St. Louis, and he and his wife bore a part of all the vicissitudes ex- perienced by the early settlers of the county, which eclipse all known records in severity and privation, and are related in detail elsewhere. (See sketch of S. S. Hastings.) But Gratiot County has risen literal- ly from her ashes to a rank which far outstrips that of many localities where foundations were laid in com- parative ease and comfort, and all her conditions exhibit her perpetuity and future progress in an un- mistakable manner.

ohn P. Wilbur, farmer on section 30, Ful- ton Township, is a son of German and Eliza (Blair) Wilbur, natives of New York State. They first settled in Plymouth, Che- nango Co., N. Y., and came to Livingston Co. Mich., in 1845. There Mrs. Wilbur died, Jan. 28, 1851. Soon after that event, Mr. Wilbur came to this county to live with his son John.

Their family comprised three sons and five daugh- ters, John P. being the eldest. He was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., April 5, 1828, and received a common-school education. At the age of 17, he came with his parents to Michigan; and five years later commenced to make his own way in life. For six years he followed various occupations. In 1852, he came to Gratiot County and located 80 acres of wild land on section 30, Fulton. Here he settled in 1856; and he has lived there ever since, with the exception of two years when he was at Maple Rap- ids. He has added 60 acres, and has 115 acres under cultivation. He has erected a residence and necessary farm buildings; that are a credit to the owner and an ornament to the neighborhood.

Aug. 17, 1856, in North Shade, he married Nancy M., daughter of William and Salinda (Reed) Stead- man, and widow of William A. Smith, a native of Pennsylvania. She was born in Palmyra, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1830. She has by her first marriage a son, William A., and by her second has had seven chil- dren, three of whom survive. The living are, Silvia J., Nora J. and Ally B .; and the dead, Sylvanus G., J. T., George C. and Cora. Mr. Wilbur is a member of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F., and is politi- cally a Democrat. He and wife are adherents of the doctrines of the Christian Church.

Willy,and Euro. enjamin F. Myers, resident at Ithaca, was & a son of John W. and Philena (Baker) Myers, natives of New York, and who both died in this county. The subject of this biography, Benjamin F. Myers, was born in the State of New York, Nov. 20, 1830. He was reared to the vocation of a farmer, which occupation

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he has followed thus far along life's journey. He commenced the struggle of life with little means, yet, possessing indomitable energy and determination, backed by good judgment, he toiled along the weary road and succeeded.

Mr. Myers was first united in marriage, May 15, 1861, in the State of Pennsylvania, to Miss Fanny P. Coss. She was born in that State, May 14, 1839. For 19 years she shared the toils and trials, the pleas- ures and joys of life with her husband, and then passed to " the home not made with hands." Her demise occurred Dec. 11, 1880. By their union they had two children : Fred A., born April 13, 1862, and died Oct. 20, 1863 ; John W., born May 26, 1877.

The second marriage of Mr. Myers took place at Saginaw, this State, at which place he was united to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Miller, widow of Samuel Miller, of that place. She was the mother, by her first mar- riage, of two children, namely : Frank B., born Sept. 24, 1861, and Fred F., born Oct. 12, 1865. The mother is a daughter of Bernard and Dorinda (Ken- nedy) Fox, residents of this county since 1858, and among the first settlers in the county. She was born in the Empire State, June 1, 1837.

Politically, Mr. Myers is a Republican. He is living a retired life, satisfied with his prosperity, and is characterized for the interests he manifests in the welfare of the county.

Charles Griffith, farmer on section 20, Ful- ton Township, is a son of Lewis and Han- nah (Boyer) Griffith, natives of New York. They settled after marriage in Chemung Co., N. Y., where she died. Mr. G. afterwards came to Lenawee Co., Mich., where he still resides. Charles, the eldest of the family, was born in Che- mung Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1835.

Receiving a common-school education, he re- mained at home till about 20 years old, and was then employed by the month for six years. In the fall of 1860, he came to Gratiot County and built a log house on section 20, Fulton, where he had bought 120 acres of wild land two years previous. He had bought 160 acres in Elba Township as early as 1855, but he disposed of this two or three years later.

After building his pioneer "castle," he went back to Lenawee County, and in January, 1861, returned with his wife to their new home in the forest. He now has 120 acres, So of which are under the plow, and modern farm buildings.

He was first married in Lenawee Co., Mich., Dec. 25, 1860, to Miss Marietta Bryant, a native of Lena- wee County. This marriage was blessed with four children : Wallace M., Cora D., Viola D. and Han- nah J. Losing his wife Oct. 13, 1872, he was again married, March 5, 1874, in Maple Rapids, Clinton County, to Mrs. Harriet Randall, daughter of John and Tamer (Boner) Lyon, and widow of James Ran- dall, who died in the Federal army in 1862. She was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, Feb. 3, 1838, and had by her first marriage three children : John F., Roy L. and James (died when one year old). Mr. and Mrs. G. have one child of their own, Tamer E. Mr. G. is in political views a Democrat. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the Baptist Church.

harles R. Holliday, resident at St. Louis, is a son of Hiram and Laura (Hendee) Holliday. The father was a native of the State of New York, the mother of Vermont, and both were of genuine English extraction. The father was a physician by profession, and was, until he graduated at his profession, occupied in mercantile trade. He and wife both died in York State.

Charles R. Holliday, the subject of this biographi- cal notice, was born in the State of New York June 6, 1833. He remained in his native State, assisting his father in the maintenance of the family, and at- tending the common schools and Alfred School until he attained the age of 36 years.

On arriving at the age stated, he came, in 1869, to this county, and the following year made a permanent location on 80 acres of land he had previously pur- chased. He has. since that date, varied his occupa- tion between farming and the real-estate and mer- cantile business. Politically, Mr. II. is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He has been honored with numerous offices of responsibility and trust in the gift of the people. In 1882, he was elected Supervisor of Pine River

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Township, and is at present a member of the Village Council, which latter office he has held since 1870. Prior to moving here, he held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, and Township Treasurer two years, in the Empire State. Socially, Mr. HI. is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights Templar, and is characterized for the interest he con- stantly manifests for the welfare and prosperity of the county.

Mr. Holliday was united in marriage in the State of New York, in 1852, to Miss Angeline M., daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Moser) Kelly. She was born in the Empire State Dec. 18, 1834, and has borne to her husband one child, Isabel L.

ev. Theodore Nelson, Acting President of Kalamazoo College, is the youngest of three sons yet living, of Francis and Deborah Cotton Nelson, and was born in Madison, Lenawee Co., Mich., Feb. 11, 1841. His father is still living, at the ripe old age of 75 and was Judge of Probate for Gratiot County from 1856 to 1868.

On his mother's side, he descended from a long line of eminent clergymen, the first of whom, Rev. John Cotton, was rector of St. Botolph's, Boston, Eng- land, at the time of Archbishop Laud's persecution in the reign of Charles I. Having embraced Puritan sentiments, this celebrated scholar and divine was compelled to leave England or hazard his life. He emigrated to America, and took charge of a congre- gation of his fellow exiles in the colony of Massa- chusetts Bay. This new settlement took the name Boston, Mass., out of compliment to their pastor, who had come to them from Boston, Lincolnshire, Eng- land. Rev. John Cotton had an eminent share in giv- ing a civil as well as religious polity to the new State. He was a Puritan of the strictest sect, and through his influence the laws of Moses were adopted as the civil code of the theocracy in America. The cele- brated Cotton Mather was his grandson. He was also the friend of Oliver Cromwell, and letters which passed between them are still extant. He died in 1652. From his mother the subject of this sketch inherited many of his mental characteristics, yet a physical constitution far from robust.

When he was in his 14th year, his father moved into Gratiot County, then a dense wilderness. Nec- essarily very inadequate were his early advantages for obtaining an education, but these slender oppor- tunities were well improved. In his 17th year, he taught one term in a district school at $2.50 per week. From this time until the breaking out of the Rebel- lion, he either taught or attended school, almost con- tinuously. Twice he walked from Ithaca to Hills- dale and back again, whilst a student at the college in the last named place.

He was at Hillsdale College when Sumter fell, and joined a company of college students who offered their services to the Governor ; but, through the in- fluence of President Fairfield, were rejected. Shortly after, he returned home, proposing to enlist with his brother Wilbur in Capt. Ely's company, which enter- ed the service in August, 1861; but was dissuaded by the importunities of his mother and other rela- tives. However, in July, 1862, he enlisted in the company that was raised in Gratiot County by Capt. Lafayette Church, that is, Co. D, 26th Mich. Inf. At the organization of the command, he was appointed Orderly Sergeant. April 15, 1863, he was commis- sioned as Second Lieutenant of said company. In May, 1864, he was promoted to the First-Lieutenan- cy, and transferred to Co. E, same regiment. Shortly afterward he was made Captain. For several months he was Acting Adjutant of the 26th Mich. Inf. As a mili- tary officer, he always had the confidence of his supe- riors, and, ina remarkable degree, the affections of the men who served under him. He acquitted himself honorably in several hard-fought battles, notably at Mine Run, North Anna, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Charles City Road, Reams' Station, and in all the battles of the campaign which resulted in the surren- der of Gen. Lee.

Returning home at the close of the war, Mr. Nel- son had purposed to study law, having strong natural leanings toward that profession. But a great domes- tic affliction brought him to reconsider his plans, and to devote himself to the Christian ministry. At an early age, he had acquired a considerable reputation as a public speaker. Before he was a voter, he made several speeches in the Presidential canvass of 1860. He had made a great number of war speeches, also, and had occasionally addressed congregations on religious topics.

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Jan. 1, 1866, he entered the Freshman class of Kal- amazoo College, where he remained till the close of the college year. In the fall of 1866, he was elected Register of Deeds for Gratiot County, an office he held for two terms, declining a re-election to a third term. Meanwhile he pursued his studies under the private instruction of J. Wilson C'aldwell, a most able and finished scholar, who had been his teacher at Kalamazoo. At the close of his official life, he spent two years in Michigan University. The Corporation of Kalamazoo College tendered him the bachelor's degree, and at the commencement in June, 1872, he made his graduating oration.

In the spring of that same year he was regularly settled as pastor of the Baptist Churches in Ithaca, St. Louis and Alina, having his residence at the former place. Literally his parish embraced nearly the whole of Gratiot County, and the demand upon him for funerals and other special occasions was very great. In October, 1873, he was called to the pas- torate of the First Baptist Church in East Saginaw, where he remained until March 1, 1882. The history of this pastorate is in many respects remarkable. The Church to which he was called was a weak, struggling society, heavily encumbered with debt. Under his ministry the congregation grew to be one of the largest and most influential in the city or State. Leading men of all religious opinions were deeply interested in sustaining it. Scholars and professional and business men, before indifferent to Church-going, became regular attendants. The feeling became very general in the city, and was more and more cherished to the end that his ministry belonged to the whole community rather than to any other one denomination or church.

By the generosity of wealthy friends in East Sagi- naw he was sent to Europe in 1878, making the tour of Scotland, England, France and Italy. Discour- aged by continued ill health, he presented his resig- nation in the spring of 1882. Efforts were made to have him recall it, and, instead, take a year's leave of absence, and then return to his old field. Feel- ing that recovery was uncertain, he declined to do this. Again he was given the means for making the second tour of Europe, one man in East Saginaw, not a member of his congregation, contributing $500. In the summer and autumn of 1882, he visited

Treland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Germany and France.

Returning from abroad, he resided in St. Louis one year, but in November, 1883, President Brooks, of Kalamazoo College, having been granted a year's leave of absence, the trustees of the institution made unanimous choice of Mr. Nelson as Acting President for the college year. As to how he has acquitted himself in this most responsible office, there is but one opinion, and that most favorable. The College Index, published by the students, bears the following testimony : "A pleasing and logical speaker, his power is by no means confined to the pulpit, but is manifested in every word and deed of his life. In taking charge of the college, he has shown great executive ability. By his liberal and trustful management, he has not only won the respect, but the hearty obedience and co-operation of every student. His scholarship has benefited all who have come in contact with him, and his Christian character as manifested to us is worthy of emula- tion."

The subject of this sketch has been twice married. His first wife was Frances A. Church, daughter of Rev. L. Church, of Arcada, who died Sept. 15, 1865. 5 His second was Laura A. Cheesman, daughter of Dr. John R. Cheesman, of St. Louis, to whom he was married May 25, 1867. Of the seven children born ( of this union, five daughters have died, and two sons are yet living.

As a man eminently worthy a place with the best citizens of Gratiot County, we place Mr. Nelson's portrait in this Album.

enry H. Bailey, farmer on section 19, Ful- ton Township, is a son of John and Helen (Wilson) Bailey, natives of Vermont. They were married in the Green Mountain State, and there lived until the father's death. Mrs. B. afterwards married again, and went to Ohio, and later to Iowa, where she died.

Their eldest son was Henry H. He was born in Vermont, Aug. 28, 1824, and was about eight years old when his grandmother (with whom he was living) came to Ohio. He remained with her until 2 1 years old. and then bought 40 acres of wild land in Cuya-

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Portrait and biographical album of Gratiot county, Mich., Part 72

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

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