USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 18
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Mr. Earl has served his school district one term in an official capacity. In respect to national and State questions he votes with the Democratic party.
At the age of 21 Mr. Earl married Miss Margaret M., daughter of Leonard and Maria Smith. She was born Oct. 28, 1835, in Sandusky Co., Ohio. Her father, a farmer, was born in Scotland, and her mother was born May 28, 1814, and died March 24, 1837.
The household of Mr. and Mrs. Earl have com- prised the following children : George H., born April 4, 1858, and died Feb. 13, 1860; Ida R., born Sept. 20, 1862, and died March 2, 1864; and Leonard L., born July 19, 1871.
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acob Kratz, farmer and stock-raiser, sec- tion 12, Lincoln Township, was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1855. When nine years old he went to live with his relatives, and remained with them until he had attained the age of 15. He then followed the occupa- tion of farming, working as a common laborer on the farms in the county of his nativity, until 1876.
March 1, 1876, he was united in marriage with Acelia Kindig, a native of Medina Co., Ohio, where she was born Aug. 7, 1856. Mrs. Kratz remained under her parental care, assisting in the household duties until she attained the age of 16, when she en- tered on the profession of teaching. She continued to occupy her time teaching in the common schools of her native county until she was married to Mr. K. After marriage Mr. K. rented a farm and follow- ed his chosen occupation for two years.
In March, 1878, they came to this State and county
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and settled on 80 acres of land :on section 12, Lin- coln Township, which Mr. K. had purchased in 1875. This land was in a wild state of nature, and earn- estly and energetically did our subject enter on the laborious though at times pleasant task of clearing and improving it. He now has about 50 acres of this land well improved, and erected thereon good and substantial farm buildings.
Mr. Kratz is devoting a considerable portion of his time to the propagation of stock, and is handling the Percheron breed of horses with signal success. He has one horse of this breed valued at $1,000.
The husband and wife are both members of the Regular Baptist Church, in good standing. They are the parents of three children : Anna M., born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jan. 1, 1878; Harvey D., born in this county, Sept. 27, 1879 ; and a child, who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. K. is a believer in and supporter of the principles and doctrines of the Republican party.
acob Baker, farmer, section 14, Fremont Township, is a son of Josiah and Rachel A. (English) Baker, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Licking Co., Ohio. Mr. Josiah Baker, a farmer, was first a resident in Defiance Co., Ohio, then four years in Hills- dale Co .. Mich., then a few years in Ingham County, two years in Eaton County, and then located on sec- tion ten, Fremont Township, this county ; next he occupied section 15, of that township, and finally he purchased 40 acres on section 22, where he now lives. His wife died Dec. 27, 1863, in Ohio.
The subject of this sketch was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1848, and came to this county with his parents, remaining with them until he was 22 years of age. In 1872 he bought 80 acres of sec- tion 14, Fremont Township, which tract was then principally unimproved ; he now has 50 acres in good cultivation, with other substantial improvements. His nice barn was built in the summer of 1883. Mr. Baker has held the office of School Treasurer, and was elected Township Treasurer in 1883.
March 21, 1872, Mr. Baker was married to Jerusha E. Heiser, daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Trine)
Heiser, natives of Maryland. Mr. H. was a mason and farmer; is now living in Eaton County, this State. Mrs. Baker was born in that county, Sept. 29, 1853: The children of Mr. and Mrs. B. are: Nor- man J., born July 25, 1875; and Orville J., Aug. 3, 1879.
eter F. Dodds, attorney at Mt. Pleasant, and member of the law firm of Dodds Bros., was born Jan. 4, 1849, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. His parents, John and Catharine (Hoy) Dodds, came to Coe Township, Isabella County, in 1866, where they resided until in 1875, then moved to Mt. Pleasant, at which place the father died, Dec. 3, 1879. The mother is still living.
Mr. Dodds was 17 years old when he accompanied his parents to Isabella County, and two years later he began teaching, in which calling he has had a large experience, covering 57 months in the aggre- gate, from 1868 to October, 1874. He studied mean- while and was graduated in the "Full English Course," in the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, in June, 1874.
He studied one term in the Law Department of the University at of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1875, as supplementary to a course of law reading, which he had passed while engaged in teaching, and in the fall of 1875 was admitted to the Bar, at Ithaca, Mich., immediately after which event he formed a partnership, for the prosecution of legal business with Hon. Isaac A. Fancher, who was at that time in active practice, a talented lawyer and at the head of the Isabella County Bar. D. Scott Partridge became a member of the firm April 5, 1878, which relation existed until Aug. 1, 1879. Francis H. Dodds, a brother, was admitted to the firm in April, 1880, and Mr. Fancher withdrew and moved to Detroit, Jan. 6, 1882. Soon after this, George E. Dodds, also a brother, entered the firm, and William I. Dodds, an- other brother, was admitted into the concern in Jan- uary, 1883.
In the fall of 1880, Mr. Dodds was elected Prose- cuting Attorney of Isabella County, and served one term. He is now a member of the County Board of School Examiners ; is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Wabon Lodge, No. 305, and of
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Mt. Pleasant Chapter, No. 111, R. A. M., of Mt. Pleasant.
In June, 1882, having pursued his studies under the direction of the faculty of Olivet College, he re- ceived from said college the degree of Bachelor of Arts, of which school his brother, Francis H. Dodds, and his sister, Harmione H. Dodds, are also grad- uates.
He was married, April 20, 1876, at Mt. Pleasant, to Minnie E., daughter of Henry S. and Cornelia A. Bouten. She was born March 12, 1859, in Homer, Calhoun Co., Mich.
eorge W. Simpson, farmer, section 1, Lin- coln Township, was born in Crown Point, N. Y., April 11, 1848, the son of Thomas and Aurelia (Lawrence) Simpson, natives of Scot- land and Vermont. When five years of age he accompanied his parents to Cattaraugus County, same State, and two years later came with them to this State. They located in Oakland County, at a time when the hand of improvement was hardly vis- ible in the vicinity in which they settled. It was in 1855, and the county was at that time but little set- tled. The old Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad had its flat-bar rails and the development of the county was in its infancy.
Mr. Simpson remained with his parents, assisting on the farm and attending the common schools of the county, until he attained the age of 17 years. At this age he began to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade, and after three years' apprenticeship under a competent instructor, he mastered the same. He then followed his trade, in that county, until 1873, when he went to Big Rapids, and remained for a period, and then to Ludington, Mason County, this State. He remained at Ludington until February, 1875, when he went to California, intending to follow his trade; but remained only a short time and then went to Oregon. He was in the latter State two years and then returned to this State and county and located on 60 acres of land on section 1, Lincoln Township, which he had purchased in 1879, and on which he is at the present time residing. He has 25
acres of this land well improved and has erected on it a fine frame cottage.
Mr. Simpson was united in marriage, Nov. 10, 1880, with Miss Julia A. Stocker, at Metamora, Lapeer County, this State. She is a daughter of Dennis and Laura A. (Varnum) Stocker, and was born in Metamora, Dec. 17, 1855. She lived at home, as- sisted the mother in the household duties and attended the common schools. Early in life she formed a desire to become a teacher, and vigorously prosecuted her studies to accomplish that end, and completed the same at Oxford, Oakland County. In the summer of 1871, at the age of 18 years, she be- gan teaching in Lapeer County, then in Genesee, Clinton and Oakland Counties, meeting with success in every school and receiving numerous encomiums for her skill and mode of teaching. She continued in the profession until her marriage, as stated.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are the parents of one child, Linnie Ray, born Sept. 11, 1882. Mrs. Simpson is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Lodge No. 44, Birmingham, Oakland County, and in politics is a Democrat.
avid W. Hance, farmer, section 23, Lin- coln Township, is a son of Adam and Mary E. (Morrison) Hance (see sketch), and was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1852. He accompanied his parents to this State in 1862, and returned again the same year to Ohio, where he remained, variously occupied until the fall of 1865. He then came to this county and has constantly resided here ever since. His abode was the home of his parents, and there he lived and assisted in the improvement of the farm.
Jan. 8, 1876, at St. Louis, Gratiot Co., Mich., he was united in marriage with Mrs. Etta (nee Sherman) Utley. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary E. (King) Sherman. Her foster parents were An- drew J. and Martha E. (Hance) Utley. Etta was born Oct. 9, 1858, in Iowa, and was four years of age when she was adopted by the family of Mr. Utley, who were then living in Knox Co., Ind. The family moved from Knox County to Ohio, and then to St. Louis, this State, where she lived until her marriage
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to Mr. Hance. Following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Hance: Morrison U., born Jan. 15, 1878; Blanche and John W. (twins), born June 23, 1881.
In politics Mr. Hance is a staunch Republican.
eorge W. Foglesong, farmer, section 14, Fremont Township, is a son of George and and Mary A. (Cromer) Foglesong. The father was born in Frederick Co., Md., and the mother in Virginia. The father followed the occupation of farming for a livelihood in his native State for a period, and then moved to Seneca Co., Ohio, where he located and followed the same vocation for a period of 28 years. From Ohio he came to Gratiot County, this State, in 1862, and located in Pine River Township, on a farm. The mother died in May, 1853, in Seneca Co., Ohio, and the father was again married, and on removal to this State died, in the year 1867. His widow is again married and lives in Pine River Township, Gratiot County.
George W. Foglesong, the subject of this biograph- ical notice, was born Nov. 14, 1841, in Hopewell Township, Seneca Co., Ohio. He remained at home, assisting on the farm and receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools of the county, and developed into manhood. At the age of 22 years he responded to the call of President Lincoln for troops, and enlisted in Co. K, 21st Mich. Vol. Inf., Second Div., 14th Army Corps, under Gen. Sherman's com- mand. The regiment was detached and assigned to the Engineer Corps. They built a bridge across the Tennessee River and constructed the barracks on Lookout Mountain. They were then placed in the field and were engaged in the battle against Hood at Nashville and also the battle of Goldsboro, N. C., and other minor engagements. He was finally dis- charged at Washington, D. C., in August, 1865.
Immediately after his discharge, Mr. Foglesong came to this State and settled with his parents in Gratiot County. In 1867 he was united in marriage to the lady of his choice, Mrs. Susannah Jordan, daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Creps) Jordan. She was born May 10, 1840. The father was a me-
chanic and lived in Seneca Co., Ohio. Mrs. Fogle- song was born in the State of Virginia.
In 1863 Mr. F. came to this county and secured 160 acres of land on section 14, Fremont, and April 19, 1866, moved on the same and entered on the task of improving it, determined to make it a perma- nent home for himself and family. He has at the present time about 80 acres of the land under a good state of cultivation and has erected thereon one of the best brick residences in the county, at a cost so far of $2,000, and which will finally cost about $3,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Foglesong are the parents of three children, namely : Nettie V., Ward F., and Henry N. Mrs. F. had two children by her first marriage,- Margaret A. E. and Matilda E. J. Politically, Mr. F. is a Republican, and in religion he and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ohn Wagner, farmer, section 14, Lincoln Township, is a native of the State of Ohio, where, in the county of Seneca, he was born, Nov. 13, 1835-
He lived on the parental homestead, assist- ing in the maintenance of the family and at. tending the common schools of the vicinity, until he attained the age of 23 years. At this age in life, he took the old homestead and farmed it on shares. He was successful in this adventure and continued to farm the place on shares for some three years.
April 5, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Shoe, in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio. She was a native of Wood County, same State, and was. born Aug. 13, 1841. She lived at home, assisting in the labors of the household and receiving the ad- vantages afforded by the common schools, until her marriage.
After working the old homestead of his parents, Mr. W. moved to Wood Co., Ohio, and purchased an 80-acre farm of his own, which he continued to cul- tivate for a period of 12 years. He then rented his farm on shares, and in 1878 built a grist-mill at Ris- ing Sun, Ohio, which he successfully ran until March, 1881, when he sold the same and came to this State.
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On his arrival he purchased 40 acres of land on section 14, Lincoln Township, this county, and on which he has continuously resided. Mr. W. has made considerable improvement on his farm and his prospects for the future are unclouded.
Mr. and Mrs. W. are the parents of three children, namely : Henry A., born Jan. 26, 1861 ; Amanda A., born Dec. 24, 1862, and Sarah I., born Nov. 18, 1868. Henry A. married Miss Elba J. Swigard and is now residing in Sandusky Co., Ohio. Amanda A. married Arthur H. Rowlader, and is living in Lincoln Township, this county.
Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the United Brethren Church, and Mr. W. is Class Steward and Circuit Secretary in that denomination.
Politically, Mr. W. is an adherent to the principles of the Republican party.
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A lbert B. Upton, lumberman, resident at Mt. Pleasant, and member of the firm of Leaton & Upton, lumber manufacturers, was born Dec. 7, 1853, in Franklin Co., Mass. His parents, Josiah and Nancy (Woodbury) Upton, removed to Michigan in 1855, where his father became the proprietor of 1,000 acres of land, in Victor Township, Clinton County. After a residence there of 15 years the family removed to St. John's in the same county.
Mr. Upton acquired a substantial elementary edu- cation at the common schools, and at the age of 15 he became a student at Olivet College, where he spent four years pursuing a classical course of study. On his return to St. John's he became a book-keeper in the First National Bank, where he officiated two years. In 1876 he came to Mt. Pleasant as mana- ger of the banking house of Hicks, Bennett & Co., of which he was a member. He is still connected with the institution and remained its manager until Jan. 1, 1884, when he resigned his active connection therewith, to devote his undivided attention to his lumber interests, which where assuming extended proportions. On coming to Mt. Pleasant, he asso- ciated I. E. Arnold with himself in the lumber busi- ness, under the firm style of Arnold & Upton. Later, the relation was changed to Pickard & Upton, and afterwards to its present style of Leaton & Upton.
The house own an extensive mill in the west part cf the town, and they employ a working force of 75 men or more, from which the extent of their manu- facturing interests may be estimated. They own large tracts of timber land, located principally in Midland, Gratiot and Isabella Counties, aggregating about 15,000 acres.
An important item in the catalogue of private property belonging to Mr. Upton is a fine stock farm of 2,500 acres on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, in the Republican Valley, in the State of Nebraska. On this he has expended about $50,000 and devotes the entire tract to the rearing of stock, including horses and cattle. He employs about a dozen assistants, and his herd comprises commonly an average of between five and six hundred head of cattle. He owns from 40 to 60 horses and makes a specialty of rearing the Norman breed. He owns an interest in the building occupied by the banking firm of Hicks, Bennett & Co., and also his residence with five lots attached. Mr. Upton has served several terms as Village Treasurer and aided with his means and influence in the progress and advancement of Mt. Pleasant.
He was married Sept. 21, 1876, at Niagara Falls, N. Y., to Miss Mell Denison, daughter of Jared C. and Fannie Denison. She was born Jan. 20, 1858, Ovid Township, Clinton Co., Mich., where her par- ents now reside. Julia, elder daughter, was born Dec. 14, 1880; Stella was born Oct. 12, 1883, and named for Mrs. Leaton, wife of the business partner of Mr. Upton. The family are members of the Uni- tarian Church, in whose behalf Mr. Upton has ex- ercised an active and substantial influence, having been largely instrumental in building the place of worship at Mt. Pleasant. The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Upton are presented on pages 220 and 221.
illiam W. Dush, dealer in general mer- chandise and Postmaster at Dushville, is a son of William and Hannah (Todd) Dush, natives of Ohio. His father was born Oct. 10, 1810, followed farming, lived 14 years in this State, and died in Licking Co., Ohio, in July, 1880. His mother died in 1852, in Defiance Co., Ohio.
The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 11, 1850
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in Defiance Co., Ohio. At the age of 18 he com- menced working in the lumber woods during the winter season and improving his farm during the other seasons. In 1875 he located on 40 acres of section 15, Fremont Township; the next year he started the village that bears his name, and now has about 200 inhabitants. From 1877 to 1879 he ran a saw-mill, and was interrupted in this line of business by the explosion of a boiler. He was appointed Postmaster in the spring of 1882. He is a Republi- can in his political views, and is highly esteemed in his community as a man of energy, philanthropy and a high moral tone. He has done much to build up the material interests of the people. He has been Highway Commissioner and Constable two terms each, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 219, at Millbrook.
Mr. Dush was married in June, 1877, to Miss C. A. Ingersoll, daughter of L. W. and Mary E. Inger- soll. He has one child living, Herbert E., born Sept. 9, 1878; and one deceased, Nellie M., who died in 1881, aged two months.
oseph Rudler, general farmer, section 22, Lincoln Township, was born in Hamilton Co., N. Y., April 28, 1834; remained with his father on the farm until of age, when for a time he alternated between farm labor and lumbering; when 30 years of age he came to this State and for some time worked as a lumberman in Muskegon County, toward the last alternating be- tween this State and New York. In 1875 he came to this county, settling upon 40 acres where he now resides, about 25 acres of which he has reduced to a good state of cultivation. He has recently erected a good residence and a large barn. His good judg- ment as a farmer is evinced by a corresponding prosperity, which his neighbors recognize.
He was married in Pennsylvania, and has had one son, Martin J., who was born Aug. 25, 1860. He still makes his home with his father.
Sept. 3, 1863, Mr. Rudler enlisted in Co. G, 63d Pa. Vol. Inf., of the Army of the Potomac, but Jan. 22, following, he was discharged on account of sick- ness. Sept. 3, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Co. A, 21 1th l'a. Vol. Inf., Army of the Potomac, commanded by
Capt. E. B. Lee. Nov. 17, following, he was cap- tured, while on picket, between the James and Ap- pomattox Rivers, and was confined for two weeks in that filthy and awful den, Libby prison, and then for three months in that not less terrible place, Salisbury (N. C.) prison! then two weeks again at Libby! when he was paroled, which relation he held to the close of the war. He was honorably discharged July 1, 1865.
On national issues, Mr. R. sides with the Repub- licans.
illiam Loomis, farmer on section 22, Ver- non, is a son of Justin and Eliza (Drake) Loomis, natives of Connecticut and Penn- sylvania, and of German and English de- scent. The father died in this county in 1872, at the age of 80, having followed carpen- try all his life. The mother is living in Vernon Town- ship, aged 62.
The subject of this sketch was born in Lockport, Erie Co., Pa., March 17, 1842, and began to look out for his own livelihood at the immature age of ten, by working on the canal. Returning home, he at- tended the common schools of Erie and Crawford Counties, Pa.
At the age of 19, he enlisted in Co. K, 11th Pa. Vol. Inf. He was assigned to the Reserve Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and was in but one skir- mish. He was confined to a hospital for six months, and was discharged for disability, Nov. 9, 1862.
Returning home, he was married and commenced keeping a boarding-house in the lumber woods of Jef- ferson Co., l'a. He afterwards followed farming, and then spent three years in the oil region, on Oil Creek, in Crawford Co., Pa. He was next employed in a saw-mill until December, 1870, when he came to Isabella and bought 40 acres, where he now lives. He has erected suitable farm buildings, and improved 1 8 acres.
He was married in December, 1862, to Miss Annie Gibbs, who was born June 24, 1845, in Jefferson Co., Pa. Of this marriage seven children have been born, four of whom are yet living. Their record is as fol- lows: Donna, born May 11, 1864, and married Oct. 5, 1882, to William H. Archamboult ; Myron, born
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Dec. 23, 1865 ; Harriet, March 2, 1870; Charles, July 27, 1878. The deceased are : Florence, born Aug. 15, 1868, died June '16, 1869; Minnie, born March 6, 1872, died July 15, 1873 ; and Emma, born April 15, 1877, and died the same day.
Mr. Loomis is politically a Democrat. He has held the office of School Assessor for two terms and is the present incumbent.
homas Turnbull, a genial and obliging "mine host," at Dushville, is a son of Will- iam and Agnes (Huggen) Turnbull. They were natives of Scotland, and emigrated to Canada, landing at Quebec in 1830. They remained at the latter place for a short period and then moved to Toronto, Canada. From Toronto the parents moved to Moore Township, Lambton Co., Canada, and located on a tract of 100 acres of land, on which they are at present residing and on which the father follows the occupation of a farmer.
The subject of our biographical notice, Thomas Turnbull, was born Oct. 19, 1836, in Moore Town- ship, Lambton Co., Canada. He remained with the parents, assisting in the maintenance of the family and attending the common schools until 17 years of age. At this period of his life he left the parental homestead, with the consent of his parents, and went forth to fight for prosperity, single-handed and alone. He served an apprenticeship at the black- smith's trade for three years, then worked as a "jour " for three years and more, when he engaged in the business for himself. He conducted the business with a moderate degree of success for three or four years, and then sold it and came to this State. Ar- riving in Saginaw, he worked at his trade for some three years, when he moved to Midland County, and was there engaged for two years. In 1866, Mr. T. moved from Midland County to Mt. Pleasant, this county, and there worked at his trade until the spring of 1874. He then entered the hotel business and successfully followed that vocation for a year, when, in the spring of 1875, he sold out and went to Lud- ington, Mason County, this State, and there was en- gaged for a short time only, in the saloon business. He sold this the same year (1875) and came to this county and located on a farm of 40 acres, which he
cultivated for three years. Leaving his farm he went to Dushville and engaged at his trade, which he followed for three years, in partnership with Mr. George E. Osborn. The partnership was dissolved in February, 1881, and Mr. Turnbull took charge of the hotel, which he is conducting. The host and hostess are genial and obliging to their guests and have made themselves quite a reputation in the bus- iness they are conducting. He has also been for three years doing an extensive business in the sale of agricultural implements.
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