USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 19
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Mr. Turnbull was united in marriage, Sept. 24, 1859, to Miss Anna Grayson, born Jan. 6, 1844, in Lambton Co., Canada. She was a daughter of Will- iam and Anna (Ardel) Grayson, the former a native of Canada, where he died in 1882, and the mother a native of the Emerald Isle.
Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull are the parents of three children : Agnes A., Ellen H and Thomas. Mr. T., politically, is a Democrat. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the Masonic Order, Lodge No. 305, at Mt. Pleasant.
ewis C. Griffith, Clerk of Isabella County resident at Mt. Pleasant, was born Dec. 26, 1837, in Wayne Co., Ohio. His parents, Nelson and Sarah (Cobler) Griffith, removed in 1839 to DeKalb Co., Ind., where they reared their children on a farm.
Mr. Griffith obtained a good education at the com- mon schools, attending winter terms until he was 18 years, old and after that he attended the academies at Vienna and Newville, Ind., three years, devoting the spring and fall seasons to study, and teaching winters. He followed teaching as an occupation until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted Nov. 12, 1862, in the 23d Battery, Ind. Vols., and par- ticipated in all the engagements of the Georgia cam- paign. He was in the actions at Lost Mountain, Resaca, Dalton, Burns Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, through the engagements of the siege of Atlanta, at Columbia, Franklin and Nashville. He enlisted as a private, and before his command left Indianapolis he was promoted to the rank of Corporal. At Knox- ville he was again promoted to the position of Ser- geant, and received honorable discharge July 3, 1865,
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at Indianapolis. On his return to DeKalb County, he engaged in farming for a time. Within the same year he came to Isabella County and purchased 100 acres of land on what is now section 29, Broomfield Township, but did not take possession of his property. In September, 1866, he brought his wife to Broom- field Township, and settled on 80 acres, located on section 30. He now owns 160 acres on sections 30 and 31, and has 80 acres in a fine state of cultiva- tion, with excellent buildings, valuable orchards and other farm appurtenances of the best order. When he became a resident on his present farm it was all in heavy tiniber, and located three-fourths of a mile from any thoroughfare. He found himself obliged to cut his road thither, and with his ox team he drew in a thousand feet of lumber and made a camp of it for the shelter of himself and wife until he cleared a small patch of ground and erected a log house. In this he lived 13 years.
The organization of the township did not take place until 1868, when he was one of the petitioners for the accomplishment of that purpose. He was elected first Clerk and discharged the duties of the place five years in succession. He served as Super- visor three terms, as Superintendent of Schools about four years, and as Justice of the Peace one term. He was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office he now holds, in the fall of 1880, and made a successful run against E. E. Willie. He was again nominated for the same position in the fall of 1882, and scored another victory. He removed to Mt. Pleasant in January, 1881, to take possession of his office. In August following his becoming a citizen of Mt. Pleasant, he was elected Superintendent of Schools of the township. He was elected a member of the County Board of Examiners, and is the pres- ent Secretary of that body. He is also a member of the village School Board.
In connection with his business as an agriculturist and incumbent of successive local official positions, he has labored as a minister of the Christian Church. He has been an evangelist in Mecosta and Isabella Counties, and the aggregate time of his min- istry is ten years. He is now preaching regularly in Salt River and has been since April, 1883. He has been a Sunday-school Superintendent in the Presby- terian Church. His marriage to Sarah Brown oc- curred, Oct. 13, 1861. She was born Jan. 26, 1840,
in Seneca Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of Levi and Jane Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have been the parents of nine children, three of whom are deceased. They were born and named as follows: Douglass, July 26, 1862; Wilbur A., June 30, 1867 ; Nettie, Aug. 29, 1869; Alma, Jan. 24, 1871; Dessie B., June 13, 1873; Hortense M., Oct. 1, 1875 ; Irving L., April 25, 1878; Lena S., Nov. 22, 1880; Bessie, Feb. 10, 1884.
eorge F. Goll, general farmer, section 16, Lincoln Township, was born in Springfield Township, Williams Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1843, his parents being of French ancestry and both died in Ohio; his father, a farmer dying in February, 1882, and his mother in December, 1861.
He lived with his parents, laboring as a farm hand and attending school, until ·18 years old, when he enlisted in the 14th Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. E, April 23, 1861, for the three-months service. Oct. 14, 1862, he re-enlisted, this time in the 21st Battery, Light Artillery, Ohio Volunteers, Army of the Cumberland, and was in several engagements. When Lee sur- rendered, the Ohio battery, then at Richmond, was ordered to fire a salute, in the execution of which order a cannon was prematurely discharged, tearing off Mr. Goll's right arm at the wrist and otherwise injuring him severely. His arm was amputated four inches below the elbow. He was consequently laid up in the hospital for nine weeks. He was honora- bly discharged June 19, 1865, and returned to his home in Williams Co.,.Ohio, where he lay for some time before he was able to venture out into business.
In 1868 he came to Michigan and contracted for 80 acres on section 16, Lincoln Township, upon which he moved the next year. It was then entirely wild, and he improved 35 acres, built farm houses, etc., exhibiting every evidence of good judgment in his vocation. April 14, 1884, he sold his place to Martin Bassett, of Canada, and he now resides in the State of Missouri.
Mr. Goll has been Township Treasurer eight years and held other offices: has now been Township Clerk two years, and is also Health Officer. In pol- itics he is a Republican.
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Oct. 6, 1867, in Lincoln Township, he married Miss Malinda Knipe, who was born in Springfield Township, Williams Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1853, and came to this State in the spring of 1868, since which time she has resided in this county, except one year in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Goll are the parents of three children, viz .: Lettie J., Feb. 14, 1871 ; George B., May 13, 1879, and an unnamed infant, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the Free Methodist Church.
ames M. McMillen, farmer on section 31, Vernon, was born in Clarion Co., Pa., May 30, 1829, and is a son of John and Sally (Maxwell) McMillen, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The father has been a farmer, and is now living with his son, at the advanced age of 85. The mother died in the State of Iowa, in July, 1875. Their family included ten children, of whom James was the third.
He lived at home in Pennsylvania, working on his father's farm until 30 years old. In 1864 the family removed to Lucas Co., Iowa, where he farmed for 15 years. Selling his property, he then came to this State and county and purchased 80 acres of timbered land on section 31, Vernon. He has since improved 40 acres and erected necessary farm buildings.
He was married Dec. 14, 1854, in Armstrong Co., Pa., to Miss Sarah J. Stewart, daughter of Matthew and Nancy (Jamison) Stewart, natives of Scotland. Mrs. McMillen was born Jan. 1, 1834, in Armstrong County, and was reared and educated in Clarion County, same State. Of her six children, one is de- ceased, James M., born July 12, 1859, and died Nov. 17, 1861. The living are : Winfield S., born Oct. 4, 1853; Evaline E., Aug. 11, 1857 ; Edwin C., Dec. I, 1861; Rachel A., June 11, 1866; and Frank S., June 25, 1872. Winfield S. was married July 4, 1883, to Miss Mary E. Phillips, and is now a farmer on section 30, Vernon. Evaline E. was married June 8, 1876, to J. R. Miller, and is now teaching in Jefferson Co., Pa.
Mrs. McM. is and has been for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McMillen is politically a Democrat, and has been for some time Overseer of Highways.
arren Wing, farmer, section 2, Fremont Township, is a son of Wesley and Salana (nee Wilcox) Wing, natives of New York. They moved from this State to Iowa in 1850, and there the father followed the occupa- tion of farmer for two years. He then returned to the State of New York, and after remaining there a short time came to that State (in the year 1863) and located a homestead of 160 acres of land on section 1, Fremont Township, this county, for him- self, and 120 acres on section 2, for his son, the subject of this sketch. The father and mother are yet living, in Union Township, this county, where the former is engaged in farming and is the possessor of 120 acres of good land.
Warren Wing, the subject of this biographical notice, was born May 5, 1842, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. He remained on the parental farm, assisting the father in the cultivation of the same and attend- ing the common schools, until he attained the age of 2 1 years. On arriving at this age he accompanied his father to this State and aided him in the clearing of six acres of land, on which they planted winter wheat. He then engaged as a common laborer in the lumber woods and followed that occupation until 1864. During that year he enlisted in Co. H, Eighth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, Ninth Corps, commanded by Gen. Burn- side. He participated in the battle of the Wilderness and was there wounded in the elbow, which crippled him for life, and on account of which he is at present a deserving pensioner of the U. S. Government. On receiving the wound mentioned, he was sent to the hospital, and on convalescing he acted as nurse in the hospital for some time, when he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was finally dis- charged in August, 1865, at Pittsburg, Pa.
On receiving his discharge, Mr. Wing went to New York State and was there united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Burt, who was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Aug. 20, 1843, and is a daughter of Willard and Mary H. (Hosier) Burt, of New Eng- land parentage. Her father was a farmer by occu- pation, and died in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1869. Her mother is still living on the old homestead.
Mr. and Mrs. Wing are the parents of three chil-
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dren, two boys and one girl. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Willard W., born July 15, 1867 ; Leon R., born April 6, 1872; Nellie E., born April 29, 1876.
Mr. Wing politically is a Republican. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for three years, was School Inspector two years, Drain Com- missioner two years and was re-elected to the latter office, but resigned.
For the past two years Mr. Wing has been devot- ing a considerable portion of his time to the apiary business, and at the present writing has 75 working colonies. He has disposed of ten swarms and has realized from the business over $400.
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ra M. Potter, farmer and carpenter, resid- ing on section 13, Lincoln Township, was born in DeKalb. Co., Ind., Feb. 3, 1853. His father, Philetus, was a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1811. His mother, Harriet L. (Woodward) Potter, was born in the State of Vermont, March 23, 1821. They were of English and German descent, and the mother died in Paulding Co., Ohio, March 18, 1863, and the father is still living, in Lincoln Township, this county.
Ira M. accompanied his parents to Paulding County when he was three years of age. Seven years later his mother died, and at the age of 12 years he came with his father to this State. His father located in Mecosta County, and after remaining there 18 months moved to Newaygo County and settled in Everett Township, where he followed the vocation of farmer. Here Ira M. assisted on the farm and attended the common schools and developed into manhood. He remained on the farm until 1868, when he went to Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Ind., remained for a period and then went to Ohio, and finally returned to Kala- mazoo, this State, where he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. He followed that for a time and then returned to the vocation of farming, which he continued for 18 months, when he moved to Cleve- land, Ohio, and there completed the learning of his trade of carpenter and joiner.
After this he went to Hicksville, Defiance Co.,
Ohio, where he made his home, working at his trade for three years.
In the year 1877, Mr. Potter took quite an extended tour throughout the West, for the purpose of investi- gating the advantages offered to immigrants. In 1878 he came to this county and purchased 40 acres of land on section 11, Lincoln Township. He after- ward sold this and and purchased 53 acres, partly improved, on section 13, same township. On this latter place he is now living, engaged in farming and working at his trade.
Mr. Potter is recognized as a skillful and reliable mechanic, and as an evidence of his workmanship many of the best residences in the southern part of this county will testify.
Mr. Potter was united in marriage, Feb. 24, 1880, in St. Louis, Gratiot County, with Miss Addie, daugh- ter of James and Elizabeth (Miller) Maxwell, natives of Ohio, where, in Defiance County, they were among the very first settlers. Mrs. Maxwell died April 14, 1884, and Mr. M. is yet living, in the same county. Addie was born in Hicksville, Defiance Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1852. She was a constant resident under the parental roof-tree, assisting in the house- hold duties and attending the common and union schools, until 1882. She had acquired a good educa- tion, and, as her inclination was to be a teacher, her education was obtained with that view, and for eight years she successfully taught in the common schools of her native county.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter are recognized as belonging to a class who are a benefit to the society and com- munity in which they reside, and are respected and honored citizens of their township.
Politically, Mr. P. is a supporter of and believer in the doctrines of the Democratic party.
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allace W. Preston, Treasurer of Isabella County, resident at Mt. Pleasant, was born Oct. 9, 1837, in the town of Alexander, coun- ty of Genesee, State of New York. His parents, William and Mary (Fisk) Preston, were both natives of Vermont. The father was born June 28, 1803, and died Nov. 10, 1881, in Mt. Pleas- ant. The mother was born Jan. 31, 1806, and is
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still living, in Mt. Pleasant, at the advanced age of 78 years.
The family of Mr. Preston settled in Wyoming Co., N. Y., where they reared and educated their children. He became an accomplished scholar and taught five terms of school in Wyoming County. In the fall of 1863 he came to Isabella County and made a purchase of 80 acres of land, on section 10, Lincoln Township. He had been a resident but two months when he received the appointment of County Clerk to fill the unexpired term of Norman Payne, and officiated in that position during the year 1864. During that time he was elected Register of Deeds, on the Republican ticket, and held the office two years. Meanwhile he bought the hotel in Mt. Pleas- ant (now the Bamber House), took possession of his property, which he continued to manage nearly three years. He rented the hotel during the two following years, and in 1869 sold out. He bought a farm of 120 acres, lying one-half mile south of Mt. Pleasant, which still remains in his possession. It is a valua- ble estate, with 95 acres under culture, good build- ings, orchards and other creditable farm appurtenan- ces. He took possession of his farm in March, 1869, and there remained until December, 1882, when he moved to Mt. Pleasant. In the spring of 1879 he was elected Towrship Treasurer of Union, and the following spring, Supervisor, which office he held until the fall of 1882, when he received the nomina- tion for Treasurer of Isabella County, on the Repub- lican ticket, and was elected by nearly 300 majority.
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Mr. Preston was married Sept. 24, 1861, in Java, Wyoming Co., N. Y., to Arsenath Woodworth. She was born June 21, 1841, in Java, and is the daughter of Charles and Nancy Woodworth. The three chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Preston were born at Mt. Pleasant, as follows: Worth W., Sept. 19, 1864; Anna B., Sept. 15, 1870; and Ralph E., June 10, 1874. The oldest son is a book-keeper, in the employ of Upton & Leaton.
Charles H. Standbridge, farmer on section 30, Vernon, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., July 25, 1853, and is a son of Jabez and Mary A. (Mead) Standbridge, natives of England. The father was at first a common laborer, and came with his wife to Washtenaw Co., Mich., where they died in 1879 and 1882, re-
spectively. Of their four sons and six daughters, two of the former and three of the latter are living Charles is the fourth child and third son.
Leaving home at the age of 19, he worked by the month for farmers in his native county. Four years later he came to this county and worked for R. F. Glass, of Gilmore Township. In the fall of 1877 he purchased 89 acres of wild land on section 30, Ver- non. Two years later he married and moved upon his farm, on which he has since resided. He has improved 20 acres.
In political sentiment he is a Republican.
He was married at Farwell, May 11, 1879, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of David and Sarah Margaret (Rawling) Branch, natives of Maine and Ontario, and of English descent. The mother died in 1872, and the father is yet living, in the vicinity of Farwell, Clare County. Mrs. Standbridge was born in Genesee Co., Mich., Aug. 19, 1862, and has had three chil- dren, two of whom are living: Lillie M., born July 27, 1880, and Nellie M., Dec. 2, 1883. William E. was born March 27, 1882, and died Sept. 12, 1882.
ohn W. Curtiss, farmer, section 4, Fre- mont Township, is a son of Waldo W. and Margaret (McCue) Curtiss. His father was a native of New York, where he was born in 1820. He was a cooper by trade, and also fol- lowed the occupation of farmer, and died in December, 1857. His mother was born on the Em- erald Isle, in 1825, and died Aug. 14, 1875, in Oak- field, Genesee Co., N. Y. They were the parents of six children, all boys, who are all living.
John W., the subject of this biographical notice, was born Feb. 13, 1846, in Genesee Co., N. Y. He remained at home until he attained the age of ten years, and upon the death of his father he went to work as a common laborer, contributing his wages to the support of his mother and brothers. He contin- ued to aid the mother and family until the age of 23 years. He then followed farming for six years in Greenville, Montcalm County, this State. For the next nine years he was employed in the lumber woods of Montcalm and Isabella Counties. In June, 1883, he purchased 120 acres on sections 4 and 5, Fre- mont, where he now follows farming. His residence is on section 4.
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Mr. Curtiss was united in marriage July 21, 1880, to Miss Mina Hey, a native of Jackson Co., Mich., where she was born June 17, 1865. She was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Weiter) Hey, natives of Germany. Her mother came to the New World when she was seven years old, in 1851, and her father in 1857. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hey comprised seven children, four boys and three girls, one of whom, a girl, is deceased. The father and mother are both living in Montcalm County, where the former is following the occupation of farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss are the parents of two chil- dren : one, an infant, died unnamed; and the other, Henry W., was born Aug. 29, 1883, in this county.
illiam Tomlinson, farmer, section 22, Lin- coln Township, was born in Champlain, Clinton Co., N. Y., March 21, 1834. The parents of Mr. T. were William and Ann (Bolton) Tomlinson, natives of England and of English descent. His father followed the occupation of farming in his native country; and em- igrated to this country in 1830, continuing the same vocation. His mother died in Clinton Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1875, aged 76 years and 6 months, and his father is at present residing with our subject, aged 8 1 years:
William Tomlinson, Sr., the subject of this bio- graphical notice, is the oldest of the children now living, assisted in the cultivation of the homstead, attended the common schools and developed into manhood.
Nov. 8, 1853, Mr. Tomlinson was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah J. Palmer, residing in the State of Vermont. She was a daughter of Robert and Julia (Spaulding) Palmer, natives of Vermont, and of New England parentage. Her father died in the State of his nativity, in 1848, and her mother is still living, in the same State. Sarah was born May 18, 1835, in Chittenden Co., Vt., and lived under the parental roof-tree, assisting her mother in her house- hold duties and attending the common schools of the county, until the date of her marriage, as stated.
After his marriage, Mr. Tomlinson worked one of his father's farms until the fall of 1865, when he came to this State and homesteaded 160 acres of
land on section 22, Lincoln Township, this county. When Mr. Tomlinson located his homestead in the county, it was in a section that was almost a dense forest. Not a stick of timber had been felled on his land, and it was with no little faith in the future de- velopment of the country that he was induced to continue his battle against the trials and obstacles of pioneer life. He experienced all the trials incident to the early settler; was compelled to go many miles for food for his family and pay an exorbitant price for the same, yet " faith " cheered him on, and " en- ergetic effort " pulled him safely through. Mr. T. disposed of 40 acres of his homestead, and has suc- cessfully brought 40 acres of the remainder to a good state of improvement.
Richard B. Tomlinson, a younger brother of our subject, is one of the most extensive wholesale and retail merchants of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson are the parents of six children, born and named as follows: Martha E., March 31, 1856; George E., May ro, 1858; Julia A., Sept. 14, 1860; Ella A., Oct. 16, 1862; Mary A., Sept. 21, 1864; Charles F., June 2, 1866. Mar- tha E., George E., Ella A. and Mary A. are married. The husband and wife are both members of the Free Methodist Church.
Mr. Tomlinson, politically, is a staunch Republi- can. He has filled numerous offices in his township, with credit, and is at present Justice of the Peace, which position he has held for three terms.
ewitt S. Johnson, hardware merchant at Dushville, is a son of John Q. A. and Margaret (Sutherland) Johnson, natives of the State of New York, where, in Oneida County, the father was born, in 1826, and the mother, in Cattaraugus County, in 1825. The father was reared on a farm in New York State, and when 17 years of age came to Monroe County, this State. He lived in that county eight years and then moved to Barry County, and continued his vocation for four years, when he came to Isabella and located on 160 acres of land in Coe Township. He now resides on section 30, Union Township. He has been an active and prominent man, and his biogra- phy appears on another page.
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Dewitt S. Johnson, the subject of this biographical notice, was born March 3, 1852, in Barry County, this State. He was, as his father, reared on the farm and received the advantages afforded by the com- mon school, and under the instruction of his parents and his own energetic, persevering determination, acquired a classical education. He accompanied his parents to this county, and in 1879 was united in marriage with Miss Almeda M. Ackley. She was born in DeKalb Co., Ind., in 1856, and was the daughter of Harvey and Roxana (Coburn) Ackley, natives of Ohio. Mr. Ackley was a soldier in the late civil war, and died while in the defense of his country's flag. Two children were born of their union, namely : Ralph E., May 23, 1880; and Erma, Nov. 5, 1882.
Politically, Mr. Johnson is a believer in and sup- porter of the doctrines and principles of the Repub- lican party. He has held the office of Constable, and is a respected and esteemed citizen of the town- ship. Mrs. Johnson is an earnest and active mem- ber of the Disciples' Church.
enry Woodin, farmer and mill owner on section 28, Sherman, is a son of Henry and Lydia (Earl) Woodin, natives of New York. Henry Woodin, Sr., was a farmer, and died in his native State. His son Henry was born Nov. 6, 1827, in Monroe Co., N. Y., and lived at home until 19 years of age, receiving a good elementary English education in the common schools. After leaving the parental roof he was employed in various grist·mills until 1853, when he came to Saginaw, this State. He then worked at farming and lumbering until 1869, when he came to this county, selected a mill-site on Chippewa River, and erected a grist and saw mill, which he has operated ever since. He owns at the present time 1,050 acres of land, includ- ing 120 acres of winter wheat. He has in all 200 acres improved, and good farm buildings.
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