USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
At the battle of Winchester, Va., Mr. Woodin had four horses shot from under him, and was wounded in the left thigh by a collision of his horse with another. This happened Sept. 19, 1864. and on the 18th of July, 1865, he was honorably discharged.
Mr. Woodin returned to Warren Co., Pa., after his discharge from the service, and remained for a short period, when he came to this State (whither his par- ents had removed during the war and located a homestead on section 17, Lincoln Township), arriv-
ing here in the winter of 1865. He remained with his parents until the following spring and then went to Ionia County. He was married in that county, Jan. 13, 1866, to Miss Minty Holcomb, a native of that county, where she was born Sept. 15, 1851, and where she had lived and received her education.
Shortly after marriage, Mr. W. moved to this county and entered on the vocation of farming. He fol- lowed the same for a short time, then moved to Montcalm County, then to Ionia County, and finally returned to this county and purchased 40 acres of land on section 8, Lincoln Township, on which he is at present living. He has 35 acres of his farm under good improvement. Mr. W., politically, is a "National," and has held the minor offices of his township for several years.
Mr. and Mrs. W. are the parents of three children, -Effie M., born Nov. 22, 1868; Jessie, born June 20, 1874, and Archie, Aug. 26, 1877.
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mos F. Drew, farmer on section 6, Union, was born Aug. 22, 1825, in Orangeville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and is a son Nathaniel and Sally (Nichols) Drew. Both parents died in Pine River, Waushara Co., Wis. He lived at home until 22 years old. His first work for others than his father, was in a saw-mill in Summerhill, Crawford Co., Pa. Here he was employed two years, at $to per month. Going then to New York State, he spent two summers in grafting fruit trees. The ensuing two or three years were spent in saw-mill work in Allegany Co., N. Y. He learned the car- penter's trade, at odd times, not serving any regular apprenticeship. He is a natural mechanic, and has worked with tools much of his life.
In the fall of 1877, he came from Allegany Co., N. Y., and bought 60 acres, where he has since re- sided. His family arrived in September, 1878.
He was married June 14, 1853, at Portage, Livings- ton Co., N. Y., to Miss Hannah, daughter of Hiram and Amy Hopkins. Of this marriage there have been born four sons and two daughters. George W. was born March 23, 1854, in Allegany Co., N. Y .; Charles F. was born in Crawford Co., Pa., June 23, 1857 ; Julia A. was born March 28, 1860, in Allegany Co., N. Y., and died Dec. 30, 1864 ; Mary Ann was born
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March 3, 1866, in the same county, and died Nov. 5, 1870; Fred G. was born Nov. 6, 1870, in the same county ; John E. was born June 3, 1874, in the same county.
Politically, Mr. Drew is a Republican.
Dec. 15, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 104th N. Y. Vol. Inf. He fought at Thoroughfare Gap, Catholic Station, and Manassas Junction, and was discharged Dec. 24, 1862, on a surgeon's certificate of disability. He again enlisted Dec. 20, 1863, in Co. F, 4th New York Artillery. He was wounded in the thigh, June 18, 1864, in front of Petersburg, and, after a ten months' confinement in the hospital, he was finally discharged from the service, March 2, 1865.
ilas B. Richardson, farmer, section 30, Fre- mont Township, is a son of Asa P. and Jane (Staple) Richardson, the former of whom was born in Vermont, in 1797 ; followed farming and prospecting for land in the State of Maine; removed thence to Ohio in 1851, first settling in Lorain County, two years afterward in Montgomery Township, Wood Co., seven or eight years after that in Jackson Township, same county, and finally with his children in this county. He died at his son Barnard's, March 30, 1870, and was buried in Fremont Cemetery. His widow was born in Maine in 1806, and is still living, with her chil- dren, all of whom are yet livfng, twelve in number, four in Ohio and eight in Michigan.
The subject of this sketch was born July 19, 1833, in Somerset Co., Me. In 1860 he married Miss Catherine, daughter of Henry and Saralı (Ross) Hess, who was born Feb. 28, 1842, in Columbiana Co., Ohio. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, in 1806, and is yet living, near Bowling Green, Wood Co., Ohio; her mother was born in New Jersey in 1817, and died Feb. 11, 1868, leaving six sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have had seven children, all of whom are living, viz .: Henry A., Sarah J., John W., Silas B., Ida L., James G. and Lillian E.
In regard to national issues Mr. R. votes with the Republicans; has been Justice of the Peace since 1874, School Inspector two years, and has held other school offices in his district,-in all, seven years.
Charles F. Curtiss, farmer, section 8, Fre- mont Township, is a son of Waldo W. and Margaret (nee McCue) Curtiss. His father was a native of New York, where he was born in 1820, and his mother was born on the Em- erald Isle, in 1825, and died in Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 14, 1875. His father was a cooper by trade, and also followed the occupation of farming, and died in the month of December, 1857. The grandfather of Charles F. was born June 9, 1796, and is still living. His wife was born, Feb. 13, 1797, and has passed to the better land.
Charles F., the subject of our biographical notice, was one of six boys, all living, who constituted the family of his parents, and was born in Oakfield, Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 15, 1857. He was reared on the farm, receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools. His father dying when he (Charles F.) was only about one month old, he contributed his earnings to the support of the family until the death of his mother. After her deatlı, the six boys, being thrown on the cold charity of an unthinking world, went forth upon the road of time to fight the battles of adversity alone.
April 5, 1880, Mr. Curtiss came to this State and engaged with his brother in farming, which relation- ship existed for one year. He then, in 1881, pur- chased 80 acres of land on sections 8 and 9, Fremont Township, this county, known as the Thomas Will- iamson farm. He at once entered on the improve- ment of this land and by energy and industry has succeeded in placing 45 acres of the same in a good state of cultivation.
Politically, Mr. Curtiss is an independent, and has held the office of Treasurer of his school district. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic Order and an esteemed and respected citizen of his township.
Mr. Curtiss was wedded to the lady of his choice, Miss Mary Gannon, Feb. 20, 1876. She was born May 3, 1856, in County Wexford, Ireland, and is a daughter of James and Anna (White) Gannon. Her father is still living, in the Emerald Isle, following the vocation of coachman for a livelihood and has been engaged in that occupation in his native land for a number of years. His children comprised four
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boys and two girls, two of whom are deceased. Her mother died in the year 1865.
Mr. and Mrs. Curtiss are the parents of four chil- dren, all boys: George W., born Nov. 26, 1876; John A., born June 16, 1878; Waldo J., born March 10, 1881, and Norman F., born Sept. 15, 1883.
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ohn Ruthruff, farmer on section 5, Rol- land Township, is a son of David and Nancy (Trayer) Ruthruff, natives of Penn- sylvania and Seneca Co., N. Y. The father was a part of his life a farmer, and a portion a common laborer. He came to Branch County- this State, in 1851 and lived there until his death in 1858. The mother died in the same county. Their family numbered nine, three of whom are not now living.
The subject of this biographical notice was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., Dee. 24, 1828, and remained at home until 18 years of age. He worked by the month two years and then for three years was in the employment of Sam. Jones, near Lockport; after which he was for five summers engaged on the Erie Canal.
His next step, Jan. 11, 1852, was to form a life partnership with Miss Emily Comstock, who was born May 2, 1835, in Niagara Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Robert and Polly (MeNeal) Comstock. Her father was born Aug. 4, 1794, in Massachusetts ; and her mother, April 30, 1799, near Bennington, Vt. The former died in 1841, in Erie Co., N. Y.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ruthruff came to Branch Co., Mich., where they lived until 1868. They then lived one year in Lake County and a year in Millbrook, Mecosta County. For the ensuing two years he was interested in a saw-mill, after which he traded for 160 acres of wild land on section 5, Rol- land. He has now 74 acres improved, and good buildings.
To the family have been added seven children : Willlam H .. born July 30, 1853; Adelbert, Nov. 15, 1857, and died March 1, 1855; Charles M., June 14, 1857 ; Edgar, June 15, 1861, and died Ang. 15, 1867 ; George W., May 10, 1864; Jay B., May 1, 1868; and Nellie L., June 9, 1873.
Politically, Mr. R. is a Democrat.
ichard S. Stanley, farmer, section 19, Fre- mont Township, is a son of Thomas and Anna (Stowe) Stanley. They were both na- tives of England, where the father was born in 1800, and the mother in 1805. In 1831, they emigrated to this country and landed at Phila- delphia, where the father was engaged in wagon- making and blacksmithing for 14 years. He then went to Lycoming Co., Pa., where he purchased two farms and a saw-mill, and cultivated the farms and ran the mill until the date of his death, in the spring of 1867. The mother died in 1881, on the old home- stead.
Richard S. Stanley, the subject of this biographical notice, was born July 20, 1832, in Philadelphia, Pa. He passed his youth on the old homestead, working on the farm and attending the common schools. When he attained the age of 23 years, he engaged as a common laborer on a farm in the neighborhood, for one year. He then went to Williams Co., Ohio, in 1857, and worked his uncle's farm for about three years.
At this period in the life of our subject, the late civil war broke out, and he enlisted in Co. H, 18th U. S. Inf. His company was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and was under command of Gen. Sherman. It did not participate in any general en- gagement, but was in many skirmishes, and was finally discharged near Covington, Ky., in April, 1875.
After his discharge from the service, Mr. Stanley returned to Williams Co., Ohio. He remained there a short time, and then came to this county and Jo- cated on 40 acres of land he had purchased from a Mr. Merrill, of Detroit, and on 80 acies which he homesteaded. He has since sold 40 acres and made additional purchases, and is now the owner of 80 acres, 70 of which is in a good state of cultivation.
Mr. Stanley was first united in marriage, April 20, 1859, with Miss Bethsua E. Wellman, born in Lorain Co., Ohio, in 1839. She died in 1868, leaving one child to the care of her husband, Florence ; and Mr. Stanley was a second time married, the lady of his choice being Miss Hannah M. Smith, of Sandusky Co., Ohio, where she was born in 1858. She re- mained wife and mother until 1878, when she died,
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leaving three children-Cora A., Flora E. and Nellie E .- to their father's care. His third marriage was to Miss Jennie McSweyn, Dec. 7, 1881. She was born in Kenyon Township, Glengary Co., Canada, Aug. 28, 1843, and has borne to Mr. Stanley one child, a son, James, born Sept. 27, 1882.
Mr. Stanley, politically, is a Republican. He has held the position of School Director of his district, and is a progressive farmer and respected citizen in his township. Mr. Stanley has been something of a traveler, having been in 13 States of this Union.
A alonzo W. Barnes, farmer on the south- west quarter of the southwest quarter of section 7, Union, was born in Winchester Co., Vt., Sept. 3, 1833. His parents died in Geneva Township, six miles south of Geneva, Ontario Co., N. Y., having moved to that State when Alonzo was eight years old. He was reared on his father's farm, and was 16 years old when he commenced at his trade of millwright, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked in a saw-mill at Bucy- rus, Ohio, two years, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, and followed filing and sawing until the spring of 1857. Next he went overland to California, being exactly six months in crossing the great West.
For one year he filed circular saws for a firm named Fuller Bros. He then purchased a half interest in a saw-mill at Sly Creek, Eldorado Co., Cal., where he and his partner, H. P. Neeland, were in the win- ter of 1861-2 "washed out," losing all their invest- ment by a flood. Going to Butte County, he was there interested in a hotel and trading post until the summer of 1865. He then returned home, on a ship, via Cape Horn.
During his stay in the Golden State, he made $250,000 in keeping hotel and furnishing supplies to miners. This snug fortune was soon lost in silver- mining speculations.
After a three days' visit home he came to Saginaw and followed filing for Bliss Bros. for four years. 'The next three years he was similarly engaged for A. W. Wright & Co. April 3, 1882, he came to his present home of 45 acres, partially improved.
He was married June 24, 1867, to Henrietta Van Horn, daughter of James and Leonora (Henderson)
Van Horn. The former is now living with our sub- ject, aged 62, and the latter died near Saginaw. Mrs. Barnes was born in Springfield Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, Aug. 5, 1849.
Mr. B. is politically independent. He is now Moderator in his school district.
arriet A (Marvin) Hawkins, resident on section 26, Lincoln Township, was born in Morrow Co., Ohio, July 3, 1837. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Morrison) Marvin, natives of New York and New Jersey,
- respectively. The father was a tailor by trade, and moved to Sparta, Morrow Co., Ohio, about the year 1825, where he followed his trade.
Harriet remained at home until she attained the age of ten years, when she was brought by her un- cle, Adam Hance, to this State, and in whose family she remained until she attained her 18th year. She then returned to her parents and lived with them until 22 years old.
Dec. 20, 1859, she was united in marriage with Abraham W. Hawkins, a native of the State of Ver- mont, where, in Rutland County, he was born July 3, 1833. After their marriage they came to this State and located on 80 acres of land in Lincoln Town- ship, this county. The land was heavily timbered, and they were compelled to cut a road to it through the thick woods before settling. Their experiences were similar to those of many others of Michigan's early pioneers. Obstacles and trials, deprivation and want encompassed them on every side, and yet they determinedly battled against and overcame them. The roads, at times, were absolutely impass- able. On one occasion, her brother was killed by a log in a "running jam," which struck him, and the roads to their farm were so bad that it was impossi- ble to convey the corpse to their abode. Yet, amid all the hardships, their faith in the future develop- ment of the county was impregnable.
Of the 80-acre farm on which they originally set- tled, Mrs. H. has 50 acres under good improvements and a good large barn. She is the mother of three children, one of whom is deceased. The two living are George B., born Jan. 7, 1861, and William W.,
P. S. Estes
Carrie E. Este
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born Oct. 17, 1864. Fletcher, born Oct. 6, 1866, died Feb. 10, 1882.
Religiously, Mrs. Hawkins is a member of the Free Methodist Church and holds a position of re- spect and esteem among the citizens of the township.
erry H. Estee, farmer, section 18, C'oe Township, is a son of Silas and Mary (Hodge) Estee, who were born in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., married in that county, and in 1810 moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where they remained until 1828; they then moved to War- ren Co., Pa., where he met his death by the fall of a tree, Nov. 17, 1842; she died April 4, 1878, at the residence of her daughter, Emily Tillotson, in Har- mony, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., at the advanced age of 91 years. In their family were three sons and three daughters, who are still living, inheriting a high degree of longevity. Their names are, Ansel, Alvira, Emily, John, Louisa and Perry H.
The last named, the subject of this sketch, was born in Water Valley, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 9, 1824. His early education was obtained in the district schools of Warren Co., Pa., and he subsequently attended the Hamburg Academy in Erie Co., N. Y. When he was 17 years of age his father died and he started out in the world for himself. He was brought up in a lumber country, and for about three years he was engaged in various occupations. He taught three winter terms of school, in Erie Co., N. Y. He then bought 100 acres of land of the Holland Land Company, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he fol- lowed farming for about five years, when he sold the place, and, in the spring of 1854, went to Iowa in search of land, going a-foot about 85 miles west of Dubuque. After a sojourn of about three weeks in that part of the country, he re-crossed the Mississippi to Prairie du Chien, Wis., where he purchased a quarter-section of Government land. He spent the following summer at his home in Erie Co., N. Y., whither the family had removed from Chautauqua County.
In the fall of 1854 he started for Michigan, coming by rail to Kalamazoo and thence on foot to Ada, Kent Co .; thence, on foot, in company with a cousin, to Muskegon County, reaching what is now Big
Rapids when there were but two log shanties there Remaining over night at this point, the next day they reached the house of a lumberman named Utley, in Newaygo County; thence to Ionia; thence, in company with two men from Ohio, they started for Gratiot County, in search of land. Passing through the northern part of Clinton County, they met a party of 17 men returning from Isabella County, from whom they learned that all the land in this county was good; and as there were about 50 men already here making rapid selections, they had better hasten back to the land office at Ionia, make their entries, and then come and look up what they had entered : it would be safe. One of the party exhibited a plat of Coe Township. The advice was taken, Mr. Estee selecting the northwest quarter of section 18. The haste was so great that, although it was one o'clock in the afternoon and they had 16 miles to go, they went on foot and reached the land office at half past four o'clock, so as to be at the office before it closed for the day.
Returning to Kent County and resting a day or two, Mr. Estee and his companion came on foot to Isabella County, and for 17 miles on the township lines they found not a house. The first night, there- fore, they camped, on the bank of the Salt River, during a storm of rain. Next day they found and examined their lands, and returned to the camping- ground, for the night. At this time they had but one biscuit for each left.
Shortly after Mr. E. returned to Erie Co., N. Y., taught school the following winter, and in May, 1855, in company with another man, he started for his home in the forest. They came by boat to Detroit, rail to Pontiac, and stage to Saginaw, where he met A. M. Clapp, the original owner of St. Louis. He took a scow to what is now Midland, and a canoe to what is now St. Louis, arriving July 2, 1855. On the morning of the " 4th " they started on the trail for Isabella County, reaching Coe Township by a cir- cuitous route. This day Mr. Estee cut the first tree on the northwest quarter of section 18. His nearest neighbor was a mile distant.
He at once put up a bark shanty, 12 feet square. Hle then chopped ten acres of his land, and built a log house, which now stands on section 1 3, Lincoln Township. During the two and a half months he was engaged in the preceding work, he killed eigh
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deer, seven of them on section 18. When he com- pleted his log house he returned again to New York, for his family, and came by rail to Fentonville, Mich., thence by stage to Saginaw and thence to Alma by a rudely constructed boat, run by the late Gen. Ely. Their voyage hither was a tempestuous and danger- ous one. The boat was upset and the family had a narrow escape with their lives. They were two days in coming from Alma to their new home, with an ox team. He had previously cut out one mile of road south, and he afterwards cut out one mile east, on his farm. They reached the place Dec. 5, 1855.
Mr. Estee helped to erect the first frame building in the county, namely, a saw mill owned by John Reynolds on section 9. Since his arrival here he has disposed of 50 acres of his land, and of the remain- ing 104 acres all but I1 acres is in a fine state of cultivation.
Mr. Estee was a member of the State Constitu- tional Convention of 1867, from the " Midland Dis- trict," which then embraced the original counties of Midland, Isabella, Iosco and Alpena, with the terri- tories attached. He was elected Judge of Probate in 1860, and held that office four years; was the first Township Clerk of Coe, and has been Supervisor of the township 13 years; was the second Supervisor, for three years ; was Chairman of the first Board of Supervisors, and was a member of the Board when this county was attached to Midland for two years, and removed the county seat to Mt. Pleasant, driving the first stake at that place; has also been Justice of the Peace eight years; Notary Public for a time, and for six years he was President of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Gratiot and Isabella Counties. In the olden time he belonged to what was known as the " Abolitionist " party, and has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He and his wife are both members of the Christian Church.
He was married in Eden, Erie Co., N. Y., Oct. 24, 1848, to Miss Carrie E., daughter of Linus and Esther M. (Van Dusen) Dole, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. Mrs. E. was born in Eden, Sept. 13, 1825. They are the parents of five children, namely : Linus D., Mary E., Free and Perry H., Jr., living, and Hattie M., who died Oct. 12, 1863, nearly ten years of age.
The portraits of Mr. Estee and his estimable wife are given on previous pages. Those who have seen
this blooming county develop from swampy forests into a prosperous, well-inhabited region, through the labors of such men as P. H. Estee, will esteem this work the more highly for these permanent reminders of their familiar features.
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m. A. M. Hummel, farmer on section 12, Broomfield, is a son of Gustav and Sophia (Fick) Hummel, natives of Prussia. (See sketch of Theodore Hummel.) He was born Dec. 18, 1855, in Prussia, and came with his parents to America in 1869. He has lived with them continuously to the present time, for three years in Oakland County and since 1872 in this county.
In 1880 he was married to Louisa Newman, who was born April 30, 1858, in Prussia, and died Oct. 28, 1883, leaving two children,-Lena M., born Aug. 23, 1881, and Charles T., Oct. 27, 1883. Mrs. H. was the daughter of Charles and Louisa Newman, natives of Prussia, and now living in Ionia, this State.
Mr. Hummel is politically a Republican. He has been Treasurer of his township two terms, and is now holding that office. He has also been Moderator of his school district. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
ewis Priest, farmer, section 14, Fremont Township, was a son of Dyer and Julia (Todd) Priest. The former was bom in Maryland, in 1817, and the mother in Ohio in 1820. The father follows the occupation of a farmer and is at present residing in Hillsdale County, this State. The mother died in Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co., Dec. 4, 1878.
Lewis Priest, the subject of this notice, was born Aug. 30, 1839, in Licking Co., Ohio. At the age of 21 years he enlisted in Co. H, First Mich. Sharp- shooters, which was assigned to the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court- House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and others, and was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee, April 9, 1865. After passing through the war and receiving no
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wound of a serious nature, he was honorably dis- charged, in the city of Detroit, April 10, 1865.
After his discharge from the service he returned to the parental homestead in Hillsdale County, this State, remaining with his parents until the fol- lowing year, when he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Baker, the date of their wedding being Feb. 2, 1866. She was a daughter of Josiah and Rachel A. (English) Baker. The father was born Aug 10, 1820, in Maryland, and the mother in Lick- ing Co., Ohio, Aug. 27, 1827. The father followed the occupation of a farmer, and is still engaged in that pursuit ; and the mother died in Defiance Co., Ohio, Dec. 27, 1863. Louisa, the daughter, was born June 10, 1846, in Licking Co., Ohio.
The husband and wife were the parents of three children, namely : George A., Dire Allen and Attie O. Mr. Priest came to this county in 1874 and locat- ed on 80 acres of land on section 14. He had faith in the future development of the country and devot- ed his time and energy to the clearing and improving of his land; and, as a proof that "honest effort brings reward," he now has 50 acres of his land in a good state of cultivation and comfortable necessary build- ings.
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