USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 24
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At the age of 18 he was married to Miss Amy Marsh, a native of the Empire State. She possessed an intelligent, well-trained mind, and was of great assistance to her husband in improving his scholar- ship. Becoming imbued with the idea that he was divinely called to preach the Gospel, he bought books as fast as he could afford them, and improved his leisure hours in study. After some years he was licensed as an exhorter in Ohio, and several years later he was ordained as a minister. Beginning at Bucyrus, in the Buckeye State, he labored in the cause of Christianity for a number of years on both sides of the Ohio River. In the fall of 1860 he turned his course northward, and selected Isabella County as his home. Here he devoted the remain- der of his life to his chosen calling. He was the father of Methodism in this section, and by unani- mous desire his name, together with that of the first Presiding Elder of this Conference, is placed in the memorial window of the handsome Methodist Epis- copal church at Mt. Pleasant. On his first arrival
he bought 80 acres in Coe Township, which he after- wards sold, and he purchased another tract of equal size in Chippewa. He disposed of half this land, and at the time of his death 20 acres were in culti- vation. He remained up to the close of his life faith- ful and enthusiastic in his ministry, and nothing ordinary would prevent his promptly filling his numerous appointments, to do which required fre- quent long journeys on foot, over logs and tree-tops and swamps. His health gradually failed, but he made no pause in his work until about six months previous to his death. His departure to his final and enduring rest occurred at two o'clock in the morning of Oct. 17, 1882.
By his first marriage he had five children, of whom three survive. Their names are Ansel L., Huldah M. and George N. His wife dying Aug. 20, 1854, he was again married March 20, 1855, in Wheat- land, Hillsdale Co., Mich., to Mrs. Susanna Mc- Dowel, daughter of John and Susanna Kinzie, who were natives of Switzerland. She was born at Berne, in that rocky republic, and was first married to John McDowel, in Seneca Co., Ohio, by whom she bore two children. Of these, Otto survives. Mr. Mc- Dowel died in Canada, at the hands of an assassin. To Mr. Sheldon's second marriage there were given seven children, of whom the five survivors are named Charles O .. Eugene P., Jesse F., Franklin B. and Alice R. Two died in infancy.
In Mr. Sheldon's portrait, which appears on a pre- vious page, our readers will recognize one of nature's noblemen, a man who was as universally beloved and respected as any pioneer of this county, and one whose true worth cannot be too highly lauded, or whose memory cannot be too carefully cherished by the future generations.
ames Armstrong, farmer on section 6, Ver- non 'Township, was born în Peel Co., Ont., Aug. 13, 1844, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Baker) Armstrong, natives of Ire- land and Canada.
The parents were married in Peel Co., Ont., and came to Michigan in March, 1869, locating in Vernon Township, this county, among its first set- tlers. The father was for many years a school-teach-
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er in Ontario, and taught one district school 14 terms in succession. He died in Vernon, Nov. 12, 1875, aged 66; the mother lives with her son, Irvine, and is now in her 62d year. Their family numbered 12, of whom 11 are alive, and all residents of this State. James is the eldest.
He lived at home until 16 years old, alternately at- tending school and working on the farm. At that age he commenced to work out, and he was in the employ of various neighbors until 24 years old. In May, 1868, he came to Michigan and secured 95 acres on section 6, Vernon. He at once set about making a home, clearing his farm and raising grain, which product was in steady demand among lumbermen and railroad contractors. He has now 39 acres im- proved, out of the 50 acres which he retains. Losing his health in a measure, from malarious influences, he followed the carpenter's trade from 1871 to 1874, in which latter year he resumed farm work.
He was married at Stanton, this state, Nov. 21, 1876, to Miss Louise J. Hinds, daughter of Ansel C. and Emily J. (Pepper) Hinds, natives of Pennsylva- nia, and of English descent. Mr. Hinds was by oc- cupation a farmer, and while chopping a tree in Montcalm County, this State, a dead tree near by fell upon his head, producing instant death. Mrs. Hinds now lives at Stanton. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Bradford Co., Pa., Oct. 10, 1858, and came with her parents to Montcalm Co., when five yearsold. She was educated at the public schools of Stanton, and lived in that county until her marriage. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. A., two of whom are living. These are Clarence R., born July 9, 1879; and Emily F., born Aug. 30, 1881. Maud was born Jan. 1, 1878, and died the same day.
Mrs. A. is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Armstrong is politically a Republican, and has for three years been Justice of the Peace.
illiam R. Robbins, merchant, Salt River, is a son of Marcus and Amy (Robinson) Robbins, the former a native of Wethers- field, Conn., and the latter of Rhode Island. They first settled in Washington Co., N. Y., where he (Marcus) followed the occupation of joiner, and resided until his death. After the latter
event Mrs. R. went to live with her daughter in the same county, where she remained until her death. In this family were ten children, nine daughters and one son.
William R., the only son, and subject of this biographical notice, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Aug. 24, 1806, and remained at home until of age, obtaining a common-school education. Then, for one year, he carried on his father's farm, on shares. Next he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he prosecuted nearly 40 years. His last job in that line was the erection of the Baptist church at Salt River, striking the first and the last blow in the building of that edifice. From Washing- ton Co., N. Y., he moved to Milwaukee Co., Wis., where he worked at his trade one summer. In the fall of 1855 he came to this county and settled on 320 acres of wild land, on section 21, Coe Township, which he had purchased the preceding spring. After residing there five years, he sold the place and bought another 320 acres, on sections 16 and 17 In 1874, he sold this and bought six acres on section 16, where he built a frame house, which he still owns. He also owns the building which he occupies, and carries on a flourishing business in general merchan- dise.
Mr. Robbins has held the office of Supervisor of Coe Township for three terms, Township Clerk three years, Justice of the Peace two terms, and Constable for a short time. He was appointed Notary Public soon after his settlement in this county, which office he now holds. He was appointed Postmaster under President Buchanan's administration in the spring of 1856-the first Postmaster in this county- and held the office for 14 years, when he resigned. From the foregoing date one may observe that Mr. R. is a very early pioneer of Isabella County ; and as a citizen he has been very prominent. During the panic and famine of 1857, he was appointed agent for the county to solicit aid for the people, and bonds of the county to the amount of $1,500 were placed in his hands for disposal. Only one bond, of $500, however, could be negotiated, but the proceeds pre- vented the people from starving until their crops could be harvested. While attending to the above business, Mr. R. bore his own expenses. In religious matters he is a prominent member of the Baptist Church, and in political affairs he is a Republican.
Mr. Robbins was first married in Granville, Wash-
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ington Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1857, to Miss Catherine, daughter of James and Catherine (Wiley) Grant, who were of German and Irish ancestry. Mrs. R. was born in Granville, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1808, and died June 22, 1847. The children by this marriage were Cordelia C., James W., Mary E., Sidney, Amy and William R. James W. died in Dover, Del., June 27, 1876. The remainder of the children are married and settled in life. Mr. Robbins was again married, in Rensselaer County, N. Y., Nov. ro, 1847, to Miss Lydia, daughter of Francis and Sally (Eggleston) Robinson, natives re- spectively of Rhode Island and New York. She died Oct. 7, 1870, in Coe Township, and Mr. R. married for his third wife (in Hampton, Washington Co., N. Y.), Dec. 26, 1870, Miss Juliette, daughter of Thomas Wilson, natives of New York State. She was born Aug. 14, 1828.
heodore Hummel, farmer on section 12 Broomfield Township, is a son of Gustav and Sophia (Fick) Hummel, natives of Prussia. The father was born March 8, 1812, and was a shepherd in the old country. He came to America in the year 1869 and located in Oakland County, this State, where he lived three years. He then came to Isabella County and settled where he now lives, with his son William. His wife was born March 16, 1812.
Their son Theodore was born Feb. 18, 1841, in Prussia, and lived at home until 14 years of age. He then worked by the year as a shepherd for differ- ent parties, until 1869, when he came with his par- ents across the waters. He bought So acres where he at present lives, 50 being now under cultivation.
He was first married in 1865, to Mary Prest, who was born in 1838 and died in 1869. He was again married in 1870, to a sister of his first wife. She was born in 1844 and died in 1877, leaving five children,-Minnie, born June 18, 1871 ; Frank, Sept. 27, 1872; Emma, April 19, 1874; Margaretta, May 27, 1876; William, May 28, 1877 (died in Septem- ber following). His present wife, Fredrica (Fowl- man) Hummel, was born in Macomb Co., Mich., Dec. 2, 1855, the daughter of John and Minnie (Cline) Fowlman, Mr. and Mrs. F. are yet living, in
Macomb County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hummel,-Eddie, Sept. 20, 1878; William, July 28, 1880 ; and Mary, June 2, 1882.
Mr. H. is a Republican and has been Assessor of his school district several terms. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.
ames C. Caldwell, proprietor of Two Rivers Hotel, Deerfield Township. is a son of Moses and Lucy (Hotchkiss) Caldwell, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. After residing a while in the Bay State they lived seven years in Pennsylvania, 20 years in Massachusetts again. a short period in the Keystone State the second time, and settled finally in Oakland Co., Mich, in 1840. He died at the ad- vanced age of 92 years, and she at the age of 86.
The subject of this sketch was born in Worcester Co., Mass., Ang. 2, 1818, received his education at the common school, and at the age of 15 went with his parents to Pennsylvania. In 1840 he came to Michigan and worked a season in Oakland County, then two years in Macomb County, then purchased and carried on for three years a farm in Oakland County, sold, and rented different farms about five years, then rented a farm for seven years in Clinton County, in the meantime purchasing a farm which he owned but a short time, and in the spring of 1863 came to this county and bought a quarter-section of land in Fremont Township, lived there till the fall of 1 878, when he sold and bought a farm of 60 acres in Deerfield Township, on section 10. He now has 38 acres in a state of good cultivation. In May, 1882, he started the Two Rivers Hotel, which he has since kept, except the summer of 1883, when he was visit- ing in Ohio.
Mr. Caldwell was Supervisor of Fremont Town- ship one year, Township Clerk one year, Township Treasurer one year, County Superintendent of the Poor three years, and has held many other offices. In politics he acts with the Republican party, and in social matters he is a member of the Order of Good Templars.
Mr. Caldwell was first married in Macomb Co., Mich., May 14, 1843, to Miss Nancy Russell, a na- tive of New York State, who died Aug. 8, 1877.
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Their five children were, Roscoe M., Arthur B., Irene V., Ada A. and Ella May. The eldest was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor; Ada died when one year old. July 28, 1878, Mr. C. married Mrs. Harriet L. Duttler, widow of Peter Duttler and daughter of Jason Streeter. She died Oct. 16, 1883. Feb. 27, 1884, he married for his present wife Mrs. Sarah Griswold, widow of Robert Griswold and daughter of David and Mary Ann (Thompson) Graves. She has by her first marriage a daughter, Florence, now the wife of Robert Riley, of Cleveland, Ohio.
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arren Wardwell, general farmer and black- smith, section 5, Lincoln Township, was born in Ledyard, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 4, 1831. His parents, Lemuel and Betsey (Whitmore) Wardwell, were natives of New England, of English and Scotch ancestry. Mr. Wardwell, Sr., was a farmer, and died in Scipio, Hills- dale Co., Mich., in February, 1859; and the latter is still living, in Lincoln Township, this county, aged 74 years.
Warren, the subject of this sketch, lived in his native county until nine years old, when the family made a removal to Seneca Co., N. Y. When 17 years old, in 1848, he left home and returned to his native county and for a year and a half followed his trade as blacksmith, which he had learned under the superin- tendence of Levi Elmendorff, at Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., serving as an apprentice two years. While in Cayuga County he worked for Hiram Finch, at Springport. Returning again to Seneca County, he re-engaged himself to Mr. Elmendorff, as a "jour." Afterward he went to Wayne Co., N. Y., and estab- lished a general blacksmith shop, which he con- ducted two years; then he worked as a journeyman two years in Lock Berlin, same county. In January, 1855, he went to Red Creek, Cayuga County, and worked for a Mr. Toole until September, 1856; then he followed his trade until next year at Seneca Falls.
In April, 1858, he came to this State and settled at Litchfield, Hillsdale County, where he worked at blacksmithing for Chauncey Calhoun; from 1859 to 1861 he carried on a shop of his own, and in the fall of the latter year he moved to this county,
" squatting "on a quarter-section of wild land, on section 5, and " homesteading it " in 1863. He was three weeks making the journey to this county, com - ing with three wagon loads of goods. On arriving here there was no building within two miles of him excepting a deserted hunter's shanty, in which he lived three weeks, while erecting a cabin on his own place. The shanty was made of poles and roofed with bark, and was barely large enough to contain them and their goods. The township was yet not organized, and the first permanent settlement was three miles away. It required five days to go to St. John's or Ionia, to secure provisions. He disposed of 80 acres of this place to his brother, to apply on services rendered in the war, and nearly all the re- mainder is improved and in good farming condition. Of the whole original tract he cleared about a hun- dred acres.
Dec. 29, 1849, in Wayne Co., N. Y., Mr. Ward- well married Miss Mary, daughter of Peter and Serena (Scott) McQueen, natives of Wayne Co., N. Y., of English, Dutch and Irish ancestry. Mrs. W. was born also in that county, March 20, 1827. They have no children, but have an adopted daughter, Estella G., who was born Sept. 6, 1869.
Mr. W. was Road Commissioner in 1865-6; in political matters he is a Republican, and, with his wife, is a member of the Christian Church.
Ifred J. Doherty, teacher, real-estate and insurance agent, and present Principal of the public school of Clare, was born in New York city May 1, 1856. His father has been a lumberman most of his life, and, with his wife, now resides in the State of New York. When a child, Alfred came with his parents to Defi- ance Co., Ohio. There and in Paulding County the father followed lumbering extensively and profitably for a number of years, when he moved back to Alle- gany Co., N. Y., where he owns a large farm on the Genesee River.
The subject of this biography was educated in the seminary at Belfast, N. Y., and later in Bonaventura College, where he was graduated in 1876. The fol- lowing year he was married, and for a time afterward he followed farming. He came to Clare, Michigan,
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in 1878, and has since been identified with the his- tory of that growing village. He owns 40 acres in Grant Township, and has one of the finest and best arranged residences in the village, the same costing $3,000. He is a shrewd business man and a com- petent teacher. He has held some school office ever since coming to Clare, has been one of the Board of School Examiners, and County Superintendent of Schools. He has been a member of the Village Council for four years and a Notary Public for some time. Politically, he is an active and influential Republican. He is a member of Clare Lodge, No. 333, I. O. O. F., and is Secretary of the same.
His marriage occurred July 11, 1877, at Belfast, N. Y., to Miss Alice B. Gleason, daughter of Red- ding and Eunice (Scott) Gleason, natives of Vermont and of New England parentage. The father, a farmer, died in 1866. The mother lives now with her daughter, at Clare. Mrs. Doherty lived with her parents in her native county until her mar- riage. She is the mother of three children,-Floyd E., born Feb. 15, 1878; Francis B., March 14, 1880; and Eliza B., March 31, 1883.
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E. Lyon, member of the firm of Hopkins & Lyon, Mt. Pleasant, is a son of David S. and Iva L. (Chase) Lyon; and was born in Knox Co., Ohio, March 21, 1841. He was reared on a farm, received a good common- school education, and also attended the Halcyon Academy at Hartford, Ohio. He taught school 14 terms.
In the fall of 1864 he came to Isabella County and bought 120 acres on section 7, Union Township. He now owns 200 acres, 125 of which are under cul- tivation. The farm is now under the charge of his son-in-law, W. R. Hatch. He has lived in this county since his first coming, except from 1865 to 1869, when he was in the State of Ohio. His three children are Wesley C., on the farm ; Gertie A., wife of W. R. Hatch; and Carrie E., at home.
In the spring of 1871 he was elected Supervisor of Union Township, and in the fall of 1872 he was elected County Clerk, which office he filled five years. During this term he assisted in making a set of abstracts of Isabella County. He has had ten years'
experience in abstract-making, first in the employ- ment of I. E. Arnold, then Arnold & Upton, then Upton & Hance; which firm, and Brown & Seaton, he succeeded in business. Jan. 1, 1883, he formed his present business connection with Hon. S. W. Hopkins, and they now do a large business in real estate, insurance and loans.
erome H. Denslow, farmer on section 18, Sherman, is a son of Jeremiah and Desire (Griffith) Denslow, natives of the State of New York. Jeremiah Denslow was born in 1801, and died in Lenawee Co., Mich., Feb. 13, 1875. His wife was born in 1811, and died in the State of New York, in 1880.
Their son Jerome was born Oct. 4, 1836, in Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y., and at the age of 19 left home, went to Jamestown, N. Y., and worked in a manufac- tory for two years. In 1858 he went to Chicago and was employed by E. Wood in fitting grain crates for use. Returning to New York, he shortly came to Livingston Co., Mich., where he lived four years. During his stay there, Sept. 27, 1859, he was mar- ried to Miss Asenath Savage, who was born Jan. 9, 1834, in Carrollton Township, Genesee Co., N. Y., the daughter of William and Urina (Sprague) Sav- age, natives of New York. Mr. S. was born in 1806 and died in August, 1881, and Mrs. S. was born in 1797 and died in 1841.
Mr. Denslow enlisted in the navy during the late war, and was on the "R. P. Cuyler." His vessel was engaged at Fort Fisher, N. C., and was occupied in cruising along the coast for rebel boats. He was discharged June 7, 1865, at Norfolk, Va., went on board the receiving ship "Constellation," and return- ed to his parents in New York. He soon after re- moved to Lenawee Co., Mich. In 1877 he came to this county and located on section 22, Sherman. A year and a half later, he settled on his present place. He owns 200 acres, of which 30 are improved.
His family includes eight children, born as follows : George H., Sept. 5, 1859; Frederick L., Sept. 20, 1860; Willard G. and William L., Aug. 8, 1863; Myrtle 1., June 5, 1866; Grant H., Oct, 15, 1868; Frank E., May 9, 1871 ; and Viola E., March 3, 1874. Mr. D. was elected Justice of the Peace in 1880,
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and Township Treasurer in 1883. He is the present incumbent of the latter office. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Addison Lodge, No. 157, F. & A. M., at Addison, Lenawee Co., Mich.
imon S. Smith, merchant, Salt River, is a son of Alexander and Susan (Barger) Smith, who were natives of Greene Co., Pa., and moved to West Virginia, where the father was killed by a railroad accident, July 20, 1854. The mother, since re-married, is now a resi- dent of Parkersburg, W. Va. Their family comprised two sons and one daughter.
The eldest son, the subject of this sketch, was born in Greene Co., Pa., Nov. 8, 1840, educated mostly at a private school, and at the age of 14, when his father was killed, he had to commence the battle of life for himself, first engaging as a clerk in a country store for his step-father for a year; was next in the employ of Smith & Barger for nearly a year, and then for a short time in that of Ullom & Owen in West Virginia, then for Miles A. Himan, same State; attended school three months, taught three months, and then, in April, 1861, he bought a stock of goods and began merchandising on his own account. He followed this business about nine months, and soon afterward purchased a farm in West Virginia, which he carried on about two years. He then sold out and moved to the southern part of Virginia and was employed as clerk about ayear. In March, 1865, he formed a partnership with Isaiah Lomon, under the firm name of Lomon & Smith, which continued three years. At the end of the second year they built two stores, and at the end of three years they divided their stock, Mr. S. con- tinuing until September, 1868, when he sold out and came to Isabella County.
Here he was first engaged for a year and a half in mercantile business at Reynolds' Mill. In March, 1870, he removed to Salt River and bought out the stock of H. Struble & Co., but six months afterward : he sold again and went to live on his farm of 107 acres, on section 10, Coe Township. Here he re- mained 12 years, in the meantime purchasing the "Reynolds farm," of 75 acres, and also the grist-mill connected with it. In October, 1881, he moved
again to Salt River and bought out the stock of general merchandise of N. W. Struble, where he now carries on a flourishing business. In 1882 he built an addition to his store and made further improve- ments. In April, 1883, he purchased a two-thirds interest in the Salt River grist-mill, which has a capacity of 150 bushels of wheat per day. Into this mill he transferred the machinery of the Reynolds mill. It is now owned and managed by (S. S.) Smith & (J. B.) Struble.
Mr. Smith has held the office of Highway Com- missioner about two years, and that of School Direc- tor and Moderator. Is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and (with his wife) a prominent mem- ber of the Disciples' Church, being one of the Elders. They were formerly active members of the Baptist Church. In the last mentioned he was Clerk and Deacon, and when they built their house of worship at Salt River he was Chairman of the Building Com- mittee. On national issues he is a Republican.
Mr. Smith was married in Greene Co., Pa., April 6, 1861, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Maria (Roach) Pettit, natives of the same county, who removed in 1851 to West Virginia, where they now reside. Mrs. S. was born in the above county April 13, 1843. A remarkable coincidence of dates in this family's history deserves mention. Mrs. S. was born in April, married in April, and all the three children were born in April; and the same minister that baptized them into the Church also married them.
ester Briggs, Deputy Sheriff of Isabella County, proprietor of the Penobscot House and livery man at Blanchard, is a son of Oris and Adelia (Fields) Briggs. The father was born in 1811, in Steuben Co., N. Y., and the mother was born in the State of Vermont in 1817. The former engaged in agriculture, moved from New York in 1843 to St. Joseph Co., Mich., two years later to Cass County, 18 years later (1867) to Lenawee County, and in 187 3 came to Gratiot County, where he died, in Emerson Township, April 22, 1874. The mother died in 1881, at the home of a daughter in Lenawee County.
The subject of this sketch was born Feb. 5, 1849,
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in St. Joseph Co., Mich., and remained at home until 15. At that early age he enlisted in Co. C, Ninth Ind. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Fourth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment was not in any general engagement, but was in some skirmishes. He was discharged for disability in the fall of 1865, when he returned to his parents, who then lived in Cass County. One year later he went to Lenawee County, where he resided until 1881. Next he lived at St. John's, Clinton County, until 1881, and then for two years at Edmore, after which he came to Blanchard.
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