USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 27
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
He was married April 13, 1866, to Mary A. Ham- mond, daughter of Carmi and Mary A. (Willett) Hammond. She was born July 20, 1846, in Oak- land County. Her father was a native of Vermont and died in the township of Coldwater. Her mother was born in New York, and died in Clinton Co., Mich. The nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Forbes were born as follows : Isolina M., Nov. 18, 1867 ; L J, Feb. 16, 1868 (died Nov. 11, 1880) ; L V, April 30, 1869; Wm. H., July 28, 1871; Lizzie E., Jan. 24: 187 3 ; Alfred J., July 16, 1875 (died Nov. 8, 1880); Nora A., Sept. 2, 1876; Effie M., April 2, 1881; Myrtie, March 26, 1883. Mrs. Forbes is one of ten children -six sons and four daughters-born to her parents.
Mr. Forbes is a Democrat in political connection. He has held the office of Supervisor of his township three terms, has been Treasurer seven years and Highway Commissioner two years.
ewis Stringer, farmer, scction 9, Lincoln Township, was born in Norfolk Co., Ont., March 3, 1843, of American ancestry ex- tending back into Scotland and Germany. His mother died in 1877; his father is still liv- ing, in that dominion, having been in earlier life a farmer.
Young Lewis was 18 years old when he set out for Michigan, to work as a common laborer in the lumber woods. In February, 1868, he settled upon 80 acres where he still resides, and has improved
40 acres, erected a fine barn, etc. This place was an unbroken forest when he came.
In political matters Mr. Stringer is counted among the Republicans. In his township, he has held the office of Drain Commissioner and School Assessor two terms.
He was first married in his native county in Ontario, Jan. 7, 1867, to Miss Ellen V. Ryersee, who was born in the same county, Dec. 12, 1840, and died at her home in this county, July 30, 1880. She had two children, Dexter D. and Ada A. Jan. 29, 1882, Mr. S. again married, this time Mrs. Mary S. Austin, nee Banister, a native of Woodhouse Township, Norfolk Co., Ont., where she was born March 29, 1846, and came to this county in 1882. She is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
& slark H. Sutherland, merchant at Clare, was born in Deerfield Township, Living- ston Co., Mich., Sept. 9, 1852. When he was only two years old, his father, a black- smith, removed to Genesee County; and here Clark lived with his father until 1870. Go- ing in that year to Ithaca, he was for one year em- ployed as clerk in the store of John Jeffry. Next he was engaged as salesman for the Monroe (Mich.) Nursery, and was on the road for three years. In the spring of 1874 he came to Clare County and purchased 40 acres of wild land in Hayes Township. Here he farmed for 18 months, after which he worked a short time in a saw-mill.
In the fall of 1875 he came to Clare and with his father started a blacksmith shop. He continued in this work until July, 1876, when he began to read law with E. D. Wheaton, an attorney of Clare. He studied until January following, when he assumed the duties of the double office of County Clerk and Register of Deeds, to which he had been elected. He served the county with credit for three terms, or six years. Immediately after the expiration of his official life, he established a hardware store at Clare, in company with Henry Trevidick, with a stock worth $3,000. They do an annual business of $10,000.
He was married at Clare, May 6, 1877, to Miss Rose B. Alger, a native of Ontario, Can. She was
290
ISABELLA COUNTY.
born July 25, 1858, and came to this county when quite young. Her three children are all living : Otho M., born March 21, 1878; Roy L., June 6, 1880 ; and Edwin C., March 3, 1882. Mrs. Sutherland is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. S. is a member of Farwell Lodge, No. 335, F. & A. M., and Harrison Lodge, No. 331, I. O. O. F. He is now President of the Village Council of Clare. In politi- cal affiliation he is a Democrat.
Cornelius Bogan, merchant and Postmaster at Calkinsville, Isabella Township, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Dec. 4, 1833. When 13 years of age he was apprenticed by his father to a flax dresser, and remained at that vocation for three years, until he was 16. On arriving at that age, he joined the English regular army and served with it four years. During that time he was engaged in the Caffre war. At the expiration of four years he left the service, his term of enlistment having expired, and came to this country. He arrived in the New World April 7, 1852, and came almost direct to Osceola Township, Livingston County, this State. Here he followed the occupation of a farmer for three years and then went to Wayne County, where he was engaged in farming and burning charcoal until the year 1861. That year he moved to Washtenaw County, and was there occupied in "job ditching " until the breaking out of the late war.
No sooner had the news flashed along the wires "that Sumter had been fired on," and a call was made for strong hands and loyal hearts to battle for the perpetuity of the Nation's flag, than Mr. Bogan offered his services. He enlisted in Co. E., Seventh Mich. Vol. Cav., and was assigned with his company to the Army of the Potomac. After his discharge, in 1862, he joined the construction corps and was engaged in East Tennessee and Georgia, until the close of the war.
After the war Mr. Bogan came to Washtenaw County, this State, where he remained until the fall of the same year and then came to this county and purchased 200 acres of land in Vernon Township. He entered on the task of improving and cultivating this land. He improved 50 acres of it and erected
thereon a good residence, and then sold it and went to Calkinsville. At that place he engaged in the mercantile business, and has continued the same to the present time.
Mr. Bogan was one of the first settlers of Vernon Township. He helped to organize the same and was elected the first Township Clerk, which office he held for two years. He was afterward elected Supervisor and held that position for five terms. He also held all the minor offices of the township and gave general satisfaction in each.
Mr. Bogan was first married at Manchester, Eng., Aug. 13, 1851, to Miss Ellen Farrell, a native of Ire- land, where she was born about the year 1833. She was the mother of seven children to Mr. Bogan, five of whom are living: Edward, born Nov. 21, 1853; Cornelius, May 6, 1856; Margaret, Dec. 8, 1858; Mary, June 5, 1865 ; and Lydia Nov. 7, 1867. The deceased are : Ellen, born July, 31, 1861, died July 27, 1866; and John, born Aug. 5, 1863, died July 25, 1868.
Mrs. Bogan departed this life at her home in Calk- insville, May 23, 1880, leaving a host of friends and relatives to mourn her loss. She was a good wife, a kind and a loving mother.
In April, 1881, in Saginaw, Mr. Bogan was a sec- ond time married, choosing for his life partner Mrs. Mercy A. Miller (nee Curtis.) She is a native of Ontario, Can., where she was born in 1858. She is the mother of two children by her former husband (B. Curtiss),-Jeannette and Frank.
Mr. Bogan is a Democrat in politics, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace and Notary Public for a considerable length of time. He is a member of the Order of Masonry, Lodge No. 305, at Mt. Pleasant, and is an esteemed and respected citizen of his township.
eorge B. Alger, farmer on section 15, Ver- non Township, was born in Northumber- land Co., Can., June 11, 1847, and lived in his native county on his father's farm until 16 years old, when he went to Houston Co., Minn. After a time he returned to Canada and spent two years there, when he came to St. Clair, this State, and with a brother enlisted in the
291
ISABELLA COUNTY.
army, enrolling in Co. H, Ist Conn. Heavy Art. He was at the storming of the gun-boats on the James River, and was also present at Lee's surrender. He was honorably discharged Oct. 10, 1865.
Returning to St. Clair County in 1867, he and his father and a brother came to this county, locating on 380 acres of land on section 15, Vernon Township. The two sons afterwards removed to Kansas and for two months carried on farming in Osborne County. Thence they went to Colorado, and then returned to Isabella County. He bought 80 acres on section 2, and in 1875, selling this, he bought his father's homestead of 80 acres. He has since added greatly to the value of the place by making improvements.
He was married March 25, 1875, in St. Clair County, to Miss Eva Ledsworth, who was born in Ontario in 1855, and died at her home in Clare, April 5, 1877, leaving one daughter, Cora, born June 16, 1876. He was again married, in Clare, March 18, 1880, to Miss Maggie Murdock, born in New Bruns- wick in 1860. She died in Vernon Township in March, 1881, leaving a son, George, born March 1, 1881. He married his present wife April 18, 1882, being united with Miss Ann Jane Greenaway, who was born Jan. 9, 1852, in Ontario, and came to this State in the spring of 1881. She has had one child, Morley, born March 22, 1883, and died Dec. 6, 1883.
Mr. A. is a member of Clare Lodge, No. 333, I. O. O. F He is politically a Democrat, and has held the office of Township Clerk for two years, being the present incumbent.
S amuel C. Colley, farmer, section 34, Cold- water Township, was born Nov. 26, 1841, in China, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and is the son of Charles and Polly (Chase) Colley. They were both natives of the State of New York. His mother died in August, 1841. His father was twice married, and lives in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. The issue of the first marriage was two sons, both now living in Isabella County. Five children were born of the second marriage, three of whom are deceased.
Mr. Colley became the master of his own fortunes at the age of 20 years, and passed the first summer thereafter as a farm laborer, working by the month.
The civil war broke out about the time he engaged in his opening struggle with independent life, and, as soon as his summer's labors drew to a termination, he resolved to enter the military service of the United States. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the 78th N. Y. Vol. Inf., and in 1863 his regiment was con- solidated with the 102d N. Y. Inf. The command was assigned to the 12th Corps in the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Colley was wounded twice at the battle of Chancellorsville, one bullet passing through the right lung and another striking him under his left arm. Both bullets passed through to the shoulder blade. He lay on the field until the third day after he was wounded, when he was taken prisoner, and was placed in a field hospital. He was paroled two weeks later, and went to Acquia Creek hospital, go- ing thence a short time after to the Chestnut Hill hospital. He was next transferred to the Convales- cent Hospital in Virginia, and as soon as sufficiently recovered he joined his command at Raccoon Moun- tain. The regiment proceeded to Stevenson, Ala., where its main body re-enlisted. The surgeon re- jected Mr. Colley, and he was mustered out Oct. 31, 1864, at Atlanta, Ga.
Immediately after his discharge he came to Barry Co., Mich., and bought 40 acres of unimproved land, where he entered upon the work of the pioneer. He resided there nearly two years, when he sold out and entered a claim of 80 acres of land in Coldwater Township. The tract was wholly unimproved, and the pioneer experiences were as severe and full of privation as are in the records of others that have been transcribed a countless number of times. Mr. Colley's arrival in the township was preceded by but one individual, Harry Brubaker, but he did not bring his family until after Mr. Colley came. Prices of provisions at the points where they were to be ob- tained were fabulous. Pork was 30 cents a pound, and flour sold at $22 per barrel. The only means of locomotion were furnished by ox teams, and the settlers were obliged to obtain all their supplies from Mt. Pleasant and Millbrook, traveling thither with oxen and camping out over night in the woods. One of his first crops was millet, which he sold for $40 per ton, and bought potatoes for $2 a bushel. Dur- ing the first winter after their arrival they sold a piece of land in the southern part of the State. The nearest official by whom the papers could be made out lived at Millbrook, 18 miles distant. The ox
292
ISABELLA COUNTY.
team had been sent away to be kept through the win- ter, as they had no feed. Mr. and Mrs. Colley put their baby in a hand-sled and walked to Millbrook, in order to conclude their business engagement. It was midwinter and the journey was most wearisome. Mrs. Colley became so fatigued that she sat down on the sled with her little child in her arms, and her husband drew the double burden to enable her to recover her strength and obtain a little rest.
Mr. Colley is a Republican in political faith and action, and has been prominent in the affairs relating to the progress of the township since he became a resident. He has served two terms as Justice of the Peace and one term as Township Treasurer, in which office he is now serving.
Mr. Colley was married July 25, 1865, to Lucia M. Harper. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Delilah P. (Chase) Harper, and was born Dec. 10, 1845. Mr. Harper's family included 13 children, nine of whom are living. Both parents are still alive and reside in Isabella County in the near vicinity of their daughter. The record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Colley is as follows: Charles F., born Ang. 7, 1866; Lloyd Clayton, July 26, 1871; Guy G., Nov. 5, 1875; Walter Eugene, Jan. 13, 1882; Eva, Aug. 5, 1876 (died March 6, 1877); Iva, Feb. 7, 1878 (died April 5, 1878) ; Lloyd David, Sept. 19, 1868 (died Aug. 5, 1871); Myron, July 14, 1879 (died Sept. 16, 1879).
illiam Ross, general merchant at Clare, was born in the town of Mentz, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1841, and lived in his native place until 1861, with his parents. His father, Hon. Giles Ross, came to this State and located in Livingston County, where he still re- sides, at the advanced age of 70. He has held various local offices, and has been Representative in the Legislature two terms. His wife, A. Melvina (Forshee) Ross, is also living.
At the age of 13, the subject of this biography en- tered Auburn Academy, and took a course of five years, academic and collegiate. He lived with his parents on the home farm until 1872, when he came to Clare as State Road Superintendent, his father being a contractor. At that time the main street
had only been "logged out ;" wolves and deer were plentiful in the woods around, and were often seen in the town; and there were but three mercantile establishments. His brother owned one of these,- a general store, and here he worked while he erected a building for himself. He often worked at night. He started first a flour and feed store, and three years later commenced the sale of general merchan- dise, on Main Street. He has done an annual busi- ness of $22,000. He owns a fine frame residence, and has in various ways contributed towards the building up of his town.
He was married June 1, 1865, in Hartland, Living- ston Co., Mich., to Miss Laurie A. Smith, who was born in that county about September, 1840. She re- ceived a good education, finishing at the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and followed teaching as an oc- cupation until her marriage. The following chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross are living : Junius, Derward, Giles and Charles (twins) and Maud. Willie and Maud are the names of two who died.
Mrs. R. is a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. R. is politically independent, and was the first Trustee of the village.
homas J. Root, farmer on section 29, Union Township, owning 100 acres on the eastern part of the northeast quarter of section 29, is a son of Collins and Hannah (Parker) Root, and was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, May 29, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm and followed agriculture in Ohio until December, 1870, when he came to Union Township, this county, and bought his present farm, ten acres of which were then cleared. He now has a fine farm, with 80 acres under cultivation, a valuable orchard, substantial barn and other improvements.
He intends to make a specialty of fine sheep, and has already 79 head, including 25 merinos. He takes an interest in horse-flesh also, and owns five good colts, besides a fine stallion sired by Henry Clay, Jr. At the Mt. Pleasant fair of 1883, he took two prizes for a span of roadsters, one aged two years and the other 13 years. At St. Louis, he took first prize for the two-year old as a roadster, and a second prize for his stallion.
293
ISABELLA COUNTY.
He was married in Andover Township, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 7, 1864, to Miss Martha C. Butler, daughter of George and Ruth E. (Cochran) Butler. She was born in the same locality where she lived until marriage, April 21, 1840. Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Root, all are living but one. Lena E. was born in Andover, June 26, 1865 ; Lem- uel J., April 10, 1868; Gertie, in Union Township, this county, April 5, 1870; Clinton L., July 29, 1874; Nina P., July 27, 1873; Claudie E., April 4, 1878; Bessie, and an infant which died unnamed, Aug. II, 1882.
Mr. R. and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been Highway Commis- sioner for two years, and is the present incumbent.
He enlisted Jan. 10, 1861, at Meadville, Pa., in Co. I, Tenth Pa. Vol. Inf., as a private under Capt. Ayer. He enlisted for " three years or the war," but was taken with erysipelas and fever at White-House Landing, in front of Richmond, and was discharged at Newark, N. J., Dec., 13, 1862, on account or disa- bility. June 18, 1864, at Galena, Ill., he again enlisted, in Co. C, 140th Ill. Vol. Inf. He held the appoint- ment of Third Sergeant, and served six months, fighting in a number of skirmishes with the guerrillas in Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi. He was finally discharged at Chicago, Oct. 27, 1864.
ames M. O'Brien, farmer on section 22, Vernon Township, was born in Ireland, in December, 1827, and at the age of 15 came with his sister to New Brunswick, where he lived for five years. Thence he went to the State of Maine, and three years later he came to Ontario, where he operated a saw-mill until 1865. In the spring of that year he came to Sagi- naw, and in March, 1867, he settled on 80 acres of wild land in this county. Here they had many thrilling pioneer experiences and suffered many pri- vations incident to a life in a new country. Deer, foxes, bears, wolves and other animals were often near the house. Supplies could not be purchased nearer than 12 miles away, and extortionate prices were charged for the necessities of life. Meat frequently sold at 25 cents per pound. Mr. O'Brien has now
improved about half his farm, which includes a fine orchard, six acres in extent.
In December, 1846, at St. John's, N. B., he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Sullivan, who was born in that city March 2, 1833. Nine children have been added to the household, seven of whom are now living. Their record is as follows: Bar- tholomew, born Aug. 12, 1847 ; Simon, Aug. 3, 1853; Anna, Jan. 17, 1856; Frank, May 5, 1857 ; Mary, April 1, 1859; Irwin, May 11, 1865 ; Margaret, July 1, 1869. The deceased were Catherine, born March 2, 1851, and died Feb. 17, 1868; and James, born in January, 1855, and died Aug. 19, 1877.
Mr. O'Brien is politically a Democrat. Ile bas held various local offices in his township.
hineas J. Jakeway, carpenter and joiner, section 6, Lincoln Township, was born on the site of Saratoga, N. Y., May 4, 1812, when but a few log huts comprised the build- ings of the place. When 14 years of age he was apprenticed to Chauncey Kidney, of Saratoga, to learn his trade; in 1828 he went with Mr. K. to Rochester, N. Y., remaining with him in his employ- ment; at 21 he was made foreman, with the promise that, if he remained faithful, he should come into possession of all his master's property at his death, which provision was carried out, the property amount- ing to $5,000. After the death of Mr. Kidney, Mr. Jakeway continued his trade in Buffalo, N. Y.
July 4, 1832, at Avon, Livingston Co., N. Y., he married Euphemia Kerr, a native of Newark, N. J. The following year he moved to Calhoun Co., Mich., and completed some mills and bridges which had been contracted for previous to Mr. Kidney's death. Then he did some work in Branch County, while making his home in Calhoun County, in which latter place his wife died, in 1835, leaving two children, Calvin and Cynthia, both of whom now reside in Wyoming Co., N. Y. In 1840 he built his last flour- ing mill, the first erected in Saginaw City, Mich. He then was in Buffalo, N. Y., until 1851, when he came to Detroit Mich., and built the residence of the noted millionaire, Capt. E. B. Ward.
Next, he moved to Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., where, Oct. 10, 1858, for his second wife, he married
tée
ISABELLA COUNTY.
294
Mrs. Harriet E. Chapman, nee Edwards, who was born in Covington, Genesee Co., N. Y., Dec. 16, 1827, resided in Ohio from 1840 to 1854, and since that time in this State. By her first marriage her children were, Adelia, Henrietta J., Martha A., Seldon and John,-the second and third of whom are married and reside in Lincoln Township, this county, and the two latter are deceased. By the present marriage the children are Miles and Fred J.
July 4, 1861, Mr. Jakeway enlisted in Co. A, First Mich. Vol. Inf., in the Army of the Potomac, and was taken prisoner in July, 1862, during the seven- days battle at Gaines' Mill. After a confinement in Libby prison for five weeks, he was exchanged, and he was finally discharged at the hospital at Wash- ington, D. C., by Dr. Starr, in the fall of 1862. In December, 1863, he re-enlisted, in the Sixth Heavy Artillery, in the Department of the Gulf, under Gen. Banks. On his discharge, Sept. 5, 1865, he went to Ann Arbor, Mich.
In February, 1866, he came to this county and bought 40 acres where he still resides. He has con- tinued to work at his trade, having built most of the houses in Mt. Pleasant up to 1875. In 1874, his leg was mashed, in the erection of J. Q. A. Johnson's block. He erected the first self-supporting bridge across the Chippewa. Most of his land is improved, by his sons.
In regard to national issues Mr. Jakeway votes with the Democratic party.
enry H. Graves, attorney at Mt. Pleasant, was born Jan. 12, 1847, in Warsaw, Ky. He is a son of Lorenzo and Virginia (Hamp- ton) Graves. His father was an attorney and died Feb. 13, 1873, at Warsaw. The mother is a native of Kentucky and resides at Mt. Pleasant with her daughter, Mrs. C. E. Westlake. On the breaking out of the Southern insurrection the family removed to Cincinnati, as they were not in sympathy with the rebellion. Two daughters, now Mrs. J. W. Long and Mrs. John B. Doughty, were placed at school in the Oxford Female College, at Oxford, Ohio, and Mrs. Westlake at a preparatory school. Mr. Graves, of this sketch, only son, was sent to the Miami University at Oxford. After the
war the family returned to Warsaw, where they re- sided until the death of the father, when, in 1873, they removed to Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Graves read for his profession with his father and became thoroughly familiar with office work under his direction. Later, he entered the Law De- partment of Louisville University, where he grad- uated in 1869. He was admitted to practice Feb. 8, 1865, when but 18 years of age, and prosecuted the business of an active attorney until he received his degree. In the same fall he came to Detroit and en- tered the office of his brother-in-law, J. W. Long, then Indian agent. In 1871 he came to Mt. Pleasant and opened an office for the practice of his profession, combining this with dealings in real estate. He was associated with S. J. Scott in the practice of law from 1873 to 1876, and from that date until June, 1882, pursued his duties singly. He then became associa- ted with Cyrus E. Russell, which relation existed un- til March 4, 1884, when his partner withdrew.
Mr. Graves has seen much public service in the affairs of his county. He was appointed Supervisor of Isabella Township in November, 1871, to fill an unexpired term. He was also Highway Commissioner of that township one term. In 1872 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Isabella County, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Albert Fox, and dis- charged the duties of the position until Jan. 1, 1874. In 1876, and also in 1878, he was the candidate on the Democratic ticket, in opposition to S. W. Hopkins, for the position of Representative in the Legislature of Michigan. He was appointed Village Attorney in 1883, and re-appointed in 1884. In 1880 he was ap- pointed Chief of the Fire Department, which posi- tion he has filled continually to the present time.
He was editor and proprietor of the Isabella Times during the years 1877-8, and sold his journalistic in- terests to Major Long. He managed the paper in the interests of the National Greenback party, and its later proprietor has converted the sheet into a Re- publican journal.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.