USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 33
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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
Six years later, in 1875, Mr. Carroll came to this county and purchased 40 acres of land on section 11, Isabella Township. The land was heavily timbered, and by honest industry and energetic effort he has, unaided, placed 30 acres of it in a good state of cultivation.
Mr. Carroll was united in marriage, in Clare, April 5, 1875, to Miss Udella, daughter of John S. and Margaret (Weaver) Skinner, natives of New York and residents of Michigan almost all their lives, in
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which State they both died, the father in Hillsdale and the mother in Branch County. Udella was born in Branch County, Sept. 16, 1858. Her father dying when she was 14 years of age, she was thrown upon the mercies of an unthinking world and compelled to earn her own livelihood. She engaged as a do- mestic, and in that capacity battled against pride and earned her own living until her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are the parents of three chil- dren : John D. K., born July 25, 1876; Genoa S., July 27, 1878; and Thomas F., May 13, 1883. Politically, Mr. Carroll is a "liberal " Democrat. He has held the office of Township Clerk for three terms and Supervisor for five years; and is an esteemed and respected citizen of his township.
rank H. Tyler, M. D., homeopathic physi- cian and surgeon at Mt. Pleasant, was born Aug. 28, 1855, in St. Joseph Co., Mich., on a farm eight miles north of Sturgis. He is a son of Ansel and Harriet (Foote) Tyler, the former a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y., and a farmer all his life, until the past few years, which he has devoted to his lumber interests at Sturgis. The mother was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., and is still living at Sturgis. The parents both came to Michigan with their respective families about 1833 or 1834. Three children were born to them. Dr. Tyler is the eldest; Minnie M. is Pre- ceptress of the High School at Sturgis; Justin R. is the youngest.
Dr. Tyler was reared as a farmer's son, alternating the labors of the summers with winter study, until he was 16 years old, when he went to Evanston and entered the Northwestern University, where he studied two years. He went thence to the State Normal School of Michigan at Ypsilanti. Leaving there, he became a teacher and passed two years in that capacity at Nottawa, after which he began read- ing for his profession in the office of Dr. W. E. Clark, of Three Rivers. In the fall of 1878 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in the spring of 1880, at the Homeopathic College. He passed a year as As- sistant to Dr. Franklin, Professor of Surgery in the College named, and afterwards opened an office at Sturgis, where he remained until he established his
own business at Mt. Pleasant in September, 1883. His practice is popular and extending gradually and permanently in the village and surrounding county. He has the county appointment of Physician for liis district, which comprises the townships of Union, Deerfield, Isabella and Nottawa.
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heodore Hengesbach, farmer, section 3, Deerfield Township, is a son of William and Catherine (Weber) Hengesbach, who were natives of Germany, and was born in Clinton Co., Mich., Sept. 14, 1846, and was educated at the common school. At the age of 15 he began to learn the trade of shoemaker, which he followed until 1880. In March, 1880, he came to Isabella County and settled on a half of section 3, Deerfield Township, which he had pur- chased the previous fall .- He has since disposed of 200 acres, and has about 35 of the remainder under good cultivation. In the summer of 1883 he built a modern residence, which will compare favorably with any in the township.
Aug. 29, 1870, in Clinton Co., Mich., Mr. H. was married to Miss Anna, daughter of John J. and Cath- erine (Miller) Schafer, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. H. was born in the above county, Aug. 15, 1854. The children in this family now are, Tracey, William, Eda C. and Lawrence G .; Catherine, Allie and an infant are deceased. The parents are members of the German Catholic Church, and Mr. H. in political views is independent.
terling A. Hursh is a farmer on section 17 of Wise Township, and was born in Clyde, Wayne Co., N. Y., May 25, 1849. His parents, John M. and Elizabeth (Brown) Hursh, were born respectively in Steuben and Chenango Cos., N. Y. Later in life they came to Michigan and settled in Isabella County. The father died in November, 1877, in Loomis. The mother is a resident of Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Hursh accompanied his parents to the Penin- sular State when but seven years of age. He passed the years of his life previously to the age of 20 years
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in attendance at the common schools and engaged in farming. At the age named he became salesman in a store at Mt. Pleasant, where he remained a year, after which he worked some time in the woods. In the fall of 187 1 he opened a country store at Loomis, in partnership with his father, and continued its management until the summer of 1875, when he went to Fentonville, Genesee Co., Mich., where he engaged 18 months in the hotel business, after which he sold trees about six months. In the spring of 1877 he returned to Loomis, and was engaged in the woods chiefly until 1881, when he bought 120 acres of wild land on sections 17 and 18 of Wise Town- ship. On this he has since lived and pushed the work of clearing and improving. He has placed 30 acres under improvements, and has it all in tillage. In politics Mr. Hursh is a Republican, and has been active in the public welfare of Wise Township since its organization. He held the position of Township Treasurer one year.
He was married at Loomis, Dec. 25, 1873, to Alice G., daughter of James and Charlotte (Bailey) Tubbs. (See sketch of James Tubbs.) She was born June 21, 1853, in Grand Blanc, Genesee Co., Mich. Of this marriage four children have been born, one of whom survives, - James. Eddie L. died when three years old and two children died in infancy.
illiam Horan, lumberman, section 16, Denver Township, is a son of Michael and Rosanna (Donahue) Horan, natives of Ireland. The parents came from the Emerald Isle when quite young, and were married and settled in the Dominion of Canada, where he died, in September, 1881. She survives.
The subject of this biography was born in Canada, Feb. 26, 1850, and lived in the Dominion until 20 years old, engaged in farming. He then went South, where he spent two years in different places. He then lived a year and a half at Marquette, Michigan, and in 1875 came to this county and bought 80 acres in Vernon Township, which he still cultivates. He has 60 acres nicely improved. In the fall of 1883 he removed to Denver Township and bought a saw-mill, which has a capacity of 12,000 feet daily, and em- ploys seven men.
He was married at Mt. Pleasant, May 31, 1876, to Margaret, daughter of Cornelius and Ellen Bogan, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Horan was born in Wash- tenaw Co., Mich., Dec. 8, 1858, and is the mother of four children,-Rose E., Vincent L., Mary, and one yet unnamed.
Mr. H. has been School Inspector in Vernon Township two years, and is politically a supporter of the Democratic party.
ohn Kinney, resident in Clyde Township, St. Clair Co., Mich., was born Oct. 13, 1837, in the township where he now lives. He is a son of Arnold and Laura M. (Babcock) Kinney. The father was born in 1804, in the State of New York and spent his life in agri- culture and lumbering. He came to Clyde Town- ship in 1828, and was among the first of the pioneer settlers of that section of Michigan. His wife fol- lowed him in 1830. She was born in Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1810 and died in Clyde, March 9, 1849. Their family comprised seven children, as follows : Daniel, a carpenter at Grand Rapids; George, who died in infancy ; John, of this sketch; Charles, deceased; Francis, living on the home- stead in Clyde Township; Chester, a resident of Port Huron, Mich .; Laura, deceased. She married Wil- liam Gardner, a farmer of Clyde Township. Two children survive her. Mr. Arnold Kinney died Dec. 8, 1872.
Mr. Kinney, of this sketch, was reared on his fa- ther's farm and trained to the same pursuits. At the age of 12 years he became a valuable assistant in the lumber interests of his father, commencing his career as a lumberman by driving the teams in the woods, and pursuing the business on their own ex- tensive tracts of timber land. He began life on his own responsibility when he was 20 years old and spent the winters of 1860-1 and 1861-2 in lumber- ing in his native township. In the fall of 1863 he came to Mt. Pleasant, where his father had, in 1854, bought 320 acres of land, and on this he spent two winters securing the lumber in part. The land is now included in the east part of Mt. Pleasant, with- in the village corporation. In 1865 he returned to his home in Clyde Township, which he purchased in
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S. A. Setton
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1858. It included 110 acres of land and was partly improved. He sold the place about the year 1867, and a year later purchased 160 acres on section four, in the same township, in which he has since resided. It had been improved to a limited extent. It is now" in a state of advanced improvement and under the best type of cultivation, with 100 acres in tillage and supplied with creditable and valuable farm fixtures. The buildings are of the best order and the or- chards contain fine assortments of fruit. He is the proprietor of two farms situated respectively at Clyde Center and on section 22 in the same township. The first contains 1 30 acres, with 40 acres cleared, on which is located the Custer House, under the control of Jerry Dorsey. The second has 160 acres, with 40 acres under culture. He also owns 40 acres of land adjoining Mt. Pleasant village and 100 lots within the corporation and situated on Kinney's Addition. He holds, besides, a half interest in lands in Wise Township, which includes a claim of 1,000 acres of wild land.
Mr. Kinney is at present pushing his lumber in- terests in Cummings Township, Oscoda County, where he was similarly engaged in 1883. He em- ploys a working force which includes about a score of assistants.
He is intimately connected with the history of the village of Mt. Pleasant. He opened the first regu- lar bona-fide store in 1864, by buying a stock of goods of Henry Dunton, who was selling them from his house. John Carter constructed a building, which Mr. Kinney rented and utilized as a store. He continued the management of the enterprise from the spring of 1864 until the spring of 1865, hauling his goods from Saginaw with a four-ox team. He became Postmaster Jan. 1, 1864, and officiated in that capacity until March 1, 1865: When he as- sumed the position, the office had just been removed from a point two miles south of Mt. Pleasant, on "Blunt."
Mr. Kinney belongs to the National Greenback party in political affiliation. He served as Town- ship Treasurer of Clyde in the years of 1874-5-6 and has officiated in most of the local school offices. He has taken an active and substantial interest in the educational affairs of his native township. He was nominated in 1878 for County Treasurer on the Na- tional ticket and again in 1880, but failed to secure
the election in both instances. In 1881 (spring) he was nominated for Congressman, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of O. D. Conger, running against Cyrenus B. Black, Democratic nominee, and John T. Rich, Republican candidate. His party claimed the election through mistake by the oppo- sition, but he made no effort to secure the position. In 1882 he was nominated for Representative on the Fusion ticket and made the canvass against Edward Vincent. He refused to have his name used, but he was placed in nomination despite his protest, and making no special effort, he was defeated by only about 100 votes.
Mr. Kinney was married July 31, 1858, in Clyde, to Margaret W. Atkins. She was born Sept. 14, 1838, in Glasgow, Scotland. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Kinney were born as follows : Arnold, July, 3, 1860 ; Nettie, Nov. 10, 1862; Laura, April 22, 1865 ; Bertha L., Sept. 9, 1867 ; Marion, Feb. 12, 1872.
A. Letson, farmer, blacksmith and mer- chant, section 22, Coldwater Township, was born July 8, 1842, near Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio. He is a son of Freeborn and Esther (Rounds) Letson. His father was born in Rhode Island. His mother was a native of New York. Both parents died in Cold- water, Branch Co., Mich. They emigrated to St. Joseph Co., Mich., in 1855, where the father pur- chased an improved farm.
Mr. Letson found himself the master of his own fortunes at the age of 18, and went to work in an ax factory, where he spent two years. He then engaged as a farm assistant, working by the month for two years, when he bought 20 acres of land about two miles from the city of Coldwater, in Branch Co., Mich. The entire tract was in timber, which he converted into fuel and sold in the city. When this was accomplished he went to Houghton Lake, and, in company with a partner, Frank Sixbey, spent five months in trapping and hunting, taking bear, marten, beaver, otter, fishers and wolves. At the close of the season, they took an Indian canoe and carried their furs to Muskegon, 300 miles distant. Their labors netted them $500 each, but were attended
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with some inconveniences and privations, the sever- est of which was their entire removal from the society of white men.
Mr. Letson next spent a summer in the West, visit- ing Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, after which he spent two or three months in Fulton Co., Ohio. He then came to White Pigeon, Mich., where he rented a farm for two years, after which he came to Isabella Co., Mich. During his stay at the former place, he enlisted, Aug. 29, 1864, in the 14th Michigan Battery. The command was assigned to the 22d Army Corps under Gen. Hitchcock. They were first sent to Nashville, Tenn., where they re- mained two months, after which the battery was stationed at Fort Greble on the Potomac to guard the National Capital. Mr. Letson was mustered out July 1, 1865, and came to Isabella County in 1866, reaching Mt. Pleasant on the 17th of June. On the day following, he took possession of the farm on which he has since lived. He remained three days, clearing out underbrush, driving stakes for his house and cutting timber. He then went back to some old cabins on the Chippewa River, known as Ward's shan- ties. Soon after he started for St. John's, Clinton County, going thence to Ionia to the land office, where he made the first entry on his land, homestead- ing 80 acres. He bought of the State 80 acres in addition, and to this he has since added 40 acres more. His farm now includes 140 acres of cleared land. Mr. Letson is one of the first settlers in Cold- water Township, and has been one of its most valu- able and substantial citizens.
He was married Feb. 27, 1866, to Anna Elizabeth, daughter of Carmi and Mary Ann (Willett) Hammond. She was born Dec. 7, 1848, in Clinton Co., Mich. Her mother died Feb. 21, 1876, near St. John's, Clin- ton County, and her father died July 9, 1883, in Coldwater, at the residence of her son, Cornelius Hammond. Following is the record of the eleven children that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Let- son : Orrin D., born Dec. 7, 1866 (died May 15, 1875); Oliver A., Aug. 21, 1868 (died May 13, 1875); Burt M., Sept. 11, 1869; Myrtie B., Sept 11, 1869 (died May 20, 1875); Mary S., Oct. 13, 1871 (died July 28, 1872); Mira, Oct. 13, 1871 (died Oct. 31, following); Nonia, born Oct. 13, 1871 (died the day of her birth) ; Loren S., Jan. 6, 1875 (died May 25, 1875); Cora B., Dec. 16, 1876; Hamilton L., March 30, 1880 ; Tena, April 16, 1882.
The portrait of Mr. Letson will doubtless be wel. comed in the gallery of this ALBUM by the public and accordingly it appears, on the page facing the commencement of this sketch.
ohn Block, farmer on section 36, Nottawa, is a son of Frederick and Mary (Florep) Block, and of German descent. The father died in Mecklenburg, Germany, and the mother in Mt. Pleasant, this county.
He was born Jan. 18, 1836, in Mecklenburg, Germany, and, residing with his parents until of age, he then came to the United States. He was first employed for six months in a stone quarry in Buffalo, N. Y. He then worked on farms by the month until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the 78th N. Y. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battles of the Shenandoah Valley, under Gen. Banks, Win- chester, Cedar Creek, Cross Keys, Chancellorsville, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Gettysburg and Antietam. At Gettysburg he was wounded in the third day's fight, a piece of a shell breaking his left foot. He was in field hospital seven days, and then transferred to the hospital at Bedloe's Island, N. Y., where he remained until the corps was transferred to the Western Department under Hooker. He rejoined his command at Alexandria; was in the engagements of Missionary Ridge and Sherman's march 10 the sea, and at Chattanooga. He marched under Sher- man until the surrender of Gen. Johnston. His regi- ment was the first to enter Atlanta and the first in Savannah.
He was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., then lived in Erie Co., N. Y., one year, engaged in farm- ing. Coming to Livingston County, this State, he bought a farm of 62 acres, and there lived for four years. March 1, 1870, he arrived in Isabella County. Here he first followed teaming for six months. He rented 40 acres of land, but owing to ill health he abandoned for a time the idea of farming, and went into the restaurant business. He erected a suitable building at Mt. Pleasant, and sold liquor and refresh- ments for a year. Selling out, he bought a farm of 160 acres in Union Township, which he cultivated five years. He then exchanged for his present faim of 80 acres, 65 of which are improved.
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He was married Sept. 23, 1865, in Amherst, Erie Co., N. Y., to Catherine Gardner, daughter of Charles and Sophia (Wetherhold) Gardner. She was born July 17, 1846. Three children have been added to the family circle: Henry Charles, born in Amherst, Erie Co., N. Y., July 15, 1866; Frederick Emery, born in Livingston Co., Mich., July 11, 1868; and Anna Catherine, born in Mt. Pleasant, this county, April 14, 1870.
Mr. B. is politically independent, but has hereto- fore been a Democrat.
mos D. Mattison, retired farmer, residing on section 9, Lincoln Township, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 28, 1819. His father, Michael, was a native of that State, of English parentage and a farmer by occupation, and is yet living, at the venerable age of 91 years, in Genesee County, this state. His mother, Martha (Arnold) Mattison, was a native of New England and a grandchild of Capt. Stephen Arnold, of Revolutionary fame. She died in 1871, in Ing- ham County, this State, aged 75 years.
In 1832 Mr. M. accompanied his parents from New York to Livingston County, this State, and they were among the first settlers in Green Oak Township, that county. The parents remained in Livingston County until 1840, when they removed to Ingham County, and were also among the first settlers in that county. They experienced all the trials of the pio- neer's life and battled against the vicissitudes of the same with earnest determination.
Amos D. remained under the parental roof-tree, in Livingston and Ingham Counties, assisting the struggling family in the improvement of their home, and developed into manhood.
One year after his parents removed to Ingham County, Mr. M. embarked in the flouring-mill busi- ness, which he followed with success until 1865. He then came to this county and purchased 220 acres of land on section 9, Lincoln Township. He subse- quently disposed of 100 acres and has placed 85 acres of the remainder under good cultivation.
Mr. Mattison was united in marriage, Aug. 30, 1855, to Miss Abbie E. Stokes, daughter of Isaiah M. and Elizabeth (Stranahan) Stokes, natives of
England and New York respectively. They are both deceased, the father dying in Minnesota and the mother in Ohio.
Abbie E. was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., June 10, 1827. She accompanied her parents to Ohio when 12 years of age, and when 26 years old came to this State. Her education was received in Nelson Col- lege, Portage Co., Ohio. At the age of 15 years Mrs. M. entered on the profession of a teacher and con- tinued the same with credit and success until 1873. She taught the first school in District No. 6, Lincoln Township.
Mr. and Mrs. M. are the parents of two children : Ellen A., who was born April 13, 1857, died Feb. 19, 1883, at her home in Lincoln Township. She was married in this county, Nov. 24, 1873, to Samuel D. Kyser, born July 29, 1847, in Ohio. He came to this State in 1866. They are the parents of two children,-Jenny S., born Jan. 28, 1874, and Forest D., born Nov. 17, 1876.
Katie S. Mattison, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M., was born Oct. 6, 1861, and now is at home. She is a teacher by profession, having entered on the same at the age of 15 years.
Mr. Mattison, politically, is a staunch Democrat. He has held the office of Supervisor and other minor offices in the township.
rs. Celia W. Taylor, M. D., physician and druggist at Loomis, Wise Township, was born at Northbridge, Mass .. July 17, 1856. She is the daughter of Paul W. and Miriam S. (Coon) Williams. Her parents were natives respectively of Massachusetts and Connecticut and her father died Feb. 5, 1884. Her mother is still living, with her.
The parents of Mrs. Taylor came to Michigan when she was quite young, and she received her early ed- ucation mostly at East Saginaw. In 1878 she be- came a student at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in the Medical Depart- ment, July 1, 1880. She had read medicine to some extent, but had been obliged to suspend assiduous attention to it from a threatened disease of the eyes.
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. In 1876 she resumed her studies in that direction, reading under the directions of several different phy- sicians. After graduation, she at once entered upon her practice. She lived five months at Fentonville, Genesee Co., Mich., and, with that exception, she has continued in her profession at Loomis to the present time. In the spring of 1883 she bought a stock of drugs and has a considerable business in that line, in addition to the duties of her profession. In Jan- uary, 1883, she was appointed District Physician, and she is the present Physician of the Board of Health at Loomis. She is widely known as a skillful and successful practitioner, and has a large and increasing practice.
eorge E. Dawson, of the firm of Feighner & Dawson, merchants at Clare, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., March 14, 1853. Four years later the family came to Ingham County, this State, where he lived until 17 years old, attending school most of the time. At that time he came to Isabella County, where he worked in the lumber woods for 11 years. In the spring of 1880 he made his present location at Clare, where he is doing a growing business, now of $10,000 annually, in the sale of meats.
He was married April 17, 1882, in Barry County, this State, to Miss Carrie Jones, a native of that county. One child, Ora, has been added to the fam- ily circle, born Nov. 12, 1883. Politically, Mr. Daw- son is a Democrat.
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eorge C. Faulkner, dealer in general hard- ware, etc., at Mt. Pleasant, was born Oct. 19, 1854, in Toronto, Can. His parents, Isaiah and Mary (Clark) Faulkner, belonged to the agricultural class in the Dominion of 'Canada. His father was a native of Ireland and emigrated to America when he was but a lad. In 1859 he removed with his family to Lockport, N. Y., where he resided a year and went thence to Nor- walk, Ohio. A year later he made another move, to Bellevue in the Buckeye State. After a residence there of four years, he went to Hillsdale, Mich., and
after a short stay proceeded to Hudson, Lenawee County, where he remained during the last years of his life. The mother also died in Hudson.
When Mr. Faulkner was 20 years old he deter- mined to change his vocation, and turn his attention from farming to other business. He accordingly went to Adrian, when he entered the tin shop of R. L. Bate, and passed three years in learning the trade. He came to Mt. Pleasant July 21, 1876, where he operated four years in the tin shop of L. N. Smith. In 1880 he established himself in the business in which he is now engaged, associated with Frank Patterson, under the firm style of Faulkner & Patter- son. The relation continued 18 months, since which Mr. Faulkner has done business singly. He changed his location June 1, 1881, removing to the building he has since occupied. His stock is estimated at $5,000 in value and comprises general hardware, stoves, tinware, paints, oils, glass, steel goods, etc. A repair shop is connected with his establishment and he is doing a good job business. His trade requires the aid of two assistants. He built in 1882 a fine residence, the ground of which include two lots.
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