USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 37
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Mr. Van Decar tells that an Indian woman died on his place, of consumption, and describes the unique funeral. He furnished the boards for the coffin, which the woman's husband constructed in a rude fashion. The corpse was drawn in a wagon by oxen, the Indian husband driving! One child rode on one of the oxen, and another rode on the coffin ! The burying took place in an Indian cemetery two miles north of Mr. Van D.'s corners, and lies on Mr. Frisbee's land.
His Indian neighbors practiced many peculiar cus- toms, one of which was that of holding war dances at corn-planting time, and also when the corn was large enough to roast, and again when it was harvested. They had a long tent, with curtains around the sides, but open above. They built a fire in the middle of the tent, and around this tent they danced. A box of tobacco was placed on either end, and the dancers would smoke when tired of the exercise. The dance would continue 24 hours, or "as long as the whisky lasted."
Sept. 24: 1881 (Sunday night), about midnight, Mr. Van Decar's house was destroyed by fire. He himself was sick at the time. His wife was aroused first, by hearing something burst in the store. Look- ing in, she saw it was all ablaze, although the roof had not yet fallen in. She wished to enter and save a part at least of the burning merchandise, but he held her back. A hired girl and a hired man who slept · above were so stupefied with the smoke that they were awakened with great difficulty. The youngest child had a narrow escape. Mrs. Van Decar had scarcely handed him to Mr. Van D. when a large brand of
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fire fell upon the bed where he had just lain! They had an insurance of $800, and their net loss was $2,180.
In May, 1882, Mr. Van D. drew up a petition for a postoffice, and forwarded the same to Washington. The Postmaster-General replied that if he would es- tablish a route the Government would let a contract for the same. Mr. Van Decar carried the mail twice a week to Mt. Pleasant for six months, and Mr. Schubauck did the same for three months, free of ex penses. The Government did as promised.
He was married Feb. 15, 1871, to Nancy H., youngest daughter of Erastus Day, of Armada Township, Macomb County. She was born Sept. 1, 1851. Two sons have been added to the family circle : Harry D., born June 12, 1872, in Lapeer County , and Frank, born at Oxford, May 18, 1879.
Mr. Van Decar is politically a Republican. He has been Township Clerk one term. Both he and wife are members of the Baptist Church.
charles Barden, farmer on section 14, Coe Township, is a son of William and Sophia (Norton) Barden. The parents lived first in New York State, then in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, next in Jackson County, this State, and finally in Ingham County, where they died.
Their son Charles was born in Ohio, July 18, 1830, and was four years old when the family removed to this State. Leaving home at the age of 17, he worked out by the month at farming until 20 years old, and then bought a farm in Ingham County, which he worked until the fall of 1862. He then sold his Ingham County property, and came to Isabella County and bought 80 acres of wild land on sec- 13, Coe Township. He afterward exchanged this for another 80 acres on the same section, and bought 40 acres on section 14, where he now resides. He has now 70 acres under cultivation.
He was married in Ingham County, Oct. 29, 1849, to Jeannette, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Gerard) Austin, natives of the State of New York. She was born in Jackson County, this State, April 23, 1833, and is the mother of two children, -Lavant P. and Nora S.
Mr. B. has been School Assessor of his district for
19 consecutive years. Politically, he votes with and works for the Republican party. His wife is a mem- ber of the Disciples' Church.
illiam Swanston, farmer, section 7, Wise Township, was born March 15, 1851, in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Beck) Swanston, were also natives of the capital city of Scotland, and emigrated with their family to Canada, where the mother died and where the father still resides.
Mr. Swanston has been a resident of the United States since he was one year old. He continued to reside at home until the age of 20 years, when he came to Detroit. He remained there a year, and in 1872 came to Isabella County, and has since been engaged in farming and lumbering. His estate com- prises 200 acres in Wise Township and So acres in Vernon Township, and he has 109 acres cleared and otherwise improved. In political sentiment Mr. Swanston is a Republican.
He was married Oct. 21, 1876, in Canada, to Annie Wilson, who was born in the Dominion, April 24, 1859. James A. and John A. are the names of their two children. Mrs. Swanston is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
oseph B. Fox, farmer, section 8, Fremont Township, is a son of William and Ellen (nee Bird) Fox. The father is a native of England and was there born May 1, 1795, and the mother was born on the Emerald Isle, in 1821. The father followed the occupation of a farmer in his native country, and emigrated to the New World in the year 1829. He landed at New York city and from there moved to Hastings Co., Can., where he now resides, aged 87, and the mother 63 years.
Joseph B. Fox, the subject of our biographical notice, was born in Hastings Co., Can., Dec. 23, 1842. He was reared on the farm, assisting his fa- ther and receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools of the country, until he attained the age of 16 years. On arrival at this age in life, he
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launched his life-boat on the sea of events and went forth to battle against the trials of life alone. He worked as a common laborer, for a gentleman in the neighborhood for 16 months, at $8 per month, and afterward followed various occupations until 1865; and during that year he came to this county and stopped at an old lumber camp, the property of a Mr. Whitney, of Detroit. He worked at this camp during the winters and in the summers worked on a farm in the neighborhood. In 1870 he purchased 82 acres of land on section 8, Fremont Township, this county. There were ten acres of this land im- proved at the time of purchase, and at the present time Mr. Fox has 65 acres of his farm in a good state of cultivation. He built a large barn on the land in 1875 and the following year erected a fine house. His accumulations are but the reward of honest, energetic labor, and his success entitles him to a position among the progressive farmers of his township.
Mr. Fox was wedded to the lady of his choice, Miss Jane Bushel, April 17, 1871. She was born in Hastings Co., Can., in 1847, and was the daughter of William and Mary (Bird) Bushel, natives of Ire- land. The father died some 25 years ago, and the mother is still residing in Hastings County.
The husband and wife are the parents of five children, namely : Martha E., born Dec. 3, 1872 ; Mary E., born April 8, 1875; William W., born Oct. 12, 1877 : Effie J., born May 12, 1879; Minnie E., born Jan. 22, 1882.
Politically, Mr. Fox is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic Order, Lodge No. 257, Elm Hall.
ellington Irish, farmer on section 7, Coe Township, is a son of Smith and Ann E. (Rice) Irish, natives of New York State and Connecticut. The parents settled in Gen- esee Co., Mich., and afterwards in Shiawassee County. Thence they returned to New York, where she died, May 15, 1862. He is spending his last years with his son Wellington, in this county.
The subject of this notice was born in Genesee County, this State, June 20, 1848, and remained with
his parents until 15 years old. He was then employ- ed by the month on farms in New York and Michigan until 1874. He came to Isabella County in March, 1875, and bought 40 acres of land on section 7, Coe Township, where he has since resided. He has now nearly all his land under cultivation.
He was married in Livingston Co., Mich., Nov. 25, 1874, to Josephine, daughter of Robert and Annis (Hunt) Bullis, natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Irish was born in Livingston Co., Mich., May 27, 1852. She and her husband have had two chil- dren, of whom one died in infancy. Roy C. was born April 17, 1882. Mr. Irish is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and is a supporter of the Republican party.
ohn A. Harris, cashier in the banking house of Brown, Harris & Co., at Mt. Pleasant, was born Sept. 23, 1842, in London, Eng- land. He is the son of William and Sarah (Heath) Harris, and his parents were born re- spectively in Cornwall and London. His father was a provision merchant in the city of London some years, and in 1852 came to America with his family, consisting of his wife and five children. He settled in Montcalm Township, Montcalm Co., Mich., where he bought 40 acres of land, and there resided until the spring of 1854, when he died. His family made that their home until 1866. The farm was all improved and in the best possible agricultural condition, when they moved to a farm they purchased in the north part of the township, which contained 200 acres of land. The father died in the city of New York, hav- ing left home on business. William E. Harris, eld- est child, and Henry G. Harris, fourth in order of birth, are both millers at Mt. Pleasant. Sarah A., third child, is now Mrs. Warner Churchill. Charlotte M. (Mrs. Lorenzo Kent) is the youngest born of the family. The husbands are both millers at Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Harris is the second child of his parents and remained with them until 1872, when he came to Mt. Pleasant, and, in company with his elder brother, built the Mt. Pleasant flouring mills, which are still under their control. They do merchant and custom work, and their mill has a manufacturing capacity of
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100 barrels of flour daily. They are also engaged in heavy transactions in grain and ship to various points. The banking house of Brown, Harris & Co. was organized and commenced operations Jan. 12, 1883, and in March of the same year, Mr. Harris withdrew from active supervision of his milling in- terests to assume the position of cashier, and has con- tinued to discharge the duties of that office. The business of the house is similar in character to like institutions, and is thriving and prosperous.
Mr. Harris owns his residence and a half-interest in 30 acres of land attached to the mill. His mar- riage to Catherine Holmden occurred May 31, 1872, at Greenville, Montcalm County. She was born in Grand Rapids, and is the daughter of George and Hester Holmden. Cassius A., Hester, Edwin O. and John Glenn are the names of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris.
on. Samuel W. Hopkins, of Mt. Pleasant, is a son of Samuel and Freelove Burlingame (Arnold) Hopkins. The father was born in Coventry, R. I., Jan. 10, 1803, the son of Rufus and Amy (Shippee) Hopkins. Rufus Hopkins - was the son of Esquire Samuel and P'hebe (Case) Hopkins. Esquire Samuel Hopkins' father was Judge Samuel Hopkins, who was the son of Joseph Hop- kins. The last named married a daughter of Edward Whalley, one of the regicide judges who fled from England upon the restoration of Charles II. Judge Whalley lived and is buried upon Hopkins' Hill, West Greenwich, R. I. It is from this ancestor that the subject of this biography takes his middle name, spelling it with but one "1," however. Most of the Hopkins family have been engaged in the great industry of Rhode Island,-cotton manufacturing.
Mrs. Freelove Burlingame (Arnold) Hopkins was born in Warwick, R. I., Jan. 15, 1807, the daughter of Elijah and Sally (Gorton) Arnold. She was an only daughter, and had three brothers. Elijah Arnold was the 17th child of James and Freelove (Burlingame) Arnold, and James Arnold was the son of Thomas Arnold, who bought a square mile of land in Warwick, R. I., and divided it into six farms. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born
on the middle one of these (on Cowesett road), known as Arnold's Square.
Mrs. Sally (Gorton) Arnold, Mr. Hopkins' maternal grandmother, was the daughter of William and Sally (Whitford) Gorton. William Gorton was the son of Dr. Samuel Gorton, whose father was Samuel Gorton. This ancestor came to Massachusetts from England, and was called a heretic by the Puritans, who drove him from their colony. He bought a home of the Indians in Rhode Island and named it " Patuxet." He lived to be a centenarian.
Samuel Hopkins, the father of Samuel W. Hop- kins, lived in the towns of Coventry, West Green- wich and Exeter, R. I., until 1857, extensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. He built several mills, and was a prominent man in his section of the country. The great financial panic of 1857, which engulfed so many thousands in the vortex of ruin and which affected to some degree every business man in the United States, was the end of his active business career. He had been a very energetic, shrewd man, of sanguine disposition and buoyant spirits, but this failure seemed to break his strength of mind. With the remnant of his means he bought So acres of land in Coventry, Conn., where he lived . a retired life until his death, Feb. 19, 1875. His family included nine children,-seven sons and two daughters. Seven of the nine lived to adult age.
Samuel Whaley Hopkins, the youngest of the family, was born April 1, 1845, in Exeter, R. I., where he lived until the age 11 years. He was very preco- cious, being able to read and spell when but three years of age. He attended the district school in Exeter for some time before leaving that town. In 1856 the family moved to Coventry, Conn. Here he studied in the district school and also received private in- struction from a Miss Mary K. Hutchinson.
At the age of 15 he attended the Ellington Acad- emy, and the following year the academy at Man- chester. The ensuing winter he taught at Andover, then he spent the summer at home on the farm, and the next winter he taught at Willimantic, Conn. After another summer at home he was for a month or so at Charleston, S. C., selling boots and shoes for a brother, then went to Cleveland, Ohio, to attend the Bryant & Stratton Business College. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Felton, resident Principal of the Bryant & Stratton school, and a Mr. Bigelow, estab-
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lished the Union Business College, from which Mr. Hopkins was graduated in the spring (1865).
He was at home the summer of that year, sold books in the fall, and taught school near home in the winter. The ensuing two years were spent partly at home and partly in selling books for Gurdon Bill and Henry Bill, publishers. In the fall of 1868 he taught a select school at Andover. He taught at Little Falls, N. J., the next two years. During the summer season he read law with Benezeret H. Bill, of Rockville, Conn. In the summer of 1870 he studied law at home, and in the fall he entered the Law Department of the Michigan University. He took a two years' course at that institution, study- ing in the summer of 1871 with Hon. John M. Hall, of Willimantic, Conn.
He was graduated in March, 1872, and then vis- ited at home for a few weeks, after which he located temporarily at Grand Rapids, this State. There he was admitted to the Bar, but he was principally occu- pied in settling the estate of a Mr. Gardner. While at Clare, Clare County, making collections for the estate, he met the Hon. I. A. Fancher, of Mt. Pleas- ant, who induced him to make Isabella County his future home. These two gentlemen were partners in the practice of law for three years. Mr. Hopkins was then for two years connected with Michael Dev- eraux. Commencing with Jan. 1, 1875, his partner was, for nearly two years, Wade B. Smith. He then associated with himself Free Estee, who had formerly studied law with him. Mr. H.'s health having failed, principally from mental overwork in the Leg- islature, his business was looked after almost entirely by his partners, first Mr. Smith, then Mr. Estee. He spent two summers at Higgins Lake, Roscommon County, and in the winter of 1881-2 visited his mother at Coventry, Conn., where he remained for six months.
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The first of January, 1883, he formed his present business coni ection with Daniel E. Lyon. They do an extensive business in real estate, insurance and loans. In 1883 they loaned over $100,000. They represent 11 sound insurance companies, and do the largest business in that line in the county.
Mr. Hopkins is politically a staunch Republican. He has always taken a deep interest in politics, and he has been and still is of great influence. He has served his community in numerous official positions,
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constit- uents. While in Coventry, Conn., he was, at the age of 22, elected a member of the "School Board, on both tickets, Democratic and Republican. He served three years. In the early part of 1873 he was ap. pointed Clerk of Union Township, this county, to fill a vacancy, and the same spring he was elected to to that position. He was twice re-elected Clerk, and he also served seven years as Justice of the Peace. He also officiated a year or so as Deputy Township Clerk, while holding the latter office. He was for one term Superintendent of Schools at Mt. Pleasant, and for three years Chairman of the Board of School Trustees. He was the first Village Attorney of Mt. Pleasant.
In 1875-6 he served the county as Prosecuting Attorney. During his term he literally reformed the village of Loomis, which had become infested with criminals and law-breakers. He was also instru- mental in breaking up an organization known as the Knights of Agriculture, which had been formed for proper purposes but which had drifted into the management of bad men. He also defended the county against an injunction brought by the authori- ties of Vernon Township (to which Clare county had been attached) in a matter involving a large sum of tax money. He afterwards, in the Legislature, de- fended the county in a similar case against the counties of Mecosta and Midland, to each of which a moiety of Isabella County was formerly attached for municipal purposes. This matter brought on a hard-fought struggle of four weeks in the Legisla- ture, and at every step Mr. Hopkins won.
He was elected to the Legislature first in the fall of 1876, running against Henry H. Graves, and took his seat in January following. He was a member of the Committees on Judiciary, Public Lands and Liquor Traffic. During this session he introduced a bill making libel a crime. This measure passed the House, but was killed in the Senate. In the fall of 1878 he was re-elected to the House, taking his seat in January, 1879. He was at this time a member of the Committee on Judiciary, and Chairman (though youngest member) of the most important committee of the session-Special Joint Committee on Taxa- tion. In this he was associated with Messrs. Hall, Stanchfield, Ferguson and Kuhn, of the House, and three of the ablest members of the Senate,-J. W.
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Childs, of Washtenaw, James W. Cochrane, of Mid- land, and George A. Farr, of Ottawa. They pre- pared and introduced a bill reorganizing the tax system of the State. This bill passed the House, but was lost in the Senate. The next year a commis- sion was appointed by the Governor, which carried into effect the provisions of the law now in force, which are much like those in Mr. Hopkins' bill.
Mr. Hopkins would have been sent to the Senate, but the failure of his health forbade his acceptance. He has been for the last six years Chairman of the Republican County Committee, and this position he now fills. In the fall of 1882 he was unanimously nominated for the office of Prosecuting Attorney. Not desiring this position, he made no canvass, and his opponent, Charles T. Russell, was elected. In 1877 he was nominated for President of the Village.
Mr. Hopkins platted an addition to Mt. Pleasant in 1874, on the south, known as " Hopkins' Addi- tion."
He was married at Jerusalem, N. Y., Dec. 10, 1873, to Miss Margaretta, eldest daughter of Rev. Dr. Edwin Vedder and Ida (Williams) Vedder. Dr. V. is a native of Schenectady, N. Y., and his wife, of New Jersey, and both live at Jerusalem, Albany Co., N. Y. Mrs. Hopkins was born Feb. 1, 1846, at Lit- tle Falls, N. J., and lived successively at that place, Berne, Middleburg, Gallupville, Schoharie and New Scotland. All these places but the first are in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have had one son, Herbert Vedder, born at Mt. Pleasant, Aug. 21, 1876, and died at Jerusalem, N. Y., Aug. 4, 1877. Mrs. H. is a Presbyterian, and Mr. H. is a member of the Unitarian Society, of which he has been for two years Vice-President. In 1884, Mr. Hopkins was chosen Alternate to the Chicago Con- vention that nominated Blaine and Logan.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are pre- sented on other pages of this work.
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giram T. Hall, farmer on section 9, Coe Town- ship, is a son of Thomas and Annie (Ral- ston) Hall, natives of the United States and Ireland respectively. The parents settled in Cayuga Co., N. Y., afterwards removing to On- tario County, where they died, he Dec. 6, 1857, and she Nov. 7, 1866, nearly nine years afterward.
The subject of this biography was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., May 11, 1817, and was quite young when his parents removed to Ontario County. He received a common English education, and assisted largely in the support of his parents, especially in their de- clining years. He remained in Ontario County till about 1867, and then lived for two years in the State of Wisconsin. In February, 1870, he came to Isa- bella County and bought 53 acres of land in Coe Township, where he has since resided, having now 26 acres improved.
He was married at Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., May 9, 1852, to Ellis, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Skeldon) Todd, natives of England and Canada. Mrs. Hall was born in Canada, April 4, 1834. She and her husband have had born to them a family of nine : Mary A., Aug. 1, 1853; Carrie J., Oct. 31, 1855 (died April 16, 1874, at the age af 18); Olive E., May 18, 1858; Phebe E., May 14, 1860; Emma J., Oct. 30, 1862 ; Ella A. and Nellie I. (twins), March 18, 1865; William T., May 21, 1867 ; Lillie E., May 12, 1870.
Politically, Mr. H. is a Democrat.
enry Burr, farmer and stock-raiser, section 30, Lincoln Township, and one of the lead- ing and representative men of the county, was born in Plymouth, Wayne County, this State, Aug. 31, 1837. The parents of Mr. Burr were Ambrose and Mary (Jones) Burr, natives of Connecticut and of English and Welsh descent. The father claimed a close connection to the Quakers who settled in New England. He was a farmer and drover in the New England States and came from there to this State and located in Wayne County when the same was but little settled and the hand of improvement was hardly visible. He now makes his home with our subject, aged 79 ycars. 1His mother died in this county Jan. 15, 1876.
Henry lived at home in his native county until he was 18 years of age. He was engaged in assisting his father on the farm and received the advantages afforded by the common schools. On arriving at that age he went to work by the month, which he continued for two years, and until the breaking out of the late war. He then enlisted in Co. H, First Mich. Cav., Col. Broadhead, and was assigned to the Army
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of the Potomac. He participated in three general engagements, namely : second battle of Bull Run (Aug. 30, 1862), Gettysburg (July 1, 2, 3, 1863) and Winchester, Va. (Sept. 19, 1864). He also partici- pated in many other smaller battles and skirmishes, in which his company was engaged. At the battle of Gettsyburg he was wounded by a ball crushing the joint of the index finger of the left hand. He was promoted Commissary Sergeant early in 1863, and Dec. 31, 1863, he re-enlisted.
At Winchester he was again wounded, this time by a gunshot breaking the arm above the wrist. He was finally discharged for disability, at St. Louis, Mo., June 15, 1865.
After his discharge from the service Mr. Burr came to this State, and Feb. 19, 1866, in Washtenaw County, he was united in marriage to Miss Alice D., daughter of William A. and Elizabeth (Skidmore) Jones, natives of Genesee Co., N. Y., and of Welsh parentage. Alice D. was born in Dexter, Washtenaw County, this State, Feb. 8, 1842. She lived under the parental roof-tree, assisting her mother until the latter's death in her household duties, and attending the common schools of the county, until her marriage to Mr. Burr. Her mother died when she was 15 years of age, and she kept house for her father, im- proving her leisure moments with study. Her edit- cation was not neglected, and her refinement is indicative of what energy and determination may accomplish.
Mr. and Mrs. Burr are the parents of four children, one of whom is deceased. The living are, Amy H., born Sept. 13, 1868; Elmer W., Feb. 8, 1873 ; Cora C., Aug. 19, 1880; Edith M., born April 9, 1867, and died April 29, 1871.
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