USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 40
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When three years of age, the subject of our bio- graphical notice was brought to Ionia County by his parents and lived there until he attained the age of manhood. He was the oldest of the children of his parent's family and grew up among the pioneer set- tlers of lonia County. He assisted his father on the farm and attended the common and village schools until he attained his majority, when he engaged to him at a stated salary to work on the farm.
Mr. Kellogg was united in marriage June 21, 1867, with Miss Eliza, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Horsburgh) Conner, natives of Canada and Scot- land respectively and of English and Scotch extrac- tion. Eliza was born in Brant Township, Brant Co.,
Ontario, March 13, 1846. She lived in her native county until she attained the age of ten years, when she accompanied her parents to lonia County, this State, where she lived assisting in the labors of the household and attending the common schools until the date of her marriage.
Shortly after marriage Mr. Kellogg moved on a part of the old homestead, and cultivated the same until the spring of 1879, when he came to this county and purchased 80 acres of land on section 30, Lincoln Township. He has added So acres to his original purchase and of the 160 he now has 100 acres in a good state of cultivation. He is classed as one of the progressive farmers of the county, and has met with signal success in his vocation. Recently he erected a large stock and grain barn on his place, which cost hin $1,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg are the parents of four chil- dren, one of whom is deceased. The living are: Chester A., born Nov. 26, 1872; Lea, June r, 1874, and Neal, May 21, 1876. Politically, Mr. K. is a Republican. He has held the various offices of his school district, and at the present time is School Inspector of the same.
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lexander Cameron, farmer, section 17, Isa- bella Township, was born in Middlesex Co., Ont., Oct. 10, 1829. He was reared on the farm and lived under the parental roof-tree, assisting in the maintenance of the family and attending the common schools until he arrived at manhood's age.
The parents of our subject were of Scotch and Welsh extraction, and the father followed the occu- pation of farmer in Canada, and there died, at the age of 75 years. The mother is still living, in the State of Iowa.
On arriving at the age of manhood, Sept. 19, 1850, Mr. Cameron was united in marriage, in his native county, with Miss Sarah Ward, a native of the same county in which our subject was born, and where she was born, March 8, 1833. She lived with her par- ents until her marriage, assisting her mother in her household labors and receiving the advantages af-
John LA. Johnson
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forded by the common schools of her neighborhood. After his marriage Mr. Cameron at once entered on the occupation he had followed all his life, and continued that vocation in his native county, culti- vating too acres of land, until the year 1872, when he went to Lambton Co., Can., and there farmed 200 acres for six years. He then sold out and came to this county. On his arrival he purchased 160 acres of land, on sections 8 and 17, and began the task of improving it. He believed the county was sure to develop into a wealthy community and he threw all his energy into the clearing and improving of his land, determined to establish a permanent home for himself and family. He at present has 85 acres of his original purchase under a good state of cultivation ; has erected a large stock and grain barn, at a considerable expense, the same being 36 x 66 feet in size, and has other comfortable and necessary buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Cameron are the parents of 12 children, one of whom is deceased. The living are: Samuel T., Calvin W. (married), Margaret (married), Catharine E., Alexander, Sarah J. (married), Jessie, Mary E., Athelinda, William, Elizabeth and Albert. John E., born May 15, 1860, died March 25, 1881.
The husband is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is Elder. Politically he is a Republican.
ohn Q. A. Johnson, farmer on section 30, Union Township, was born in Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1826, and is a son of William W. and Nancy (Whittaker) Johnson The parents were born in Williams- town Township, Berkshire Co., Mass., and their marriage and the births of their first three chil- dren occurred in that township. They were of old New England stock, and descended from the Eatons, a family well known in Connecticut and the rest of New England. The father died in Oneida Co., N. Y., May 27, 1830, aged 44 years, six months. The mother died at Grand Rapids, this State, Nov. 27, 1881, at the age of 93 years and five months. She was of a very long-lived family. Among the instan- ces of longevity that might be mentioned are these : her father lived to be 98, a brother 96, four sisters
over 90, and others to nearly 90. The family of William W. Johnson included a daughter and eight sons, three of the latter being now dead. John was the eighth child and seventh son.
He lived at home until 18, receiving a common- school education. At that age he came to Michigan, locating first at Dundee, Monroe County, and engag- ing in agriculture. He was soon after married. After four years he removed to Barry County, where he farmed for seven years. In June, 1855, he came to Isabella and located on section 22, Coe Township. He was one of the first 12 settlers of the county, and the seventh settler in Coe. This was three years be- fore Isabella County was organized. The first house he constructed did not contain a sawed board, was covered withi elm bark, and had a puncheon floor. The house was raised by all the neighbors within sev- eral miles, and the dinner for the occasion was brought them in a basket a distance of eight miles. All their supplies were purchased at high prices in St. Louis.
Aug. 21, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, Eighth Mich. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the Army of the Car- olinas. After serving nine months he was taken sick and confined to the hospital for three months. He was discharged for disability, Sept. 18, 1862. Re- turning home, he located in Union Township, in January following. Here he had once more to live the life of a pioneer. He cut a road a mile and a half to reach his farm. The cabin in which he first lived still stands as a reminder of first things. He was the first settler on his section. Of his 160 acres, 65 are improved. He has a very fine fruit orchard, four acres in extent, and his fruit always takes the lead in county fairs.
Politically, Mr. J. is a staunch Republican. He was elected Sheriff in 1863, and held the office two years. In 1876 he was elected Probate Judge, which position he filled four years. He has also held the minor offices of his township.
He was married Feb. 17, 1844, in Monroe Co., Mich., to Miss Margaret Sutherland, daughter of Eli and Thankful (Russell) Sutherland, natives of Orange and Westchester Cos., N. Y., and of English-Scotch and German-Irish ancestry. The mother died in Lenawee Co., Mich., in 1881. The father is living in that county, at the age of 85. He has lost the sight of one eye. Mrs. Johnson was born in Hector, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1825, and came with
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her parents to Monroe County, this State, when 17 years old. 'T'en children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. J., two of whom are not living. The record is as follows: Mary A., born Nov. 2, 1844 ; Louisa A., March 24, 1846; Warren J., Nov. 6, 1849; De Witt S., March 3, 1852 ; Jared R., Sept. 15, 1854: Harty J., Jan. 29, 1858; Elma E., Aug. 13, 1863; and Minnie E., Sept. 17, 1865. The deceased were Wel- come, born Feb. 15, 1848, and died Oct. 18, 1851; and Lucy T., born Jan. 20, 1865, and died July 21, 1861. Those living are all married and residents of this county. One son is interested in saw-mills, one is a merchant and five are farmers.
We take great pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Johnson in this ALBUM, upon a page in prox- imity to this sketch.
ohn P. Lyons, farmer, residing on section Io, Fremont Township, is a son of James and Mary J. (Little) Lyons, natives of the Emerald Isle, where the father was born May 16, 1791, and the mother Oct. 27, 1798. The latter came to this country in 1816 and the father in 1817, both landing in New York city. They were united in marriage in Pittsburg, Pa., March 16, 1819. Soon after their marriage they moved to Rocky Fort, Licking Co., Ohio, and located on a farm, where, Nov. 6, 1867, the father died. The mother is still living on the old homestead, at the venerable age of 86 years, and is yet hale and hearty. The father and mother were the parents of eight children, six boys and two girls. Two of the brothers are deceased. William, the oldest, lives near Dunlap, in Monona Co., lowa. James lives on the old homestead, with his mother, in Licking Co., Ohio. Samuel was killed while walking on the railroad track. Isabella lives in Perry Co., Ohio. Sarah lives in Licking County. Andrew J. lives in Rooks Co., Kan. David M. died on the old homestead; and John P., our subject, resides on section 10, Fre- mont Township, this county.
Mr. Lyons, the subject of this biographical notice, was born March 18, 1833, in Licking Co., Ohio. He remained at home assisting in the maintenance of the family and attending the common schools of his district until he attained the age of 21 years. His
desire was to become proficient in teaching, and prior to his majority he had so closely confined him- self to study that on reaching that age he was thoroughly competent to enter on the practice of the profession. He continued to follow that for a period of 20 years, and was the recipient of many encomi- ums for his ability and system of teaching.
Feb. 8, 1866, Mr. Lyons was united in marriage with Miss Manilla White, who was born Sept. 8, 1835, in Guernsey Co., Ohio. She was a daughter of John and Hannah (Guthrie) White, natives of the Key-stone State, where her father was born in 1798 and her mother in 1803. Her father was an agricul- turist by vocation and died in May, 1874. Her mother is yet living, and resides in Muskingum Co., Ohio.
Mr. Lyons came from Ohio to this State, Oct. 25, 1881, and located on 160 acres of land on section 10, Fremont Township. He at once settled on his land and began its improvement, determining to make it his permanent home, and at present has a goodly portion of the same in a fine state of cultivation, and substantial buildings erected thereon.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyons are the parents of four chil- dren : James W., born Oct. 1, 1868; Wm. H., born Jan. 6, 1873; John C., born April 30, 1874, and Junietta M., born Jan. 10, 1876. Politically, Mr. Lyons is a Democrat, and is at present Justice of the Peace of his township. Socially, he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a Ruling Elder for 12 years. He is also School Inspector, and occupies a prominent and re- spected position in his township.
iles Schofield, farmer, section 26, Gilmore Township, was born March 16, 1844, and is the son of James and Mary (Drenner) Schofield. His parents were natives of England and came to Amerca in 1840. The father died in Nashville, Tenn., the mother re- sides with her son.
Mr. Schofield remained with his parents until he was 23 years of age, obtaining his education and working with his father as a stone mason. In 1867 he came to Isabella County and settled upon the farm on which he has since resided. The township
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was in a comparatively unbroken state of nature and but few permanent settlers were located. The fam- ily of Fordyce Leonard had been residents for about three months, and Mrs. Schofield was the first white woman they had seen. The settlers were obliged to go to Mt. Pleasant for all supplies, and it was the nearest postoffice. Salt River, 30 miles distant, had the only grist-mill in this section, and consequently the staff of life was sometimes difficult to secure. At one time, during the second autumn after Mr. Scho- field's settlement, his family were two weeks without bread, and for some time subsequent to their locating their neighbors were two miles away. The home- stead includes 80 acres, 40 acres of which are im- proved.
Mr. Schofield is a Republican in political affilia- tion and has been Justice of the Peace and Town- ship Treasurer three years; has also served several years in the various school offices. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was married Sept. 6, 1867, to Mary Ann, daughter of Charles C. and Fannie D. (Martin) Thompson, and was born July 28, 1847, in Tyler Co., W. Va. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schofield, five of whom are living: Sarah F., born July 29, 1868; Ida V., born Sept. 18, 1869; Orlando C, born Feb. 20, 1871 ; Ira O., born Nov. 9, 1874; Rupert R., born May 9, 1877. James Everett, born Nov. 27, 1872, died Aug. 29, 1873.
homas E. Fraser, farmer, section 22, Isa- bella Township, was born in Northumber- land Co., Ont., Feb. 28, 1850. He was reared on a farm in his native county, and at the age of 15 years began working in the lum- ber woods of the same county. He continued that vocation until the year 1872, when he came to this State and located in Midland County. There he was variously occupied for one year and then came to this county ; and in July, 187 3, he purchased 40 acres of unimproved land on section 22, Isabella Township, where he is at present residing.
When Mr. Fraser first came to that township, but few families were there, and the hand of improve- ment was hardly visible, and he may be said to have passed almost the entire period of pioneer life in Isa-
bella Township. He engaged in the lumber woods until 1878, when he entered on the occupation he had followed in boyhood, farming. He has added 40 acres, by purchase, to his original tract of land, and of his present landed possessions he has 65 acres under a high degree of cultivation, with comfortable and commodious frame buildings erected thereon.
He was united in marriage, Jan. 23, 1882, at Mt. Pleasant, with Miss Hannah M. Stoyle, a native of Hastings Co., Ont., where she was born Jan. 20, 1850. She removed to Toledo, Ohio, in 1868, and at that place she lived until 1881, when she came to Mt. Pleasant, and there lived until her marriage.
The husband and wife are parents of one child, George H., born Nov. 21, 1882. Mrs. Fraser is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. F. is a member of the Order of Orangemen of Seymour Township, Northumberland Co., Ont., and in politics is a Republican.
oseph F. Gachter, farmer, section 22, Not- tawa Township, is a son of Joseph F. Gach- ter, a native of France. Joseph F., Sr., emigrated to the United States in 1837, and four years later, in 1841, returned to his native land for his family. He returned with them the same year and landed at Castle Garden, New York city, Aug. 10, of that year. He afterward, in September of the same year, removed to and settled in Stark Co., Ohio, where his father and mother died, the former in March, 1881, and latter May 24, 1845.
Joseph F., Jr., the subject of our biography, was born in St. Germain, Canton de Fontaine, Depart- ment of the Upper Rhine, France, Feb. 28, 1830.
A year after the death of his mother, in March, 1846, Mr. Gachter left Stark County and went to Wheeling, Va., where he was variously occupied for some 18 months, and then removed to Cincinnati, in which place he remained about three months. His next move was to New Orleans, where he occupied his time in boating on the Mississippi and its tribu- taries for two years.
As the electric wires flashed from State to State the terrible news of the bombardment of Sumter and war known to be inevitable, the heart of Mr. Gachter beat in unison with the "cause of justice," and he
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left the South and went to Pittsburg to join the North- ern Army.
He enlisted in Co. A, 155th Pa. Vol. Inf., in July, 1862, participated in the battle of Antietam, after which he was detailed as a member of the medical corps. He ruptured himself at the battle of Antietam and was discharged. He also participated in the bat- tles of Fredericksburg and South Mountain, previous to his discharge.
Mr. Gachter was united in marriage, Sept. 2, 1862, to Miss Margaret Ann Gerstner. Her parents were natives of Bavaria, Germany. Her mother died during the voyage to the United States, and was buried in the waters of the deep; her father is still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Gachter have been blessed with eight children, namely : Joseph G., born March 12, 1864, at Columbia, Lancaster Co., Pa .; Frank, April 25, 1866, at St. John's, Mich .; Catherine, Oct. 22, 1868, at St. John's; Emma, May 26, 1871, in Bing- ham Township, Clinton Co., this State; Wm. H., April 25, 1874, in Bingham ; Robert, April 4, 1878, in Bingham; Edward, Aug. . 1, 1880, in Bingham ; and Margaret Ann, March 4, 1883, in Nottawa Town- ship, this county.
Mr. Gachter came to this county June 15, 1882, with his family and purchased a farm of 80 acres in Nottawa Township, 24 of which he has in a good state of cultivation.
Politically, Mr. G. is an adherent to and supporter of the principles and doctrines of the Republican party, and has been honored by numerous offices of trust and responsibility, among which were Drain Commissioner, School Inspector and Director (in Clinton County), and is now acting Supervisor of Nottawa Township, this county.
N. Gulick, farmer, section 36, Deerfield, Township, is a son of Henry and Ann (Dean) Gulick, natives of New Jersey, and both still living, in Union Township, this county. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 22, 1848, in Wyandot Co., Ohio; lived in Seneca Co., Ohio, eight years; in Ionia Co., Mich., three years; then, in October, 1859, he came to this county, where he has since lived, except one summer in
Kansas. He bought 120 acres of wild land, of which he has since improved 28 acres. On this farm he has resided from Dec. 14, 188 1, to the pres- ent time. Previously he was on a rented farm for five years
With respect to national policy, Mr. G. acts with the Republican party.
Aug. 24, 1873, Mr. Gulick was married to Miss Susan M., daughter of Henry and Ann (Gibson) Bates. They now have three children, viz .: Claudie May, born Feb. 10, 1877; Gertie Mabel, Oct. 14, 1879; and Dessie Dean, March 20, 1885. Mr. Bates had 12 children, and he died Sept. 14, 1879. In Mr. Henry Gulick's family were 11 children.
eorge W. Brown, farmer, section 4, Cold- water Township, was born Aug. 23, 1829, in Morgan Co., Ohio. His parents, John and Mary (Spillman) Brown, were natives of Virginia, and his father was for many years a pensioner of the Revolutionary War. On his death, when the son was about six years old, the pension reverted to the mother, who continued the recipient of its benefits until her death in the au- tumn of 1868. She lacked three days of being 93 years old.
Mr. Brown was the second child, in order of birth, of five children born to his parents; and a year after his father's death he went to live with a man named Joseph McDonald, with whom he was engaged until he was 25 years old. On reaching his majority he rented land of Mr. McDonald, which he worked on shares. He continued to pursue farming on the estate of his foster-father several years, when he removed to another farm five miles distant, which he rented until the outbreak of the Southern rebellion, when he en- listed.
He enrolled in the United States service Aug. 3. 1861, and was mustered out Sept. 17, 1864, on the expiration of his term of enlistn.ent. He belonged to Co. A, 31st Ohio Vol. Inf., his regiment being as- signed to the First Brigade, Third Division and 14th Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. The first engagement of any importance in which Mr. Brown participated was at Mill Spring, Ky., and afterwards at Stone River, Mission Ridge and at Lookout Moun-
Mason, B, Dibble
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tain. He received a flesh wound in the right arm in the engagement at Mission Ridge, and also received a slight bayonet scratch in his side. At the battle of Chickamauga, his haversack, canteen and knap- sack were shot away, and he received injuries which consigned him to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained until he was mustered out of ser- vice. He received his discharge at Atlanta, Ga., and returned to his family in Athens Co., Ohio.
For a few months he was variously employed, and on the 8th of March, 1865, he came to Barry Co., Mich., and bought 40 acres of unimproved land, which he sold in the spring of 1871, and in the fall of the same year he entered a homestead claim of 80 acres of land in this township, which he has since occupied, and has cleared 40 acres. He has deeded 40 acres of land to his son.
He was married in 1851, to Esther Jane, daughter of Empson and Mary (Latta) Powell. Mrs. Brown was born Dec. 4, 1828, in Columbiana Co., Ohio. Her parents died in Athens County, in the Buckeye State. They had four sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to mature life. Five of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown are now living: Nancy A. was born Nov. 18, 1853; Mary M., Sept. 24, 1855; Empson C., Feb. 12, 1661 ; Minerva J., Oct. 5, 1863, died Dec. 8, 1881. All these were born in Athens Co., Ohio, except Minerva, who was born in Franklin County, that State. Jerdeena was born Nov. 8, 1865, in Barry Co., Mich. James William was born Aug. 28, 1867. The parents are members of the Dis- ciples' Church. Mr. Brown is a Republican in polit- ical connections.
tephen P. Murtha, farmer on section 8, Coe Township, was born in Portland, Ionia County, Aug. 6, 1846, and is the son of Patrick and Ann (Hoy) Murtha, natives of Ire- land. The parents were married in this coun- try, having crossed the waters when quite young, and settled in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. They afterward lived 12 years in Ionia Co., Mich., farming, and in February, 1855, the family came to Coe Town- ship, this county, where they died, she Nov. 13, 1875, and he March 30, 1878.
The subject of this notice received a rudimentary
education in the common schools, and remained with his parents until their death. He now resides on a homestead, and owns 80 acres, 50 of which are under intelligent cultivation.
He was married in Coe Township, Dec. 9, 1877, to Catherine, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Wol- baugh) Gruber, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in the spring of 1877. Mr. and Mrs. M. have had three children, one of whom died in in- fancy. The surviving are Nellie and Sarah M.
Mr M. is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is po- litically a warm supporter of Democratic principles.
3 ason B. Dibble, farmer, section 24, Notta- wa Township, and one of the leading and representative citizens of the county, is a son of Asel B. and Judith (nce Tower) Dib- ble, natives of the State of Connecticut. They moved at an early date to New York, in which State the mother died in 1858. The father is still liv- ing, at the advanced age of 85 years, in Parma, Mon- roe Co., N. Y.
Mr. Dibble, Jr., the subject of this biography, was born in Maryland Township, Otsego Co., N. Y., 12 miles from Cooperstown. His father moved from that place when our subject was only five years of age and settled in Cattaraugus County, and lived at Freedom, that county, until 1865. In December of that year, he moved to this State and settled at Muir. Ionia County, to which place he brought his family in the following year. He lived at Muir six years, and while residing there was extensively engaged in lumbering, and, in company with Messrs. Fox & Arm- strong, purchased 2,316 acres of pine lands. Ilis next move was to White Co., Tenn., near Sparta, where he purchased 513 acres of land within six miles of that place. His intention was to make a home on this land, but he became dissatisfied with that country and remained there only a few months, and then removed to Elkhart Co., Ind., and purchas- ed a farm of 140 acres, Ile lived on this farm for about 11 months, then came to this county and pur- chased a large farm, and is now the owner of about 1,000 acres.
The subject of our sketch, Mr. Dibble, moved on his father's farm April 30, 1875, and has improved
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about 350 acres. He has four barns on the place and a good commodious residence.
Mr. D. was united in marriage, Feb. 15, 1846, in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., with Miss Mary H., daugh- ter of W. G. and Eleanor (nec Childs) Fisk, who was born Aug. 8, 1826, in Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y. Her father and mother were both natives of Vermont, and both died in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1851.
Mr. and Mrs. D. have one daughter,-Elizabeth Ann, born June 26, 1851. She is now the wife of John A. Bamborough, living near Mt. Pleasant. They have three children ; the oldest died in infancy and the remaining two are Mason A., born June 22, 1874, and Thomas, born Aug. 23, 1876.
Mr. Dibble was formerly a member of the Close- Communion Baptist, and Mrs. D. of the Free-Will Baptist, Church. He is politically an ardent Repub- lican, and, though not an office-seeker, has held va- rious local positions of trust. We are pleased to place the portrait of Mr. Dibble in this ALBUM, which will preserve permanently the features of a worthy and representative citizen.
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