USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 42
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artin A. Tombs, farmer, section 16, Cold- water Township, was born Jan. 2, 1828, in Genesee Co., N. Y., and is the son of William and Alta (Smith) Tombs. In 1846 the family removed to Michigan and resided four years in Hillsdale County. In 1850 they went to De Kalb Co., Ill., and later to Kendall County, in that State, where the mother died, in 1880. The father lives in Kane Co., Ill., and, asso- ciated with one of his sons, is managing a grist- mill, which he purchased soon after the death of his wife.
Mr. Tombs was an inmate of his father's home until the removal of the family to De Kalb County, where he became the proprietor of 80 acres of land, acquiring 40 acres by purchase and 40 acres by gift from his father. He sold his property two years later, and in 1852 he went to California, where he spent two years in mining and lumbering. He was accompanied to the Golden State by three brothers and made the journey thither by the overland route. He worked by the month in a saw-mill, for the stipu- lated sum of $100 per month, but his employer failed and he lost his arrearage of wages, amounting to $1,500. He returned to Illinois and purchased 40 acres of land in Kendall County, where his father then resided. He occupied the place a year, sold out and went to Bremer Co., Iowa, where he bought
80 acres of farming land, entered a homestead claim of 80 acres and bought 40 acres additional of timber land. Two years later, he again sold out and made another overland journey to California, taking with him his wife and three children. He bought a farm of 320 acres of land, and, after carrying on agricul- ture for five years, he again sold out and came to Hillsdale Co., Mich. He remained there about two months and came to St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich. His wife and one daughter then returned to Califor- nia, while his son and himself, in May, 1870, came to Isabella County and purchased 160 acres of unim- proved land. On this property he has since resided, with the exception of the time consumed in making two trips to California, by rail. Mr. Tombs is a Re- publican in political faith and has been Highway ยท Commissioner three terms, and served as Treasurer of his school district.
He was married in October, 1850, to Mary Thomas. She was born in 1831, and is the daughter of William and Mary Thomas. Four children have been born of their marriage, as follows; Theodore A., May 12, 1848; Louisa, Nov. 2, 1849; Mary, Sept. 24, 1851 ; Dora, Nov. 3, 1855, died Aug. 22, 1856.
illiam H. Bowen, lumberman, resident on section 6, Wise Township, was born July 26, 1827, in Montgomery Co., N. Y. His parents, Nicholas and Nancy Bowen, were natives of Montgomery Co., N. Y , and died in Onondaga County, in the Empire State.
Mr. Bowen obtained his education at the common schools and remained at home until 28 years of age, spending his time in farming and running a thresher. After that period he was variously occupied until 1861, when he engaged exclusively in farming. In 1869 he came to Clinton Co., Mich., and built a threshing-machine, which he has since continued to manage, in connection with lumbering. He came to Isabella County in the spring of 1883 and bought 20 acres of land, which was chiefly in timber. He erected thereon a saw-mill, with a producing capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber daily. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Mr. Bowen was married March 2, 1855, in Onon-
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daga Co., N. Y., to Lucy A. Marvin. She was born in that county, and is the daughter of Robert D. Marvin. Her parents were both natives of the Em- pire State. Ida M., Willard B., George A., Hattie and Jennie are the names of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen.
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avid Loomis, farmer, section 1, Lincoln Township, was born in Waterford Town- ship, Erie Co., Pa., Dec. 14, 1834.
The father of Mr. Loomis, David D., was a native of New York, of New England parent- age and English extraction. He was adescend- ant of the old Puritan fathers who left their native country to seek a home free from persecution. He followed the occupation of a farmer in New York un- til 1838, when he brought his family to this State and settled in Oakland County. They finally came to this county and the father died here, in Union Township, Sept. 16, 1881. David's mother, Sarah (DeCamp) Loomis, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Spanish and Irish descent, and died shortly after the family's arrival in Oakland County, about the year 1838.
David was only four years of age when his parents came to this State, and consequently has spent the greater portion of his life here. He remained with his father until he attained the age of 16 years, when, with his father's consent, he launched his life- boat on the sea of fortune and went forth to battle against the obstacles strewn along the pathway of prosperity. He worked as a common laborer on the neighboring farms until 1861.
Nov. 9, 1861, he responded to the Nation's call for loyal hearts and strong arms to battle for the per- petuity of her dishonored and insulted flag, and enlisted in Co. K., 14th Mich. Vol. Inf., which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and under command of Gen. Rosecrans. He participated in three active engagements-Stone River, Lavergne and Nashville-and several skirmishes. He escaped uninjured, but, becoming indisposed, he was sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and received an honorable discharge on surgeon's certificate of dis- ability, April 16, 1863. He returned to this State and again entered on the vocation of a farmer.
Mr. Loomis was united in marriage Oct. 6, 1864, in Clinton County, this State, to Miss Lucy M. Sutliff, a native of this State, where she was born Oct. 30, 1841, in Hillsdale County.
Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are the parents of 12 chil- dren. The living are: Lizzie F., Emma, Nellie, Nettie, Mary A., Hattie, Sarah D. and Lucy E. The deceased are: Emi, Amelia, Jessie and Ar- thur Garfield.
Four years after marriage Mr. Loomis brought his family to this county and settled on 160 acres of wild land on section 1, Lincoln Township, which he had purchased. He afterwards exchanged this land for 47 acres on the same section and 40 acres on section 36, Union Township. Of the 87 acres on which he is at present living, 75 acres are cleared and improved. Both husband and wife are identi- fied with the First Congregational Church of Victor, Clinton County.
Mr. Loomis has held the school offices of his dis- trict, and in politics is an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party.
eorge Atkin, farmer on section 6, Coe Township, is a son of William and Helen (Bacon) Atkin, natives of England, where they passed all their lives. Their family inclu- ded six sons and six daughters, George being the fourth son.
He was born in England, May 16, 1820. He was educated in his native country, and remained a resi- dent of Albion's Isle until 27 years old, learning the trade of lace-making. May 21, 1847, he sailed for the Great Republic, arriving the following month. He located at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and for the first season worked by the month at farming. He then worked a farm on shares for one season, after which he bought a farm of 24 acres, and worked it until 1855, when he sold. In April of that year he came West in search of a home, and located 125 acres on section 6, Coe Township, under the Gradu- ation Act. He at once erected a log house and be- gan to improve his land; but, his means being limi- ted, he was obliged to work out much of the time of the first year that he wished to devote to clearing his own farm. As an additional means for raising money,
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he sold 40 acres. By untiring industry and persever- ance, and the assistance of a faithful and loving wife, he has been able to clear 45 acres, which area is now in an advanced state of cultivation.
He was married in England, in May, 1843, to Sophia, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Wallace) Hodson, natives of England. Mrs. Atkin was born in England, March 18, 1818, and is the mother of seven children, four of whom survive,-Joseph, Wil- liam, Caroline E. and Susan E. The deceased are Sarah H., George and an infant.
Mr. Atkin has been Justice of the Peace two years, Postmaster three years, Tax Collector nine successive years, and has held all the offices in his school dis- trict. He is politically an ardent Republican. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of England.
eorge W. Howorth, farmer on section 21, Chippewa Township, is a son of Peter and Mary (Fay) Howorth, natives of England and New York State. The mother died in 1842. George was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., April 1, 1826, and lived in the State of New York till about 25 years old, when he went to Erie Co., Pa. Two years later he came to Jackson County, this State, where he remained 18 months. In Janu- ary, 1856, he came to Isabella County and bought 1 60 acres in Chippewa Township. He has since dis- posed of 60 acres and has 50 acres nicely improved.
He was first married in Erie Co., Pa., April 4, 1847, to Sophronia A. Godfrey, a native of New York State. Five of their seven children are living : Helen M., Delavan G., Mary A., Julia R. and Melvin L .; and two are deceased: Henry H. and Darwin L. His wife dying May 30, 1878, Mr. Howorth was again married, in November, 1878, to Amaretta, daughter of William D. and Deborah (Carrier) Kim- ball, and widow of John B. Waite. She was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., March 12, 1839, and she and Mr. H. have one son, Claud W.
Mr. H. has been Township Clerk, Highway Com- missioner, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, County
Superintendent of the Poor, etc. He was in February, 1882, appointed Postmaster of Alembic, which office he now holds. Politically, he is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
clinton B. Twomley, carpenter and joiner, resident at Mt. Pleasant, was born Feb. 16, 1846, in Newstead, Erie Co., N. Y. He is a son of James C. H. and Miranda C. (Miller) Twomley. His father was a farmer and re- moved when his son was but three years of age to Cattaraugus County.
Mr. Twomley received a good education and was trained to the calling of agriculture, which he fol- lowed until he was 21 years old, when he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1867, he came to Jonesville, Hillsdale Co., Mich., and remained there until the fall of 1873, when he transferred his residence to Orange Township, Ionia County. He spent one year on a farm, and came to Mt. Pleasant, where he has worked as a builder and contractor and spent the winter season in teaching. He has taught seven terms of school in Isabella County. He taught in the winter of 1883-4 in Lincoln Township.
Mr. Twomley was married in Danby Township, Ionia County, April 4, 1872, to Mary, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Wellfare. She was born Sept. 19, 1852, in Tekonsha, Calhoun Co., Mich. The family includes one child,-Ethel I.,-born Jan. 12, 1881, at Mt. Pleasant.
ndrew J. O'Boyle, farmer on section 33, Coe Township, was born in New York State, July 4, 1854, and is the son of John and Mary (Connolly) O'Boyle, natives of Ire- land. At the age of 19, he was employed as a brakeman on the Canada Southern Railroad, for about one year. He was afterward, for about a year and a half, in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. He came to Isabella County in 1874, and bought 40 acres in Coe Town- ship, on which he settled three years later.
lle was married in Gratiot Co., this State, in March,
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ISABELLA COUNTY.
1881, to Jennie, daughter of Thomas and Amanda Gallagher, residents of Gratiot County, where the daughter was born Jan. 27, 1856. Mr. O'Boyle is a Catholic, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Church. Politically, he votes the Democratic ticket.
Frederick Speck, farmer, section 27, Nottawa Township, is a son of Jacob Speck, a native of Prussia who landed at Quebec, Canada, June 12, 1863; lived in New Hamburg three years, then at Wyandotte, Wayne Co., Mich., 1866-74, working most of the time at the molder's trade and the rest of the time at farming; then was a farm laborer in Clinton County a year, and finally settled in this county.
Frederick was born in Holstein, Prussia, Jan. 4, 18.46; April 19, 1878, he married Miss Jessie, daughter of John and Maggie (Bain) Hyslop, natives of Scotland and still living, in Nottawa Township. Mr. S. has no children. He owns 80 acres of land where he now resides, having 30 acres in cultivation and prospering as a farmer. With regard to na- tional issues he acts with the Democratic party; is now School Assessor, and has been Supervisor one year. Mrs. S. is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
eorge Blesch farmer, section 22, Coldwater Township, was born Dec. 20, 1846, in the township of Berlin, Waterloo Co., Ont., and is the son of Michael and Margaret (Meckler) Blesch. The parents were both born in the vicinity of Elsass, Germany, and died in Waterloo Co., Can.
Mr. Blesch was four years of age when his father died and left his mother with two sons. She married again and her son remained in the family until he was 12 years old, when he became a clerk in a store and afterwards was an assistant in a hotel. After reaching the period of his legal freedom, he attended the College of St. Jerome, and acquired a fair educa-
tion, after which he came to Michigan. He was for three years engaged in the lumber business for Edwin Hall. In 1871 he came to Coldwater and home- steaded his place, entering his claim on the 14th day of November. He resided on it at intervals of six months, and in the fall of the succeeding year he returned to Canada, where he was married, Oct. 1, 1872, to Mary Ann, daughter of Wendell and Cath- erine (Hass) Biek. She was born June 25, 1854, in Prussia, and when she was seven weeks old her par- ents emigrated to Canada, where her father worked a few years at his trade, and then bought a farm. They are now passing their declining years in Hawks- ville, Can.
Mr. and Mrs. Blesch have had six children : Joseph William was born Aug. 20, 1873; George S., June 20, 1875; Bertha Amelia, March 13, 1877 ; Ida Ma- tilda, May 6, 1880; Mary Norma, April 19, 1882 ; Allan Louis, April 16, 1884. The parents are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. Mr. Blesch is a Re- publican, and has held various local offices. He now owns 160 acres of land, having added 80 acres to his original purchase. Of this, 65 acres are in tillage.
8 enjamin P. Mount, farmer section 34, Gilmore Township, was born May 18, 1832, in Middlesex Co., N. J. His par- ents, William and Lydia (Pierce) Mount, were natives of the State of New Jersey and are bothi deceased.
At the age of 17 years Mr. Mount became the arbiter of his own fortunes. His first move was to proceed to the city of New York, where he learned the variety of business known as spar-making, which he pursued 13 years. In 1862 he settled in Jackson Co., Mich., where he bought a farm. Three years later he went to Livingston Co., III., where he be- came the proprietor of a second farm and there re- sided eight years. At the expiration of that time, he sold his property in the Prairie State and returned to Jackson Co., Mich., where he again became the owner of a farm, which he cultivated until 1879. In that year he removed his family and interests to Isa- bella Co., Mich., where he owns and resides upon So acres of land in Gilinore Township, and has 55 acres
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under good improvement. About 30 acres were un- der culture at the date of purchase. In 188t he was made Township Treasurer by appointment.
Mr. Mount was the first time married in April, 1856, to Adeline E., daughter of George and Fran- ces Deborah (Field) King. She was born Nov. 16, 1838, and died Aug. 3, 1874. Following is the record of the children which constituted the issue of this marriage: George W., born June 23, 1858, died Aug. 25, 1860; Susan Frances, born June 25, 1860; Mary E., June 17, 1863 ; Julia E., born Jan. 6, 1868, died Dec. 4, 1871 ; Caroline, Feb. 26, 1871. Mr. Mount was a second time married Nov. 6, 1877, to Huldah J., daughter of Norman and Sarah D. (Day- ton) Collins. She was born Aug. 26, 1844. Of three children born of this marriage one survives. Following is the record: William R. was born Jan. 16, 1878, and died Jan. 21, 1883; Sarah A. was born Aug. 16, 1880, and died Sept. 28, 1881 ; Verenea J., was born May 21, 1883.
illiam H. Elden, of the firm of Elden & White, dealers in jewelry, sewing-machines, stationery, etc., at Clare, was born in Gen- esee County, this State, July 18, 1850; and lived with his mother (his father dying when he, William, was five years old) until 12 years of age, attending school and assisting on the farm, which was the support of his widowed mother. He was the third of a family of six,-three sons and three daughters.
From 12 to 20 he worked out in the summer and attended school in the winter. At 20 he went to Saginaw and bought 40 acres of improved land, which he cultivated for two years. His next move was to Midland, where he was apprenticed to learn the jeweler's trade under George W. Abbey. Serving his time of two years, he married and came with his wife to Clare, where he established a jewelry store with a small stock. This has been enlarged to meet the demands of an increased patronage, and he and his partner (received Oct. 15, 1883) now have a stock worth $2,000, with an annual trade worth $8,ooc.
He owns their business building, and three improved lots in the village.
His marriage occurred at Saginaw, Nov. 18, 1873, to Miss Mary Steckert, who was born April 28, 1855, in Saginaw County. Their two children are Edna S., born April 28, 1874, and Ethel, born Nov. 12, 1879
Mr. and Mrs. E. are members of the Congrega- tional Church, of which Mr. E. is clerk. He has been Justice of the Peace and has served as Town- ship Clerk one year and Village Treasurer two years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and is politically a Republican.
amuel Earl, farmer, section 14, Lincoln Township, is a native of the State of Ohio, where, in Columbia County, he was born Jan. 4, 1831. His parents, Daniel and Eliz- abeth (Little) Earl, were natives of the same State and County in which Samuel was born, and were of English and German descent. The fa- ther was a blacksmith by trade, and during the latter days of his life turned his attention to farming. Both parents are deceased, the father dying Nov. 19, 1883, aged nearly 82 years, and the mother in 1868, aged 65 years.
Samuel worked on the parental homestead and aided the father in the maintenance of the family until he attained the age of maturity. On arriv- ing at this age, he went forth to " plant his roses on the hill of difficulty." They grew not without thorns, and he engaged as a common laborer on the farms in the county where his parents had moved. He followed this vocation until the event of his marriage with Miss Mary A. Putman, which occurred in that county March 15, 1855. She was the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Bates) Putman, natives of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and of German and English extraction, and was born in Wyandot Co., Ohio, April 29, 1839.
One year after their marriage Mr. Earl rented a farm, which he successfully cultivated for a short period, and then purchased a home of his own, consisting of 40 acres and situated in Sandusky, Co., Ohio. He lived on this homestead until 1876, when he sold it and moved to Rising Sun, Ohio, for
I.W. Hopkins.
Maggio V. Hopkino
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three years, or until 1879. In the spring of that year -he came to this State, and purchased 120 acres of land on section 14, Lincoln Township, this county, where he at present resides.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl are the parents of six children, viz : Letoy, born Oct. 30, 1856, married Miss Lydia Ilill and now resides at Rising Sun, Ohio; Alpheus Jefferson, born June 15, 1859, married Miss Sophia Stahl and resides in Sandusky Co., Ohio ; Jacob, born Dec. 12, 1868; Dorsey, born June 10, 1874 ; Truby, born Dec. 28, 1877 ; Nettie, born July 16, 1866, died March 17, 1869.
Mr. Earl is a member of no Church, but believes in the " Golden Rule." Politically, he is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
on. Samuel W. Hopkins, of Mt. Pleasant, ex 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 Phebe (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. Le 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 10 some degree every business man in the United States, was the end of his active business career. He had been a very energetic 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, 18.45, 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 a 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 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- 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
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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, 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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