Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 43

Author: Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 586

USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first of January, 1883, he formed his present business con 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. He is a director in the banking house of Brown, Harris & Co.

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 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. Childs, of Washtenaw, James W. Cochrane, of Mid- land, and George A. Farr, of Ottawa. They pre-

ISABELLA COUNTY.

427

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. He has been for the last six years Chairman of the Republican County Committee, which 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 (Williamson) 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.

hydelous F. Bennett, farmer, section 32, Nottawa Township, is a son of J. J. and Priscilla (Margeson) Bennett, natives of 76 New York State, the former born Jan. 26, 1821, and the latter Dec. 26, 1830; both are still living.

The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 12, 1852, lived with his parents until of age, when he pur- chased an unimproved 80-acre tract and settled upon it, where he now resides. The place is in good condition. He has been Township Treasurer

two years and Supervisor two years. In political mat- ters he is a Democrat, and in religion both he and his wife are Second Adventists.

April 21, 1875, Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Nancy Jane, daughter of Sílas Prothero. Her parents are both living, in this neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. B. have no children.

rancis Bone, farmer, section 20, Coldwater Township, was born in 1845, in County Antrim, Ireland. His parents, Patrick and Mary (McCali) Bone, were natives of the " land of the harp and shamrock," and about 1850 emigrated to the New World. They settled near Geneva, Seneca Co., N. Y., where they resided about four years, then they removed to Wayne Co., Mich., where the father bought 30 acres of land. Their family included three children, all of whom are living. Their father died Aug. 7, 1862, in Browns- town, Wayne Co., Mich. The demise of the mother occurred Feb. 5, 1876.

Mr. Bone was the first son of his parents, with whom he remained until the year in which the notes of civil war in America rung like the blast of a tem- pest round the whole world. He became a soldier, enlisting Oct. 29, 1862. He was enrolled in the 27th Mich. Vol. Inf., which was assigned to the Ninth Army Corps and attached to the armies of the East and of the West. He was in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged until he was wounded, at the battle of Spottsylvania, by a minie ball in the left shoulder. Thereupon he was first sent to Fredericksburg, and then to the hospital at Washington, where he remained until sufficiently recovered to return home. He was discharged Nov. 9, 1864.

He then came to Wayne Co., Mich., where he en- tered the employment of a farmer, but his strength was not sufficiently recuperated for labor, and he came to Isabella County about Nov. 1, 1865. He was in the employ of E. Hall about three years, and toward the end of that time he entered a homestead claim of 80 acres, which he proved in the course of five years and obtained his patent. He has improved about 60 acres. Mr. Bone was formerly a member of the Catholic Church. He holds the position of

428

ISABELLA COUNTY.

Major, or Vice Commander, in J. Bowley Post, No. 77, G. A. R., at Sherman.

He was married March 20, 1876, to Minerva, daughter of Empson and Mary (Latta) Powell. She was born Oct. 6, 1848, in Perry Co., Ohio. Her parents both died in Athens Co., Ohio. They had 14 children, of whom Mrs. Bone is the youngest. She is the mother of four children, born in the fol- lowing order : Patrick, Dec. 12, 1876; Empson, May 6, 1879; Mary Elizabeth, Oct. 6, 1881 ; John Francis, Jan. 7, 1884.

aniel Burdick, farmer and stock-raiser, re- siding on section 16, Lincoln Township, was born in Williams Co., Ohio, July 25, 1838.

His parents were Lewis and Rachel (Cook) Burdick; the father a native of Massachusetts, the mother of New York, and both of New England ancestry. The father followed the occupation of farming and spent the major portion of his life in Ohio engaged in that vocation. He died in Living- ston Co., Mo., Aug. 15, 1873, aged 64 years. The mother departed this life in April, 1849, in Williams Co., Ohio, aged 36 years.

Daniel Burdick was the sixth child of a family of ten children, nine of whom were girls. When he at- tained the age of 22 years he apprenticed himself to his brother-in-law to learn the shoemaker's trade. He continued at this trade until the breaking out of the late war.

When the news flashed over the wire that Sumter had been bombarded with rebel shell, and the call went forth for the sons of liberty to rally round their imperiled flag, our subject was among the first to respond. He enlisted in Co. D, 38th Ohio Vol. Inf., Aug. 15, 1861, and his regiment was assigned to the 3d Division, 14th Corps, of the Army of the Cumber- land, commanded by Gens. Sherman, Rosecrans and Thomas. He was in numerous engagements, promi- nent among them being Mill Spring, Shiloh and De- catur. At the latter battle he was taken prisoner, was paroled and finally, in 1863, was exchanged and re- turned to his regiment. He accompanied the regiment in its march to Atlanta and participated in all its engagements: was discharged Sept. 25, 1864.

Mr. B. passed through the battles in which his regiment was engaged without receiving any serious wounds, but in one of the engagements a ball passed through his hat and cleanly shaved the hair from his head.

After his discharge from the service Mr. B. fol- lowed his trade for a short period, and then came to this State. He arrived here in 1865 and purchased So acres of land on section 16, Lincoln Township, where he is at present residing. At the time he came to Lincoln Township, the hand of improve- ment was hardly visible, and he entered on the task of clearing and improving his land amid numerous difficulties. He was compelled to cut a road one and a half miles through the dense woods to his land, but withstood all the trials and now has 160 acres, of which 70 are in a good state of cultivation, a comfortable residence and two commodious stock and grain barns.

Mr. Burdick was united in marriage, Nov. 28, 1862, in Delaware Co., Ohio, with Miss Mary Hack- ett, a native of Jamestown, Ontario, where she was born Aug. 15, 1847. She came to the "States " with her father in 1850, her mother having died, in Can- ada, in 1848. Her father located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained for about 12 years, following his trade of wagon-making. While in Cleveland, Mrs. Burdick attended the public schools, and from that place accompanied her father to Columbus, and thence to Delaware County, same State, where she remained until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. B. are the parents of six children : Orion L., born Oct. 15, 1865; Elmer E., born March 26, 1867, died Jan. 19, 1874; Ernest E., born Feb. 22, 1869; Theron D., born May 28, 1872 ; R. Idella, born Sept. 28, 1873; Gracie M., born Oct. 26, 1875.

Politically, Mr. B. is an adherent to and believer in the principles of the Republican party, and has held the minor offices of his township.

dison S. Hipkins, druggist at Blanchard, is a son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Loup) Hipkins, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born March 14, 181 1, was a drug- gist by occupation, and died in 1867, in Gilboa, Ohio. The mother was born Oct. 25, 1825, and is yet living at Gilboa.

431

ISABELLA COUNTY.

The subject of this sketch was born at Gilboa, Put- nam Co., Ohio, April 14, 185 1, and remained at home until 16 years of age, when he became a drug clerk. In 1871 he entered the pharmacy institution at 45, Bleeker Street, Utica, where he remained until 1874. Returning to Gilboa, he entered the drug establish- ment of McClure & Mathias. Mr. Mc Clure subse- quently bought his partner's interest, and after a time he sold to Harmans & Son. A short time after this last change, Mr. Hipkins went to Bairdstown, Wood County, and bought a stock of drugs of Cattor Bros. After two years there, he sold to one Getman, and came to Michigan. He clerked for George Finch for a while, and in 1881 came to Blanchard, where he has since conducted a profitable business.

Nov. 7, 1877, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Anna Phillips, daughter of Miles and Sarah (Redson) Phillips. She was born Jan. 7, 1855, the second daughter in her father's family. One son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. H., named Edison Maxwell, Jan. 5, 1884.

In political sentiment, Mr. Hipkins is a Democrat.

acob P. Yuncker, farmer, section 27, Notta- wa Township, is a son of Hubert and Bar- bara Yuncker, natives of France. Mr. Y., Sr., emigrated to America in June, 1847, settling in Erie Co., N. Y., with his parents; when he was 18 years of age the family moved to Alden, same county. By occupation he, as well as his father, was a boot and shoe maker, for some years in the early part of his life. His father died in Erie Co., N. Y., and his mother in Clinton Co., Mich.

Jacob P. was born Dec. 23, 1837. Jan. 9, 1866, he was married to Margaret Pohl, a daughter of Nicholas and Ann C. (Maurer) Pohl, both of German descent, the latter deceased and the former still living, in Clinton County. Mrs. Yuncker was born in West- phalia, that county, Nov. 21, 1843. Of the ten chil- dren born in this household, nine are living, -- six sons and three daughters. Their names are Mary, Rosa, Henry, Joseph, Louisa, Louis, John, Arthur and Ed- ward.

In political affairs Mr. Y. is independent; has been Supervisor in Clinton County four years, High-

way Commissioner in Nottawa Township, this county, two years, and School Director, which last position he now holds. Mr. and Mrs. Yuncker are members of the Catholic Church.

amuel Craft, farmer, section 7, Deerfield Township, is a son of Ridgeway and Es- ther (Bailey) Craft, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia, of German and English ancestry. They settled in Washington Co., Ohio, where they lived until they came to Michigan, in 1836, settling in Lenawee County ; there they lived one year; and then they passed the remainder of their days in Branch County, he dying Jan. 1, 1863, and she, Aug. 13, 1878. Their family comprised seven chil- dren, five daughters and two sons.

Samuel, the youngest of the family, was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Feb. 16, 1832; when nearly four years old the family moved to Michigan, settling in Branch County, where he grew up and was edu- cated. He had sole charge of his father, who was a cripple the last 17 years of his life.

In 1865, Mr. Craft moved to Greenville, Mont- calm County, invested in town property and resided there about 14 years ; he then sold out and came to Isabella County, and bought 120 acres of wild land, in Deerfield Township, where he now lives. At present he owns 320 acres in this county, about 25 of which is under the plow. Mr. C. has taken great interest in the agricultural affairs of the county. He was the first Vice-President of the Agricultural So- ciety for Deerfield Township for three years; he drafted the constitution and by-laws of the society, has served on all the important committees, is now Chairman of the Executive Committee, and for each year has been General Superintendent. In April, 1 879, he was elected Supervisor of Deerfield Town- ship, since which time he has served continuously in that office. He has also held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, School Inspector four years and has been Sanitary Adviser since 1879. In politics he is in sympathy with the Democratic party, but reserves the right to "scratch the ticket."

May 1, 1859, in Branch Co., Mich., Mr. Craft was

432

ISABELLA COUNTY.

married to Jeannette, daughter of Charles W. and Jemima (Westfall) Lawrence, natives of New York State who moved to Branch County, this State, about 1850, where they lived until death; she died July 14, 1850, and he, April 2, 1861. Mrs. C. was born in Rochester, N. Y., June 9, 1841. The children born of this marriage are : Burt W., Florence J. and R S. We are happy to place Mr. Craft's portrait in this ALBUM, as that of a representative citizen of Isabella County. It will be found on page 430.

John C. Rockafellow, Postmaster of Clare, and Supervisor of Grant Township, Clare County, was born in Alexander Township, Hunterdon Co., N. J., March 11, 1826. His father, a native of New Jersey and of German descent, was at first by occupation a black- smith. He moved from New Jersey to New York, where he lived ten years, and came to Genesee County, this State, in 1836. He was one of four that were the first settlers in what is now Atlas village, that county. He has been during much of his life a farmer, but is now retired from active life, being of the advanced age of $1. He resides still in Genesee County. Mrs. Rockafellow (Catherine Thatcher) was a native of New Jersey, of Scotch extraction, and died in this State in March, 1880, at the age of 73.

The subject of this biographical sketch was the second son and child of a family of 12, of whom ir grew to be adults. Seven still survive. He was but a few months old when his parents removed to New York, settling in Richmond, Ontario County. Two years later the family removed to Brocksgrove, Liv- ingston County, where they lived eight years. Here John spent some time at school. When he was ten years old, his parents joined the army of emigrants bound for the rich and unoccupied West, and settled in Genesee County, this State, amidst the forest, the herds of deer and packs of wolves. Being in a per- fectly new country, John was thrown on his own re- sources for gaining an education, but he did the best he could under the circumstances. His parents were Presbyterians, and were very careful with his moral training. Much of the time before he was 21, he worked in his father's blacksmith shop. During those pioneer days, the family often were pinched for

the necessaries of life. They were obliged to go 50 miles, to Detroit, for provisions.

Attaining his majority, he chose farming as his pro- fession, and commenced as a common laborer for the neighboring farmers. In 1854 he formed a partner- ship with his brother. In 1860 he settled on a farm he had purchased, and there lived until 1866, when he moved to Atlas, same county. The following year he established a store for the sale of general mer- chandise, which he kept until the spring of 1873. At that date he came to Clare, Clare County, and en- gaged in similar business. At that time the streets of what is now a flourishing village were filled with stumps, and the surrounding country was a dense forest. He continued in mercantile life until Nov. 4, 1883, when he suffered an almost total loss ($8,000) by fire. He carried but a light amount of insurance.

He was married Feb. 14, 1860, in Atlas Township, Genesee County, to Miss Julia M. Wilder, daughter of E. S. and Silva (Gilkie) Wilder, natives of Ver- mont and New York. Both parents died in this State a few years ago, having followed farming up to their death. Mrs. Rockafellow was born in Gaines Township, Orleans Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1840, came to Michigan in 1856, and lived in Genesee County until her marriage. Of this union six children have been born, four of whom are not living. The surviving are : Arthur H., born Dec. 17, 1864; and Carrie L., born June 27, 1871. The deceased are: John E., born Dec. 5, 1860, and died Dec. 3, 1863; Baby, born in 1862, and died in infancy; Carrie B., born Dec. 24, 1869, and died Jan. 6, 1870; and Daisy, born June 7, 1881, and died Aug. 16, 1882. Mrs. Rockafellow is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she was one of the prin- cipal organizers in the village of Clare.

Mr. R. is a charter member of Farwell Lodge, No. 335, F. & A. M., also of Clare Lodge, No. 333, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of the Encampment in the I. O. O. F. He holds the office of Treasurer in the former body. As a business man, a citizen and an official, Mr. R. has made a creditable record. He has been Postmaster of Clare ever since 1874. He has filled almost every township office and is now Supervisor of Grant. He has been County Treasurer for six years, receiving on his first election all but four votes in the county. Ile has been a member of the Village Council for two years, and is now Treas-

433

ISABELLA COUNTY.

urer of Clare Village. He was for two terms Assist- ant Sergeant-at-Arms of the State Senate, and for one term Sergeant-at-Arms. Politically, he is a staunch and influential Republican, as are all of his father's family. In 1868, his father and five sons went to the polls together and cast their votes for U. S. Grant.

Mr. R.'s wide experience and varied talents fit him for almost any position, and render him in every sense a representative citizen. It is such men as he that are so rapidly developing the wilds of Northern Michigan, planting civilization and wealth where for untold ages have been barbarism and waste.

illiam Lansing, farmer, section 8, Wise Township, was born Feb. 18, 1832, in Lennox Co., Ont., and is the son of William and Catherine (Sprung) Lansing. The father was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., and the mother was a native of Prince Edward Co., Can. The former died in February, 1867, in Cana- da. The latter has reached the age of 84 years and is totally blind.

Mr. Lansing came to Isabella County in 1877, having spent the years of his previous life in Canada, with the exception of one year which he spent in Missouri, and six months in the State of New York. In boyhood he attended the common schools, and on entering active life he became a farmer. In the fall of 1877, he bought 80 acres of land in its natural condition in Wise Township. He has since added 80 acres by purchase to his estate, and has 60 acres cleared and in tillage. Mr. Lansing is a member of the Republican party in political affiliation, and has been quite prominent in public life. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner one year, and in the spring of 1882 was elected Justice of the Peace, of which office he is the present incumbent.

He was married Oct. 8, 1855, in Hastings Co., Canada, to Minerva J., daughter of John and Marga- ret (Spears) Hart. The parents were natives respect- ively of Vermont and Canada. The mother died in the Dominion, May 21, 1861, and the father May 19, 1863. Mrs. Lansing was born in Hastings Co., Can.,

Dec. 25, 1840. Seven children have been born of her marriage: Margaret, Catherine, John W., Hen- ry S., William J., Annie L. and Minnie M. W. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

annibal Gaskill, farmer on section 30, Coe Township, is a son of William and Lydia (Brown) Gaskill, natives of New England ; and was born in Lockport, N. Y., July 31, 1824. He remained at home until 19 years of age, at- tending school and assisting his father on the farm. He attended one term at the Wilson Colle- giate Institute, at Wilson, Niagara Co., N. Y. Since then, he has taught 28 nearly consecutive winters, working out by the day during the summer season. He has devoted all his leisure moments to study, especially history, both sacred and profane. He is a close Biblical student, but is liberal in huis reason- ing and interpretations. He spent one winter in Minnesota, teaching and farming. He first can.e to Michigan in the spring of 1845, but remained only a few months in Clinton County. In September, 1854, he settled in that county, buying a farm of 40 acres. In 1878, he traded this for 80 acres in Isabella County, where he has since resided. He has 18 acres under cultivation.

He was first married in Niagara Co., N. Y., March 25, 1858, to Rachel A. Clark, a native of that county. One daughter, Mary F., was born to them. Mrs. G. died July 19, 1860, and he was again married, in 1865, to Anna Jeffrey, a native of Michigan. Mr. G. is politically a Democrat. In religious belief he is a Universalist.

acob L. Fordyce, farmer, section 34, Gil- more Township, was born April 2, 1828, in Greene Co., Pa. His parents, Archibald G. and Nancy (Leonard) Fordyce, were both natives of Pennsylvania, where the father is still living. The mother died in 1847.

Mr. Fordyce studied medicine in his earlier years, and at 25 years of age went to West Virginia and commenced its practice, to which he devoted 12

434

ISABELLA COUNTY.

years at Little's Mills, Tyler County. March 28, 1865, he came to Isabella County and located on 120 acres of land in Coe Township. In 1871 he disposed of the place by sale and purchased 160 acres in Gil- more Township, with a small tract of 12 acres cleared. He has since sold 80 acres, and retains but one-half his original acreage. On this he has good and suit- able farm buildings. He served as Supervisor of Coe Township two terms, and has filled the same position four terms in Gilmore. He is a Republican in political affiliation.

He was married Jan. 6, 1853, in Greene Co., Pa., to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Rachel (Wood) Jacobs. She was born March 31, 1834. Following is the record of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fordyce, four of whom are deceased: Lakins was born Jan. 5, 1854; Clarinda, April 29, 1859; Eli, Aug. 25, 1861; Silas, Dec. 17, 1865; Horace, Feb. 2, 1871 ; William was born Nov. 8, 1855 (died Sept. 21, 1863, of diphtheria): Jarret, born Oct. 4, 1857 (drowned July 17, 1861); an unnamed child died of measles March 2, 1863, who was born Feb. 24, of the same year; John Linza, born Feb. 1, 1868 (died Feb. 1, 1884, of malignant erysipelas).

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches, Part 43

Author: Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 586

Author: Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 586