USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 45
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The ancestral line of the Partridge family is of un- mixed British origin. Burke states that the first of the name was Robert Partridge, the Norman, a man of valor who received the borough of Malden for his services in the war between Matilda and Stephen of Blois, in 1837. William Partridge, the earliest ances- tor who settled on this continent, came from Ber- wick-on-the-Tweed, Scotland, and settled in Hartford, C'onn., about 1636, going later on, with a pioneer col- ony, to Hadley, Mass., from whom comes the direct line of descent. He was the progenitor of a pos- terity that in every generation sustained the honor of the patronymic and with one or two exceptions reach- ed distinction. They intermarried with the Dudleys, Cottons, Haynes and Wylys, families of New Eng- land, whose connection with the settlement of that section is inseparable from its history, and whose de- stendants located in Massachusetts, going thence to Vermont, where the earliest traceable lineal descend- ant of the family referred to in this sketch, Joseph l'artridge, was born, Oct. 18, 1763, the year made memorable by the administration of the "beach real"
in the settlement of the arbitrary claims of the State of New York. Jonas B. Partridge, son of Joseph, was born Nov. 25, 1795, in the Green Mountain State. Dr. D. Scott Partridge was born in 1827, in Pratts- burg, N. Y., and died as stated, two and one half months before the birth of his son.
Mr. Partridge, of this sketch, attended the common schools of his native county until he was 13 years old, when he came to Marshall, Calhoun Co., Mich., making the trip alone. He entered the High School there, where he studied one year. He returned to his native State and became a student at the Naples Academy, where he remained a pupil about 18 months. On leaving that institution, he went to Pough- keepsie and entered upon a course of commercial study in Eastman's Business College, where he was graduated April 2, 1868. He returned to his native county and passed the next two years in varied em- ployment. In October, 1870, he began to read law under the instructions of Butler & Parkhill, attorneys at Liberty, Steuben County. He was admitted to practice in the State Courts of New York in the Su- preme Court at Syracuse on the 8th day of January, 1874. He first engaged in practice with his former preceptors, and in the spring of 1874 opened an office independently at Hornellsville, where he remained until December of the same year, when he came to Mt. Pleasant. He arrived on the 30th day of the month and at once established his business, which he continued to manage alone until April 1, 1878. He was elected Justice of the Peace in April, 1875, and has held the incumbency ever since. On the first of April, 1878, he formed a partnership with the Hon. 1. A. Fancher and Peter F. Dodds, firm style Fancher, Dodds & Partridge. This firm, after carrying on the heaviest and most successful law business in the county for 18 months, terminated by mutual consent, and Mr. Partridge operated singly until the first of April, 1882, at which date he became associated with William I. Cutler, in the management of a real-estate, loan and collection office, under the firm name of Partridge & Cutler. This relation was in existence until Dec. 1, 1883. On the 9th of January, 1884, he assumed the duties of his present position.
On his accession thereto he received the following testimonials from the local press at Mt. Pleasant, published in January, 1884 :
"D. Scott Partridge is now the cashier of Hicks,
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Bennett & Co's bank. He is in every way capable of filling the position, and will make a popular cashier." "The pleasant countenance of D. Scott Partridge, Esq., is now to be seen in Hicks, Bennett & Co's bank as cashier. We think the bank made a wise choice in selecting Mr. Partridge. His business ability is good, integrity unquestioned, and he is respected by every one."
Mr. Partridge is an adherent of the principles of the Democratie element in his political affiliations. He has been prominently identified with local politics, having served his party as delegate to county and State conventions, and in 1878 was placed in nomi- nation for Representative. He has also held the office of County Superintendent of the Poor, and been the incumbent of other local positions by appointment. In 1878-9 he discharged the duties of Village Clerk of Mt. Pleasant. He is prominent in Masonic cir- cles, and is serving his sixth term as Master of Wabon Lodge, No. 305, at Mt. Pleasant. On his last re-elec- tion, Dec. 12, 1883, the Northwestern Tribune pub- lished the following: "At the annual election of offi- cers of Wabon Lodge, No. 305, F. & A. M., a large number of the brethren were present, and D. Scott Partridge was re-elected Master, after which he was presented with a beautiful silver water service. Bro. S. C. Brown made the presentation speech, which by request is herewith published. The presentation was a complete surprise to the Master.
"Worthy Brother: I have been accorded the dis- tinguished honor, by the brethren of Wabon Lodge, of presenting to you a token, not only of their respect for your personal character and gentlemanly courtesy toward your brethren of the eraft, but of their appre- ciation of your valuable services during the six years you have presided in the East. They have not failed to recognize the fact that your administra- tion during all these years has made a very marked improvement in the affairs of the lodge. They remember that when you assumed supreme command, the lodge was not only financially embarrassed, but in many other respects was incum- bered with a heavy debt that had been steadily accumulating, and no proper effort being made for its liquidation. * * My brother, I trust that you will not consider that I am indulging in fulsome flat- tery when I make the statement that under your mas- ter hand the debts of the lodge have all been paid, new furniture bought, a splendid lodge room provid-
ed and money in the treasury. Appreciating, there- fore, your honesty of purpose and purity of character, and your strict integrity in the discharge of the ardu- ous duties of your office, the brothers of this lodge have delegated to me the pleasing task of presenting to you this silver set. Its sterling purity will remind you that your brothers present it to you as an emblem of the purity of purpose which has marked every offi- cial act of yours while you have presided in the East."
Mr. Partridge also belongs to Mt. Pleasant Chapter, No. 111, Royal Arch Masons, which he was largely instrumental in organizing, and to St. Bernard Com- mandery, Knights Templar, No. 16, stationed at East Saginaw. He made the pilgrimage to San Francisco, in August, 1883, in connection with the Michigan Grand Commandery, on the occasion of the holding of the 22d Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of the United States.
His residence is a fine building, with tasteful grounds, including six lots. He owns besides, about three acres within the corporation, which was platted in 1880 under the name of " Partridge's Addition." He also owns building lots in other parts of the vil- lage, six acres of valuable land joining the village, be- sides valuable farm lands in the county.
. He was married June 28, 1876, at Avoca, Steuben Co., N. Y., to Mary E., daughter of Albert T. and Elizabeth Parkhill. She was born Nov. 18, 1856, at Howard, Steuben Co., N. Y. Fannie, only child, was born Sept. 11, 1877, at Pleasant.
Mr. Partridge is a gentleman of active, ambitious temperament, keenly alive to all the laudable enter- prises common to the young men of his generation. He has been in the past zealously interested in the science of music, and when but 19 years of age or- ganized a band at Cohocton, N. Y., of which he was musical conductor two years. During his residence at Hornellsville, he was the leader of the band at that place. He also organized and obtained the equip- ments of the Opera House Band at Mt. Pleasant, in 1881, of which he was the instructor and leader. He has been interested in the game of base ball at Mt. Pleasant, and has been the chief of every club organized at this place until 1883, when his health prevented his joining the company. He is a stockhold- er in the Mt. Pleasant Driving Park, and was its first President. He was subsequently re-elected to the same position.
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'The career of Mr. Partridge has been marked from first to last with the element that has become the true type of American character,-a laudable ambition to make the most of an opportunity and wrest from circumstances their best possibilities.
homas W. Walton, blacksmith, resident on section 5, Wise Township, was born Jan. 17, 1857, in Canada. His parents, Thomp- son and Mary (Elgie) Walton, were natives of England and emigrated to Canada, where the mother died, at the age of 73. The father died at Loomis, this county, aged 82.
Mr. Walton attended the common schools of the Dominion until he was 17 years old, when he was apprenticed for three years to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He came to Midland County in 1876 and was in his brother's employ two years, working as a blacksmith. He was similarly employed at Cole- man for two years, and in 1877 came to Isabella County and bought out a shop in Loomis, where he operated five years. In 1883 he took possession of 140 acres of land on section 5 and 6, of which he had become the owner some time previous. On this he has since continued to reside and combines the callings of blacksmith and agriculturist. He is a Republican in political principles and has officiated two years as Township Treasurer, one year as High- way Commissioner, and was Deputy Sheriff 18 months.
Mr. Walton's marriage with Minerva Baker oc- curred June 6, 1877. Her parents, August and Mary Baker, were natives of Germany. Mrs. Wal- ton was born in Canada. She and her husband are both members of the Presbyterian Church.
ohn C. Leaton, attorney at law, Mt. Pleas- ant, was born Oct. 18, 1848, in Port Rowan, Ont. He is a son of John T. and Eliz- abeth (White) Leaton. His father was for many years extensively engaged in lumbering in Canada and Michigan, and is yet doing a large business in the same line in Mississippi, but resides in Memphis, Tenn.
Mr. Leaton, our subject, was placed in St. Mary's College, in Montreal, at the age of 12 years, in which institution he remained until 18 years of age. The five-years course of study gave him a thorough classical education. His parents moved to Saginaw in 1855, and John C. entered the law office of Messrs. Webber & Smith, under whose efficient tutelage he rapidly advanced in legal knowledge. After three years spent with this firm, he entered the Law De- partment of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, at which institution he was graduated with honor, after taking a six-months course. Graduating in the spring of 1870, he returned to Saginaw and entered the office of Gaylord & Hanchett, attorneys, where he remained one year. In 1871, he opened a law office in the village of Mt. Pleasant, and also engaged in buying and selling real estate.
To say that Mr. Leaton has been very successful in business only partially expresses what the term really means, for his successes have been the basis of much of the enterprise and improvement which characterize this prosperous village. His connection with many prominent cases before the Courts of this county and elsewhere have given him a fine reputa- tion as a lawyer, which is second to none among the members of the Isabella County Bar. He has served a number of terms in an official capacity in this vil- lage, and was President of the Board in 1877. The management of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad have recognized in him an efficient attorney, having secured his services in several important suits ; and he is their attorney at present. He was one of the members organizing Brown, Harris & Co's Bank, and is now largely interested in the general banking busi- ness of that company. He is also the senior men- ber of the firm of Leaton & Upton, lumber dealers, who own the large mill formerly operated by Messrs. Pickard & Upton, which does the principal manu- facturing business of this place. Forty men are em- ployed by the firm, and the manufacturing capacity of their mill is 55,000 feet per diem.
The firm of Brown & Leaton also own 30,000 acres of valuable timber lands in the county, and several mills are running on these lands in their in- terest. Messrs. Brown & Leaton are the owners of 400 acres of fine farming land under cultivation; also a brick-yard near Mt. Pleasant, as well as a sixth in- terest in Bennett's Addition. Everything which Mr.
C
John Jeans
Sylva Frases
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Leaton has engaged in has been successful in a busi- ness point of view, and he ranks high in the estima- tion of the community, as a careful and upright man, whose prosperity is equaled only by his liberality and energy in promoting the public good.
His marriage to Stella L. Gaylord, of Saginaw, oc- curred Dec. 5, 1878. They are the parents of two very interesting children-both daughters : Helen was born May 29, 1880, and Juanna, Oct. 1, 1883. Mrs. Leaton was born in Geneva, Ohio, her parents being Harvey and Stella (Atkins) Gaylord.
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ohn Fraser, retired farmer and one of the earliest settlers in Isabella County, residing at Mt. Pleasant, was born Aug. 16, 1819, in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y. His parents were Adkins and Mary (Richmond) Fraser, and were natives respectively of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The mother was born in 1783 and died in 1867, in Michigan, aged 84 years. The father was one year older and died in 1853, in the State of New York.
Mr. Fraser was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. He left home at the age of 20 years to begin life on his own responsi- bility. His first venture of any importance was in the matrimonial line. He was married Dec. 31, 1841, at Watertown, N. Y, to Sylvia Ferris. She was born in 1822, in Permelia Township, Jefferson County, and is the daughter of Alexander and Rebecca Fer- ris. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have had six children, as follows : Julia (deceased) was the wife of Franklin Cushway, a printer, now resident at Saginaw City; Elizabeth, deceased; Lepha is the wife of Wm. H. Saxon, owner of the stage route from Gladwin to Loomis; Richmond is managing the family homestead in Chippewa Township; Mary, wife of John Doods, is also residing there; Franklin was killed on the farm by a stroke of lightning. in 1871; Ella is the wife of Stephen l'otter, and resides with her father at Mt. Pleasant.
Soon after marriage, Mr. Fraser bought 58 acres of land in Hounsfield Township, Jefferson County, and afterwards increased his real estate by the purchase of 48 acres adjoining, the entire acreage constituting a desirable and valuable farm. He sold the property
in the fall of 1856 and came to Isabella County with his family, consisting of his wife and six children, and his household effects and provisions. The jour- ney to Saginaw from Jefferson County was made by water. Mr. Fraser bought a team at Saginaw and hired three others to convey his family and goods to their destination. They were obliged to cut the road they traversed for a distance of 50 miles. He had previously obtained a claim of 320 acres in Chip- pewa Township, on section 31. At the date of the purchase it was all dense forest, but is now in emi- nently creditable and valuable condition. It com- prises 320 acres of land in a finely improved state, with two sets of farm buildings. The orchards con- tain the best assortments of fruit, and altogether the place is one of the finest types of the advancement of agriculture in Isabella County within the last 30 years.
When Mr. Fraser settled in Chippewa, the town- ship contained but five other families. He cleared a small "patch " of ground and prepared to erect log buildings. The entire white male population of two townships, including eleven men, came to the raising. Mr. Fraser built the first frame barn in the county, in the spring of 1857. There was no saw-mill in the county, and the braces and girthis were hewed with the broad-ax. The boards in the doors and floors of his house were hewn in the same manner. The log house of his first building is still standing on the place. The products of the farm found ready mar- ket among the lumbermen, and everything com- manded prices which to-day seem fabulous. Mr. Fraser has sold hay for $80 per ton, corn at $1.50 per bushel, and wheat at $2 50. The nearest milling point was Matherton, on Fish Creek, in Ionia County, 50 miles distant. The thoroughfares were mostly trails, or the poorest roads, and a grist of about 20 bushels of grain cost a week's travel under the most perplexing circumstances. Provisions were brought from Saginaw in canoes on the river. The first marriage in Isabella County took place in 1858 or 1859, in Coe Township.
Mr. David Foutch married a daughter of William Bowing. The ceremony was performed in the ab- sence of the bride's parents, and the Justice of the Peace, Willard Stewart, received a coon-skin for his fee. Within Mr. Fraser's memory, the condition of the country and the trails from the effects of rain and other causes made travel impossible, and star-
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vation seemed inevitable. At one time, when he had $1,000 in gold in his house, he was obliged to shave corn from the ear with a jack plane in order to obtain food ; and grinding corn and wheat in coffee-mills was a common affair. A volume could be filled with such detail within his own experience.
In the earlier years of his residence in Isabella County he practiced law and conducted numerous local cases arising from the emergencies of the times. He was elected the first Prosecuting Attorney of Isabella County, but did not qualify for the office, his farm requiring his undivided attention. He served one term as Justice of the Peace, with great reluctance. He retired to Mt. Pleasant in 1879, where he owns a house and lot on Franklin Street. He is a Democrat in his political connections.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Fraser appear on other pages.
illiam Adams, farmer on section 4, Coe Township, is a son of William and Martha (Cunningham) Adams, natives of Ireland. The parents emigrated to Canada in 1836, and afterwards removed to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where he died. The mother died in the State of Illinois, at a later period. Their family consisted of three sons and one daughter, William be- ing the youngest son.
He was born in Ireland, Aug. 4, 1818, and when 18 years old, left the Emerald Isle with his parents for America. He lived with them until 27 years old. Going to Vermont, he was for two years employed on a railroad, and then he returned to Hillsdale County, this State, to engage in agriculture. In No- vember, 1857, he came to Isabella County, and lo- cated on 160 acres in Cue Township, which he had purchased three years previous, and where he has since resided.
He was married in Canada, May 6, 1845, to Mary, daughter of Robert and Ann (Leach) Shepherd, na- tives of England. Mrs. Adams was also born in England, Sept. 22, 1824. She and her husband have been the parents of nine children, five of whom survive: Mary A., William E., Ohver HI., John F. and Wellsley W. The deceased children are Matilda J., Eliza D., Lydia E. and David R. Mr. A.
was Tax Collector of his township three years, and Township Treasurer three years. Politically, he is strictly independent. He and wife are liberal in their religious views, but incline toward the Baptist faith.
eorge Abram Dusenbury, banker and express agent, Mt. Pleasant, was born Feb. 21, 1845, at Marshall, Calhoun Co., Mich. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Butler) Dusenbury, natives of Broome Co., N. Y. The father was born in 1815, and grew to manhood in the place of his nativity, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1836, after his marriage, removed to Marshall, Mich. He prosecuted the business of a merchant in that city until his death, which occurred May 18, 1857. His remote ances- tors were Hollanders. George's mother came of Eng- lish parentage, and now resides with her children at Mt. Pleasant. Five sons and three daughters were in the above family, four of whom are living. They were born in the following order: Frank, Kate, Ellen, Harper, George, Edgar, William and Emily. The oldest son was a Paymaster in the United States Navy, during the progress of the civil war, and is now deceased.
Mr. Dusenbury received a common-school educa- tion, at Marshall, and, at the age of 16 years, went to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he became accountant in the employment of E. B. Walbridge, a miller and grain merchant of that city, where he continued nearly a year. He obtained a situation in the joint offices of the United States and American Express Companies at Bloomington, Ill., where he operated a year, and was called thence to the office of the "American" at Chicago, where he officiated four years as corresponding clerk. In 1866 he went to Cincin- nati, and was there interested in the organization and establishment of the City Express Company. At the end of a year he sold out and went to the city of New York, where he again entered the employ of the " American," and continued his connection with their interests until the fall of 1876, when he came to Michigan. He located at Homer, Calhoun County, and associated himself in commercial business with C. J. Murray, under the firm style of Murray &
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Dusenbury. The relation existed until the spring of 1880.
The death of his brother Frank, which took place at Mt. Pleasant in January, 1880, summoned Mr. Dusenbury hither. His widowed mother and sister had moved here a year previous, and he deemed it expedient to locate here, as the circumstances of the family required his personal attention ; and he ac- cordingly sold his business at Homer to his partner, and transferred his interests and family to Mt. Pleas- ant. His first business transactions were in the line of financial operations, in real estate and other loans. In 1881, associated with his brother William, he es- tablished his present business, which includes the operations common to private banking institutions, and also lending on real estate. Mr. Dusenbury is identified with the solid business interests of Mt. Pleasant, and is the possessor of considerable real estate in the village where he lives and in Isabella County. He built his residence in 1881, and in the winter of 1884 the Dusenbury Brothers erected a business block at Gladwin, in the county of the same name, where, in company with J. M. Shaffer, they established a trade in general merchandise. Early in 1884 they disposed of their share of the stock and retained ownership of the real estate.
Mr. Dusenbury was married June 24, 1875, at Evanston, Ill., to Ida S., daughter of Theodore and Jane (Stebbins) Perry. She was born Dec. 14, 1850, at Lacon, Ill., where her father was a merchant for a score of years. Her mother is deceased. Three of four children born of this marriage are yet living. Bessie was born Aug. 27, 1876; Allan T., Jan. 6, 1878, and Ross Butler, Nov. 10, 1879. Adele was born June 3, 1881, and died Aug. 27, 1882.
C dward C. Ney, farmer on section 36, Coe Township, is a son of John and Rebecca Ney, natives of Connecticut. The mother died in Van Buren, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and the father died in DeWitt, same county. The subject of this notice was born in the State of Connecticut, Sept. 5, 1816, and was four years old when his parents left Connecticut to live in New York.
He remained in that State until 1840, and then
came to Lapeer Co., Mich., and lived until May, 1880, when he made his last move, coming to Isabella County and buying 60 acres in Coe Township, where is his present home. He has about 30 acres under cultivation.
He was married in Lapeer County, Aug. 8, 1840, to Rebecca Robison, who was born in the State of New York, July 5, 1817. Of this marriage there have been born eight children,-Ellen R., Tacy, Sarah, Edward, Cynthia, William and George. One died in infancy.
Mrs. N. is in religious belief an Adventist. Mr. N. is politically a warm Democrat.
dgar W. Allen, farmer, section 17, Wise Township, was born in Ohio, Mar. 13, 1848. His parents, Samuel and Nancy A. (Doug- lass) Allen, were natives of Vermont and Con- necticut respectively. They made their first lo- cation after marriage in Northern New York, and afterwards in Ohio, where they passed many years in different localities. They came later in life to Gen- esee Co., Mich., where they remained about seven years. At the expiration of that time they removed to Tuscola County, where the father died, July 31, 1868. The mother is an inmate of the home of her daughter in Fulton Co., Ohio, and is 86 years of age.
Mr. Allen is the only son of his parents, and ac- quired his education in the common schools of his native State previous to his reaching the age of 16 years. At that period he came to Michigan. His father had met with financial difficulties, and the son became the main dependence of his parents, to whom he proved dutiful and loyal, repaying them with large interest the kind care he had received from them. At the death of his father, his mother return- ed to Ohio, where she now lives.
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