USA > Michigan > Isabella County > Portrait and biographical album of Isabella county, Mich., containing portraits and biographical sketches > Part 46
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In the spring of 1871, Mr. Allen came to Saginaw, Mich., where he interested himself in various occu- pations for two years. In the fall of 1873 he came to Isabella County and bought the property on which he has since resided and labored. His land includes 80 acres, with 30 cleared and cultivated. Ile was one of the pioneers of Wise Township, and has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to his duties as a citizen. He is of the Republican
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faith, and has officiated in most of the important lo. cal offices. In August, 1883, he was appointed Supervisor to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of James McLeod, of which office he is still the incum- bent, having been re elected in the spring of 1884. He has served as Highway Commissioner a year, and has held the various school offices, among them School Inspector.
Mr. Allen was married in Genesee Co., Mich., Sept. 9, 1862, to Minerva A., daughter of Eden B. and Minerva (Bacon) Parker. She was born Aug. 25, 1846, in Livingston Co., N. Y. Her parents are natives of Vermont. Maud M., Ruth S., Ralph C. and Clyde O. are the names of the children now in- cluded in the household of Mr. Allen.
rank Williams, farmer on section 35, Coe Township, is a son of William R. and Bet- sey (Gibbs) Williams (see sketch of W. M. Williams) and was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 18, 1852. He was three years old when his parents came to Ingham County, and eight years old when the family settled in this county. He has since followed farming and working in the woods, and now resides on the home- stead his father owned.
He was married in Coe Township, Sept. 26, 1877, to Delilah A., daughter of Anson and Eliza (Turner) Davenport, residents of Coe Township. Mrs. W. was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1859, and is the mother of a daughter, Minnie B, born May 28, 1878.
Politically, Mr. W. is a Republican.
ames O'Connor, farmer on section 18, Ver- non Township, was born in the city of De- troit, Dec. 25, 1849, the son of Michael O'Connor, who was a native of Ireland. Losing his parents when seven years old, he lived with an uncle until 14, receiving a fair common English education. IIe then commenced to earn his own livelihood.
Feb. 4, 1864, while in his 15th year, he enlisted in
Co. F, 17th Mich. Vol. Inf .; and during his service he was engaged in seven battles, among which were the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-House and Cold Harbor. He was wounded at the last named place, and after nearly a year's confinement in the hospital, was honorably discharged July 18, 1865.
Returning to Flint, Mich., he was employed as a shingle packer and afterwards as a sawyer, in a shingle-mill, for four years. He then became a saw filer, and was thus occupied until 1872, four years of the time being in the employ of Gov. Begole. In the year named he came to this county, and engaged as filer for Wilson Bros., of Vernon Township. In 1881 he settled on 80 acres on section 18, which he had purchased in 1875. He has improved half of this tract.
June 20, 1872, was the date of his marriage to Miss Amanda M. Brooks. She was born in Tuscola County, Aug. 10, 1857, and is the mother of two children, one of whom is dead. Charles was born Nov. 12, 1873. Willie was born Nov. 2, 1881, and died Sept. 22, 1881.
Mr. O. is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is in politics a Democrat, and is Township Treasurer, hav- ing been elected in 1883.
ev. John R. Robinson, preacher and mis- sionary on the Petosky Indian circuit and resident in the township of Isabella, Isa- bella County, is the only child of Rix Robinson, the first white settler in Kent Co., Mich.
Rix Robinson came to the Grand River Valley in 1821, in the interests of the American Fur Company. He was a man of remarkable character, who com- manded the respect of the savages among whom he spent his life and from whose history he is insepara- ble, by the nature of his relations with them. In September following his arrival in Kent County, he married Mis-so quot-o-quay, a woman of the Mack- inaw Indians. She became the mother of one child, -John R.,-who was born March 5, 1826. She died of consumption about the year 1848, in Ottawa Co., Mich. Rix Robinson died at Ada, Kent Co., Mich., in 1874.
Henry Woodin
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John R. Robinson received the best educational advantages of the sections where his father had busi- ness interests. He was sent to an infant school on the island of Mackinaw, taught by Mrs. Sarah C. Owens, and later to the school at Flat River, now Lowell, in Kent County, taught by Caroline Beard, who was married to Caleb Page. Later on he was sent to Grand Rapids to complete his period of study. On reaching manhood he became manager of his father's large estate, and during the winter seasons engaged in buying furs for Nelson Robertson, for the Fort Wayne Company, Louis Campau and A. Rob- erts & Son, of Grand Rapids. He was afterwards in- terested in the construction of the Detroit & Milwau- kee Railroad, and superintended the building of six miles of the track near Spring Lake and in the vicinity of Ionia, this enterprise occupying two years. On its termination he engaged as an Indian trader in Oceana County at Pentwater and Elbridge, in which he continued three years. During the past 20 years he has been engaged to some extent in the same variety of traffic at various points in Michigan. He has acted all his life as Indian interpreter, hav- ing learned from childhood both the English Jan- guage and the Indian dialects.
In the years 1862 and '3 he assisted in raising a company of military recruits, and intended entering the service of the United States under a Lieutenant's commission, but his father interfered, as he was an only son. Still he continued to do valuable service as a recruiting officer, and received the enlistment of a considerable number of whites and Indians.
While at Pentwater he was converted to the Chris- tian religion, through the efforts of the Revs. Lee and Boynton, revival preachers of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and from the period of his conversion was a changed man. The license of the life he lived, and the opportunities afforded him by unlimited re- sources of money, etc., derived from his father's immense property, had subjected him to deleterious influences and he ran a career of dissipation, of whose character he was scarcely conscious until its enor- mity was brought to his comprehension by the efforts of the Methodist missionaries. Within a year after his conversion he was licensed a local preacher, and has since done valiant service among the people with whom he is connected by blood.
Ile was married March 15, 1846, to Lucy A.,
daughter of Solomon and Clementina (Granger) Withey. She was born in 1829, in St. Alban's, Vt., and by her marriage became the mother of five chil- dren, born as follows : Harriet E., Feb. 13, 1849; Andrew J., Aug. 17, 1851, died Aug. 27, 1852 ; Charity C., June 13, 1853, died Aug. 24, 1866; Den- nis W., Feb. 8, 1856, died Aug. 25, 1856; James B., Sept. 29, 1857, died Feb. 1, 1879.
Mrs. Robinson passed many years of her life as a teacher among the people to whom she became al- lied through her marriage. At the time of her death she was teaching at the Sheldon school-house near Nipissing. She died in the religious harness, and is succeeded in her labors by her sole surviving child, Harriet E. Robinson, who is following worthily in the work of her sainted mother.
genry Woodin, farmer and mill owner on section 28, Sherman, is a son of Henry and Lydia (Earl) Woodin, natives of New York. Henry Woodin, Sr., was a farmer, and died in his native State. His son Henry was born Nov. 6, 1827, in Monroe Co., N. Y., and lived at home until 19 years of age, receiving a good elementary English education in the common schools. After leaving the parental roof he was employed in various grist-mills until 1853, when he came to Saginaw, this State. He then worked at farming and lumbering until 1869, when he came to this county, selected a mill-site on Chippewa River, and erected a grist and saw mill, which he has operated ever since. He owns at the present time 1,050 acres of land, includ- ing 120 acres of winter wheat. He has in all 200 acres improved, and good farm buildings.
fle was married in 1838, to Miss Sarah B. Rose, who was born Sept. 10, 1825, in Ontario Co., N. Y., the daughter of William and Anna (Barber) Rose, of New York State. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. W .: George E. was born Aug. 11, 1848, and was accidentally killed in his father's saw- mill, in 1878: Anna A., was born July 12, 1850 ; and Louella E., Aug. 10, 1860.
In political faith, Mr. Woodin is a Democrat. He was elected Supervisor in 1871, and held the office
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six consecutive years ; and in 1883 and 1884 he was again chosen to the same position. He is a member of the Masonic Order.
The portrait of Mr. Woodin is given in this work, as that of a worthy and representative citizen of Isabella County.
rederick A. Stebbins, of the firm of F. A. Stebbins & Co., proprietors of the Ben- nett House at Mt. Pleasant, was born at St. John's, Clinton Co., Mich., March 7, 1859. He is the son of Wolcott L. and Lucinda (Francisco) Stebbins, residents of St. Louis, Gratiot Co., Mich. Their family comprise eight ch.l- dren,-Edgar, Arthur, Clara, Fred, Orville, Minnie, Bessie and Myrtie. Clara, the eldest daughter, is now Mrs. John Hughs, of St. Louis.
Mr. Stebbins spent his boyhood and youth in ob- taining his education, and at the age of 17 decided to learn the business of harness-maker, and spent some time in acquiring its details, in a shop at St. Louis. After completing his knowledge of the voca- tion he attended school one year. Afterward he formed a partnership with his brother, A. M. Steb- bins, in the business of harness-iraking. The rela- tion existed two years, when he purchased the interest of his brother and continued its managen.ent singly for some time, when he interested himself in the jewelry business, which he prosecuted three years in Ithaca, Gratiot County.
He was married Aug. 30, 1879, at St. Louis, to Cora A. Richardson. She was born June 2, 1862, in Lyons, Fulton Co., Ohio, and is the eldest child of M. D. and Roby L. (Worden) Richardson. (See sketch of M. D. Richardson.) Louie R., eldest child of this marriage, was born July 11, 1880, at St. Louis, and died in that place Dec. 24, 1880. Pearl T. was born March 29, 1882, at Ithaca, Gratiot County.
After his marriage Mr. Stebbins purchased the fix- tures of the Fox (Retan) House at Ithaca, which he, associated with his father in-law, opened for the ac- commodation of the public, and they continued its management until the first of May, 1883. At that date they came to Mt. Pleasant and took possession of the Bennett House, a new hotel built by Corne-
lius Bennett, whose name it bears. It is a finely constructed building, fronting on Broadway, three stories in height above the basement, and is 118 by 60 feet in dimensions. It is one one of the most popular and best managed hotels in Northern Michi- gan, holding a large and constantly increasing pat- ronage. It is supplied with first-class modern fixtures, has fine, convenient sample rooms, billiard hall, etc.
Messrs. Stebbins & Richardson own, as auxiliary to the hotel, a farm of 20 acres in Union Township, sit- uated three-fourths of a mile east of the village of Mt. Pleasant, which they have placed in the best order of cultivation, and design to supply the hotel which they manage with the table commodities of the best character, securing fresh eggs, dairy products and vegetables, thus promoting the comfort and well- being of their patrons.
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ndrew F. Childs, farmer on section 29, Coe Township, is a son of John and Mary (Craig) Childs, natives of New York and Maine. The parents came to Michigan and settled in Monroe County, afterwards remov- ing to Jackson County, where they died. Their family of children numbered nine, six of whom grew to be adults. Andrew, the fifth, was born in Wash- tenaw County, Jan. 30, 1833, and remained at home till 22 years old, attending the common schools and assisting his father on the farm.
He came to Isabella County in February, 1853, and is truly a pioneer. He bought 160 acres on sec- tion 29, Coe Township, where he has continuously resided. He has about 125 acres improved and in a state of scientific cultivation.
He was first married in Jackson County, this State, Nov. 22, 1852, to Sarah Bunce. She died March 12, 1865, leaving four children,-Clarissa A., Eliza J., Darwin and Orlando. Eliza J. died May 28, 1879, aged nearly 21, having married Merritt Leonard, of Coe Township. Mr. C. was again married, in Isa- bella County, April 20, 1865, to Susan E , daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Waters) Casey, and widow of Alden S. Davis, who was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Mrs. Childs was born in Gen- esee Co., N. Y., Nov. 30, 1834. She had by the first
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marriage a son, Frank, and by her second, two chil- dren, Jessa and Raldon.
Mr. C. has held the different school offices, and has also been Pathmaster. He is a Republican, a Freemason, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
rthur N. Ward, teacher in District No. 6, Isabella Township, residing at Mt. Pleas- ant, is a son of Nathaniel and Emily (nee Everest) Ward, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively, and both of New England parentage. The father was a teacher and surveyor by occupation and died in 1863. The mother is still living, and is a resident of Chippewa Township, this county.
Arthur N. was born in Ionia County, this State, Jan. 1, 1862. Four years later he came with his mother and step-father to this county. They settled in Chippewa Township and entered on the arduous though pleasant task of improving their land. When they first came to the township, but few families had settled in it and the land they procured was a dense forest. With true pioneer "grit " they entered on the task of improveme.it, and, supported by faith in the future development of the country and an abundance of energy, they overcame all obstacles.
Arthur lived on the old homestead, assisted the father on the farm, and attended the public and com- mon schools until he attained the age of 15 years. On arriving at this age he began teaching in the public schools of this county. He continued to teach winters, and during the spring and summer attended the union school at Mt. Pleasant, the more thor- oughly to educate himself for his profession. Though a young man, he has attained that perfection and system in his profession which calls forth many en- comiums from the citizens in whose district he has taught.
Mr. Ward was united in marriage, Sept. 3, 1882, with Miss Minnie, daughter of Charles and Sophro- nia (Landon) Taylor, natives of England and Can- ada respectively. The father, by occupation, was a farmer and is at present living in Chippewa Town- ship, this county. Minnie was born Jan. 4, 1862, in Chippewa Township. She was reared and grew to
womanhood under the parental roof, and the mem- ories of the old homestead, with its trials and cares, its joys and pleasures, are fondly cherished by her yet. Her education was acquired at the old log- cabin schools of her county and the schools at Mt. Pleasant; and at the age of 15 she entered upon the profession of teaching, which she continued with credit and success until the date of her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward are the parents of one child, an infant, born May 12, 1883. Politically, Mr. Ward is a staunch supporter of and believer in the prin- ciples of the Republican party.
Charles M. Brooks, farmer, section 14, Union Township, and ex-Sheriff of Isa- bella County, was born Sept. 5, 1840, in Clinton, Seneca Co., Ohio. His father, James M. Brooks, was born June 14, 1811, in Cayuga Co., N. Y., and married Nancy Myers. The mother was born Oct. 6, 1810, in Fairfield Co., Ohio. Her family was of German origin and settled in Virginia. Mr. Brooks, senior, removed his family to Iowa City, Iowa, in the fall of 1849, returning thence in the spring of 1850 to the township of Rives, in Jack- son Co., Mich. They settled on a farm of 162.64 acres, where they reared their children, giving them the education of the common schools. The father died on the homestead June 12, 1865. The death of the mother occurred June 23, 1861.
Mr. Brooks was engaged in agriculture until his marriage, which took place in 1868, and soon after that event he went to Everett, Cass Co., Mo., where he opened a general store and continued its manage- ment about seven months, when he exchanged his stock for 40 acres of land in Bates Co., Mo. He took possession of the place, and a short time after- wards discovered that his title was defective. He returned to Everett, where he opened a general store, in company with Jefferson Willhite. Six months later, the firm style became Brooks & Wilson by a change in the junior partnership. This relation ex- isted about a year, when Mr. Brooks disposed of his interest and returned to Jackson County, to take charge of the home estate. He continued to man- age the property about a year and a half. On the first of March, 1873, he came to Isabella County and
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bought 80 acres of timber land on section 23, in Union Township, where he resided till March, 1884, when he sold the estate. He removed to a farm of 40 acres, which he owns on section 14, and which he is vigorously engaged in placing in first-class farm- ing condition, and proposes to erect thereon a fine house and suitable buildings. He also owns three building lots in the village.
Mr. Brooks has been continuously in public office for the last decade. He served as Township Treas- urer during the years 1874-5-6-7, and in 1878 dis- charged the duties of Supervisor. In the autumn of that year he was nominated for Sheriff on the Demo- cratic and Fusion tickets, and made a successful run against Thomas J. Fordyce, Republican nominee, and Tunis W. Swartz, whose name appeared on the Independent ticket. Mr. Brooks received a majority of 24 votes. In the fall of 1880 he achieved another triumph, being re-elected to the same position by 150 majority. He returned to his farm in January, 1882, and was elected Supervisor, which position he is now occupying. During the year 1881-2 he was engaged, in addition to the business of his office, in selling agricultural implements, in company with Messrs. Hance & Upton. The firm style was Charles M. Brooks & Co., and the business was located on Broad- way, nearly opposite the Bennett House at Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Brooks was married June 18, 1868, in Colum- bus Grove, Putnam Co., Ohio, to Mary A. Mc Clure. She was born Dec. 15, 1843, in Putnam County, and is a daughter of Andrew and Mary A. MeClure. Stratton D., only child, was born Sept. ro, 1869, in Bates Co., Mo.
nson Davenport, farmer on section 26, Coe Township, is a son of Hezekiah and Nellie (English) Davenport, natives respectively of Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and Tioga Co., Pa. The parents first settled in Tompkins Co., N. Y., and afterwards removed to Onondaga County, same State, where they lived two years. They then returned to Tompkins County, where they died, he in October, 1848, and she in April, 1851. Their family included eight sons and three daughters, Anson being the fifth son.
He was born in Dryden, Tompkins Co., N. Y.,
Nov. 7, 1835, and received a common-school educa- tion and assisted on his father's farm until 15 years old, when he was for two years employed at gun- smithing. He was next employed on the Erie Canal, and then worked for a short time in a hotel. In the fall of 1851 he came with his oldest brother, Ben- jamin, to the Peninsular State, and lived for one year in Parma, Jackson County. He then lived al- ternately in New York and Michigan until the fall of 1866, when he bought a farm in Montcalm County, on which he lived two years. His next venture was to build a hotel at Carson City, same county, which he operated one year. Disposing of his hotel, he bought a farm in Ingham County, which he worked five years. He then lived one year in Gratiot County, and in January, 1875, he came to this county and bought So acres in Coe Township, where he has since resided. He has disposed of 40 acres, and one-half the remainder is under the plow.
He was married in Dryden, Tompkins Cc., N. Y., Nov. 7, 1856, to Eliza, daughter of Alanson and Sarah (Weeks) Turner, natives of New York. She was born in Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., July 27, 1840. Of this marriage one' daughter has been born, Delilah A., the wife of Frank Williams. Politi- cally, Mr. D., is strictly independent.
ohn A. Schafer, farmer, section 14, Notta- wa Township, was the son of Mathias and Catharine (nee Schueller) Schafer, natives of Germany. The father died Sept. 2, 1874, and the mother is still living, in Dallas Town- ship, Clinton County, this State.
Mr. Schafer, Jr., the subject of our sketch, was born in Prussia, July 31, 1848. He emigrated with his parents to America and settled at Westphalia, Clinton County, this State, July 10, 1854.
Coming, as he did, to Clinton County at an early day, he experienced all the trials of the early pioneer and successfully battled against and overcame them. He remained in that county until 1880, when, on the 3d day of June, he came to this county with his family. He had previously, Jan. 27, 1880, purchased a farm of 80 acres, on which he moved and entered on the pleasant though laborious task of improving it. Feb. 26, the same year, Mr. S. purchased 40 acres
Frank b, brego
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more, making the aggregate of his landed possessions 120 acres. Of this, he has improved 50 acres, and has erected thereon a commodious residence and a good barn.
Mr. Schafer was united in marriage, Nov. 4, 1873, in Westphalia, Clinton County, to Miss Katrina, daughter of Peter Smith. Her father and mother are both deceased, the former dying Nov. 6, 1869, and the mother Dec. 18, 1859. Mrs. Schafer was born March 7, 1850, in Westphalia. To their union four children were born, three of whom are living: John P., born Dec. 29, 1874; Anna M., born Nov. 20, 1879; and Frank, born July 27, 1882. Joseph was born Sept. 15, 1877, and died May 4, 1882.
Mr. Schafer is now holding the office of Township Assessor, and in politics affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. He and Mrs. S. are both members of the Roman Catholic Church.
rank C. Crego, farmer, stock-raiser and breeder, residing on section 30, Lincoln Township, was born in Liberty, Jackson Co., this State, Aug. 8, 1858.
The father of our subject, Richard J. Crego, was a native of Erie Co., N. Y., of English and German extraction, and came to this State in the year 1835 and settled in Jackson County. When he came to that county it was but little settled and he may be considered one of the pioneers. He located on a farm in the township of Liberty about ten miles south of Jackson, and cast his lot with those of many others of Michigan's early pioneers. Jackson at that time was but a small village, consisting of a few log huts, and in many parts of the county the hand of improvement could not be seen at all. Possessing great faith in the future development of the county and an abundance of energy and perseverance, he set to work to clear and improve his land, and before his death he succeeded in placing his second farm in high cultivation, and erecting thereon a fine resi- dence. He was a man of good education and was greatly honored and respected by the citizens of the county. He was Representative in the State Legisla- ture during the entire administration of Gov. Blair and in the Senate during Gov. Crapo's term.
Frank C. Crego, the subject of this biographical
notice, left the farm in Liberty upon which he was born and moved with his parents to the town of Co- lumbia, near Brooklyn, when seven years old. He lived on the farm, attending school at Brooklyn, Napoleon and Jackson, and spent a portion of his time on the farm, where idleness was not permitted, and acquired a good practical knowledge of agricul- ture. At the age of 16 years the father of our subject died, and (his mother having previously died) Frank was sent by his uncle to Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale. He remained at that school for two and one-half years, and then went to the home of of his uncle and there remained until he had at- tained the age of manhood.
When 22 years old Mr. C'rego came to this county and purchased 80 acres of partly improved land. This was the summer of 1878, and Mr. Crego has spent his time and means since then in the improve- ment of that land and his stock interests. He is a breeder of swine and sheep, and prides himself, as justly he may, on his success in that line. His speci- alty in swine is the "Thoroughbred Chester Whites," and in sheep the " American Merino." He has at- tended several 'exhibitions of stock, almost all the county fairs and the Northeastern District fair at Saginaw, with his stock, and has always succeeded in obtaining the "blue ribbon," or first premium. At Saginaw Mr. Crego was awarded five first pre- miums on his " Chester Whites," and also second premium. He competes with the best breeders in the State in his line, and has always succeeded in capturing the prize.
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