USA > Michigan > Midland County > Portrait and biographical album of Midland County, Mich. containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 14
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Mr. Simons was born June r1, 1857, in “Big Flats," Chemung Co., N. Y. She has borne four children to her husband, two of whom are deceased. The living are Frank Wm., born Feb. 19, 1882, in Coleman, and an infant, born Feb. 29, 1884, at Cole- man. The deceased are Gertrude, born April 6, 1877, and died Feb. 14, 1879; and Leonard, born Sept. 11, 1880, and died Sept. 17, 1882.
After his marriage to Miss Hubbell, Mr. Simons took his bride to Saginaw and was there engaged in buying and selling shingles and in conducting the running of a shingle-mill as employe for about a year. He then returned to Coleman, in 1877, and took charge of the mill his father-in-law, Mr. Hub- bell, had erected at that place, and lived in the same house his father-in-law had vacated. He soon after- ward purchased the mill property and ran it for his own profit.
Mr. Simons is a true representative, in a financial point of view, of what energy and perseverance, backed by good judgment, can accomplish. He started life's journey with comparatively nothing, and by energetic effort has banished want from the household, and content sits in the lap of plenty around the family hearthstone. He owns a shingle mill three miles north of Coleman, and store build- ing stocked with goods. His landed interests in- clude some 1,700 acres, 600 of which is pine timber land, and 1, 100 acres hard wood. It is calculated there is some six or seven million feet of pine lumber
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on his 600 acres, and he is constantly engaged-the year round-in converting this timber into lumber. The capacity of his shingle-mill per day is 45,000 feet, which average it has maintained for the last three years; and Mr. Simons contemplates the utiliz- ation of the most of his timber in that way.
Mr. Simons has been Township Treasurer for two terms, and was Highway Commissioner last year. He belongs to that class of citizens who are regarded as a benefit rather than a hindrance to the com- munity in which they live, and is identified with the moving, advancing element residing in his township.
john Carrow, farmer, section 33, Homer Township, was born Sept. 3, 1850, in Nor- folk Co., Ont. He is the son of Joseph and Margaret (Smith) Carrow, both of whom are natives of Canada, and of mixed French, English and German extraction. They now reside with their son in Homer Township. Their family comprised two sons and four daughters.
Mr. Carrow is the fourth child of his parents in order of birth, and is the second son. He came to Michigan in 1871, and purchased 40 acres of land on section 33. It was in heavy timber, and he now owns 100 acres additional, which he has since pur- chased. He has cleared and finely improved 75 acres, and has built a fine large stock and grain barn and a good residence. In political connection he is a Democrat.
ohn Sias, lumberman and farmer, resident at Midland, was born Dec. 23, 1830, at Dover, Maine. He is the son of Samuel and Ann (McLean) Sias. His father was born in New Hampshire and followed the double occupation of a farmer and lumberman, to which he was reared. Mr. Sias owned a fine farm of 75 acres about three miles from Dover. He was married May 15, 1853, at Dover, to Catherine O. Maddox, a native of Ellsworth, Hancock Co., Me., and a daughter of John H. and Eliza Maddox. Of this union ten children have been born-five sons and five daughters. One son is deceased They
were born in the following order: Warren L., a merchant at Midland; Frank; John, a farmer in the township of Midland; Freddie, Ada B., Maud H., George A. and Lottie.
In the fall of 1860 Mr. Sias removed from Maine to Michigan and at once engaged in lumbering at Midland. In company with his brother, Samuel Sias, he bought extensive tracts of pine land, and after conducting their affairs jointly three years, they dis- solved. In 1866 Mr. Sias formed a business relation with Fred Babcock, which existed three years. On its termination, he continued the management of his business alone. His real estate includes 3,000 acres of pine land and a farm of 500 acres on sections 19, 20 and 21. This includes 300 acres cleared and improved, and in first-class farming condition. It is largely devoted to stock-rearing. The herds on the place comprise a fine lot of graded Durhams and about a dozen thoroughbreds of the same breed, also some fine Southdown sheep. The place ranks among the most valuable and best conducted in the county. The buildings, orchards and farm fixtures generally give evidence of the character of management that has placed the property in its present most creditable condition. In his lumber interests Mr. Sias employs about roc men. He is a stockholder in the Salt & Bromide Company at Midland.
enry W. Goold, farmer, section 24, Inger- soll Township, is a son of Cruth and Eliza Goold, natives of Canada, who came to Mid- land County in 1868, settling in this township. In the forest fires of 1871 it is supposed that his father lost his life, as nothing has since been heard of him. His mother resides in Saginaw County.
He was born in the county of Simcoe, Ont., April 10, 1849. In the spring of 1865 he came to Mich- igan and for 14 years has been mostly engaged in lumbering, in connection with farming. In 1870 he purchased 40 acres of land on section 23, Ingersoll Township, and in 1872 he added 40 acres to his possessions, half of which is cleared. A substantial and well equipped home is in prospect, under the good management of Mr. Goold.
In this county, Oct. 10, 1876, Mr. Goold was mar-
Benjamintican
Jewushu Dean
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ried to Miss Adelaide D., daughter of Sylvester and Lydia Holbert, who were natives of New York State and now reside in Midland Township. Mrs. G. was born in New York State, April 5, 1856. One child, Freddie H., was born June 2, 1881, to Mr. and Mrs. Goold.
B enjamin Dean, deceased, a former resi- dent of Midland City, was born March 17, 1806, at New Ashford, Berkshire Co., Mass. He was of unmistakable Yankee ex- traction, his parents, Isaac and Rhoby (Mar- tin) Dean, having been born in New England and descended from parentage of the same nativity. He attained to manhood in the Bay State and re- ceived an excellent English education. The pre- dominating traits of his character became manifest in early life, and made him prominent through their strength and peculiarity. He was a keen and shrewd observer, reading voraciously and with wide scope, but reducing his ideas by reflection to the basis of utility. He was inherently honest ; he rec- ognized the principles of the golden rule in all his dealings with mankind, and shaped all his operations in accordance with his understanding of the obliga- tions to which every man is the heir by natural entail. He acquired a fund of information which is justly characterized only by the term marvelous, and his mental resources were the obedient servants of his demands. He was as familiar with classical literature as though he had completed the curriculum of the schools, and it would be difficult to convince many who knew him intimately that he was not college-bred. His versatility of thought and ex- pression was equalled only by the scope of his intel- lectual acquisitions. Had he chosen literature as a profession he would have been among its leaders. The kingdom of his mind was so vast that he either knew not its bounds or was indifferent to the possi- bilities it afforded, through "embarrassment of riches." Versification and rhyme were as involuntary as his breath, and just as practical. They were so far from theory that beyond their accidental use they were independent of technical prosody.
He hated and abhorred all shams with the strength of his strong, just nature, which admitted no sem- blance of falsehood or hypocrisy. Liberal, just and
humane, he was the adherent of no "ism " and the harborer of no vague Will-o'-the-wisp ideas, in which the past half century has been so prolific. His habit of maturing conclusions detained him from identifying himself with movements of seeming im- portance; hence he never retrograded.
He was a Spiritualist in the sense in which the term is accepted by Victor Cousin and other phil- osophers who delve amid the phenomena of the immaterial with pure hearts. Who shall say how far short of Christianity are such minds, albeit they do not discover the touchstone which reveals the dependence of the human upon the divine? He passed through a long and arduous business career, and experienced the vacillations in results common to men of extensive and varied interests. In all his operations with his fellows he never swerved from his fundamental principle of giving due weight to the just claims of others. This sometimes involved! disaster, which brought to the front the trait which is most reverently cherished in the memories of his sons. He counted no loss as absolute unless no one was benefited. If no good arose from his adversity, he mourned as did the Roman emperor who bewailed as lost the day in which the recording angel had registered no good deed on the credit side of his account with immortality.
The best exposition of his character and views and the quality of his intellect may be gleaned from the extracts from his writings which are herein in- corporated. He wrote much,-any current event that met his views in a peculiar manner or conflicted with the theories he had adopted, seeming as an in- centive for his prolific pen, and his efforts were always in demand by the local press wherever he lived. The poetry he wrote would fill a volume, but he was entirely without self-consciousness in its pro- duction, and never had an idea of a collective pub- lication of his literary work. Though it found ready local appreciation and publicity, even that was be- yond his ambition for notoriety. His sole delight in his gift existed in giving formative expression to his thoughts. He read all poetical literature with avid- ity, but centered his tastes upon Pope's "Essay on Man," which was ever the source of unlimited grati- fication.
In 1859 he published the longest poem he ever wrote, which was named " Man in the 19th Century :
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an Unsolved Problem for Classical Experts, with Quotations and Questions for Ecclesiastic Theorists, M. D's, D. D's, LL. D's, Elders, Scribes or Pharisees to Solve at their Leisure." From first to last it is a scathing rebuke to those who pervert God's manifest laws to the accomplishment of their own selfish ends and purposes. It has the merit of equalized strength in every line, and quotations as samples are therefore inadequate, as it is a complete mosaic of the principles it advocates. Several are given, which are their own exponents : -
Fie! gentlemen ; don't be alarmed ; Don't cry "Rebellion," " Infidel;"
I AM will see there's nothing harmed : Who made the world will rule it well.
Were principalities and powers In chaos, where they all belong, Refreshing pentecostal showers Might substitute for legal wrong.
To close this problem, I would say The author's universal plan (Though Scribes and Elders go astray) Will make a peer of every man.
Or girt, or beam, or brick, or brace, Ilowever humble or conceited,
Lo! all will find their proper place, And find the structure all completed-
Where Nature's clock its final blow Will strike, and time will be no more, Where such immortal ideas flow As mortals never heard before.
With these ideas I'll close my song, Not claiming for them aught that's new ; However old, they may be wrong, However young, they may be true.
The following lines afford a complete example of the versatility of his mind and the readiness with which his faculties obeyed his summons : .
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. (ANTICIPATED.)
Gentlemen of a republic distracted, We sit on a trembling throne, Reaping the fruit of the scenes we enacted, . The fruit of the seed we have sown.
Our foreign relations all look very bad, Too gloomy to put into writing ; The lion and frog call us foolish and mad, And laugh in their sleeves at our fighting.
The millions we've spent already is more Than we shall receive for our game,
And rivers of blood stain the sea and the shore. Alas! what blind zeal for a name!
Our army and navy are potent, alas ! To return a poor fugitive slave ; But too big a load broke the back of the ass When freedom with us found a grave.
By pandering too long to the genius of cotton, We've written our doom in the mud, And proved to the world our system is rotten, And cannot be saved but by blood.
All the wisdom you've got, and as much again more, Won't save us, I fear, from our trouble ; Our eagle is plucked, and our ensign is tore, And we're all passing off like a bubble.
I trust you will bring all your wits now to bear To sustain the original plan :
Direct your attention to right everywhere, And think less of cotton than man.
In the live Declaration that Jefferson wrote, You'll find a sublime text to think on ; Hence, during this session your time you'll devote To equalize men, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY TIMOTHY TWIST. Lec, Mass., Nov. 23, 1861.
His abilities and character won for him unqualified respect, and though his incessant promulgation of his views invited criticism they engendered nothing inimical, and he lived an honored, useful life, and his death was sincerely lamented. Although a foe to so-called orthodoxy, he never wrote a word or held to a principle contrary to the acknowledged essence of Christianity ; on the contrary, he urged unceasing warfare on the "scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites" of modern times.
The parents of Mr. Dean removed in the days of his early life to South Adams, Mass., where his father operated as a tanner. On arriving at a suit- able age, the son became an assistant in the business to which he devoted many years. On embarking in that business for himself he combined therewith the manufacture of boots and shoes, according to the New England custom in those days. Subsequently himself and his brother, Stoel E. Dean, established the same business at a point three miles east of Pitts. field. They continued its management five years, when they converted their works into a paper-mill. Two years later they sold out, and Mr. Dean bought a tannery at Pittsfield, which he conducted four
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years. In 1850 he went to East Lee, and, in com- pany with May Bros., engaged heavily in the manu- facture of letter-paper, owning three mills. This re- lation existed three years, when Mr. Dean sold his interest to his partners and went to Lee, where he embarked in the manufacture of bank-note paper with a man named Linn. The latter became a his- torical character during the war, through his con- nection with a shipment of his wares to the Southern Confederacy about the date of the blockade of South- ern ports. He was arrested, but proved that he re- ceived and filled the order previous to the action of the United States authorities.
In 1858 Mr. Dean closed his connection in the last-named business and came to Michigan, where he had large landed investments which had come into his possession through securities for his friends who had met reverses. He held about 9,000 acres of wild land, and passed the next ten years alternately in Michigan and Massachusetts, where his family re- sided until 1868, when he established his home at Midland City.
Mr. Dean was the second in order of birth of seven children. Martin, eldest child, resides in the city of New York; Stoel E. lives at South Adams; Nelson and Alanson, twins, were next in order of birth; the former is deceased, the latter is a resident of Owego, N. Y.
Alanson Dean is the maker of several canes of unique workmanship, some of which have attained considerable notoriety. One was presented to Presi- dent Hayes on his inauguration, and also to President Garfield. P. T. Barnum is the owner of one, and the eldest son of Mr. Dean, of this sketch, holds another as an heirloom. It was presented to Mr. Dean by his daughter Alice. The latter is made of Virginia boxwood. The hand-rest is in the exact shape of a sword-hilt. The "stop" is a perfectly carved dog's head. On one side of the thumb rest is an exquisite spray of rose, leaves and bud ; and on the counter side are grapes and foliage, all carved. On the base of the hilt is a lion holding in his mouth and claws a serpent whose fangs are buried in the head of the beast. The spotted length of the snake forms the lower portion of the hilt, and the ex- tremity of the tail twines around the end of the thumb rest. A space of two feet on the shaft is cov- ered with carved lettering. The upper portion, next the hilt, contains the following :
"March 17, 1806. Benjamin Dean. Midland, Michigan. Dec. 25, 1879. The chief of earthly arts is the art of keeping always young. It is very diffi- cult to grow old gracefully. Compliments of Alice. It is not what you have in your chest, but what you have in your heart, that makes you rich. Family Record: Jerusha Dewey, born Dec. 19, 1816; Benj. Franklin Dean, July 12, 1839; Cecile E. Dean, Feb. 12, 1841 ; Caroline J. Dean, Nov. 4, 1843; Gertrude R. Dean, Sept. 1, 1845; Stoel E. Dean, Nov. 4, 1847; Alice B. C. Dean, April 29, 1850; Nelson K. Dean, May 12, 1852; Mary A. Dean, March 8, 1854; Jessie F. Dean, June 23, 1856. Revelation 9: 7, 8: And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle, and on their heads were crowns like gold, and their faces were as faces of men, and they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.'"
In this there are six hieroglyphics of the locusts, horses, crowns, men, women and lions. The in- scriptions pass around the cane spirally below the family record, the above being in relief. The follow- ing is countersunk : "I find the great thing in the world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving." The cane is a marvel of hand-carving, every portion of which was done with a "jack-knife," and represents 50 days of labor of ten hours each. The maker has been for many years a sufferer from a nervous disease, and "whittled" for relief, finally utilizing the specific in the manufacture of canes. The one referred to as being presented to President Hayes was sent to him in 1876. The fol- lowing description is from the pen of the ex-Executive of the United States, a portrait and condensed sketch of whom appears in its assigned order in the first part of this volume :
FREMONT, O., 23 June, 1884.
The cane referred to is well remembered. It is beautifully carved by a skilled and careful hand. It was from A. P. Dean, Owego, N. Y., in 1876. The head or handle projects at right-angles from the cane and is about six inches long. On the extreme end is carved " A. P. DEAN." On one side of the end of the handle is a little girl sitting on a handsome long- haired dog; on the other side is a child resting against a tiger. On the cane at the top is the follow- ing: "1776-1876-Centennial." Next below it is, "Owego, N. Y." On the side at this point is the coat-of-arms of the United States,-eagle, arrows and stars. On the other side is carved an anchor, and
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above it, "Hope." Next below on the outside, "Oct. 4, 1822." On the side is the legend, "Temperance is a bridle of gold. He who uses it rightly is more like a God than a man." On the opposite side is, " Ruther- ford B. Hayes, Governor of Ohio." Next below is carved, " Behold, I send you forth as [ here are carved three sheep] in the midst of [ here are four wolves ]. Be ye therefore as wise as [here two serpents] and harmless as [here four doves]." Next below, around the cane, "Matthew 10:16." Next below is carved, " The way to fame is like the way to heaven,-through much tribulation," and by the side begins and runs around the cane spirally the following: "The [here are two foxes] have [ here is a fox entering a hole and another hole is near it] and [here are two birds] of the air have [a nest with eggs]; but the [a boy ] of [a man sitting] hath not where to lay his [a man's head]. Matthew 8:20." Next around the cane is carved," Mythology," and below, Pegasus [a winged horse], and Nereid [a female figure on a dolphin]. Next below are a sphinx (a lion with a woman's head) and a sea-horse (the figure of a sea horse). The lower end is a handsome silver ferule and the usual point. The foregoing will give you no idea of the appear- ance of the cane, but shows very well the labor and pains taken by Mr. Dean in its workmanship.
R. B. HAYES.
Mr. Dean was married Dec. 19, 1816, in Lenox, Mass., to Jerusha Dewey, daughter of Erastus and Matilda (Millard) Dewey. The sketches of B. F. Dean, S. E. Dean and N. K. Dean, the three sons born of this marriage, will be found elsewhere in this volume. Cecile E. died Sept. 13, 1865, at 24 years of age, in the full flush of her young and promising life: Gertrude R. married Charles Taylor, of Lee, Mass., and died March 3, 1870; Alice married G. W. Foote, of Pittsfield, Mass .; Mary A. is Mrs. Wil- liam Plumer (see sketch), of Midland City; Jessie is the wife of George A. Rockwell, also of Midland City.
Mr. Dean died April 27, 1880, of a disease of the stomach. The wife and mother died April 17, 1883. In their portraits, which appear on other pages, are fair types of the element so often found in collecting historical data of the Peninsular State. They came of the stock which established the stability of New England ; they brought their resources to the West and founded their house and home. Passing to the land of the hereafter, they left their honorable name in the keeping of their sons, who are worthily fulfill- ing their trust.
Henry Stuart, farmer, section 32, Midland Township, is a son of Silas and Polly (Kimplin) Stuart, parents natives of the Green Mountain State. He was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., April 11, 1836; when 12 years of age he came to Genesee County, this State, where he remained 16 years, engaged in farming; and in August, 1864, he came to Midland County and bought So acres on section 32, Midland Township, where he has since resided and at present has 66 acres in a good tillable condition.
Mr. Stuart was married in Genesee Co., Mich., Aug. 30, 1863, to Sarah A. Richardson, a native of Canada. They have had five children-Lenora B., George D. and an infant, living, and Eugene and an infant, deceased.
Mr. Stuart has been Overseer of Highways, and was appointed a member of the committee to examine the roll of Supervisors in 1882. Of national issues, Mr. S. maintains Democratic views.
Charles Martindale, farmer, section 29, Midland Township, is a son of Alphens and Eliza (Angell) Martindale, natives of Vermont. He was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., April 16, 1832. He remained under the parental roof-tree until 20 years of age, as- sisting in the maintenance of the family and attend- ing the common schools. On attaining that age, for four years he was employed in a shingle manufac- tory, and then came to Wayne County, this State. He remained there for about three years and then went to St. Clair County, where he was variously employed for six years. From the latter county he moved to Sanilac County, where he remained until the summer of 1871. During that season he came to this county and purchased 40 acres of wild land on section 29, Midland Township, where he has since resided. He now has good substantial build- ings erected on his land, and about 37 acres under cultivation.
Mr. Martindale was united in marriage in Sanilac County, Nov. 3, 1855, to Miss Ann, daughter of Joseph Marshall, a native of Canada. She was
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born in that county, and was the mother of eight children, five of whom, William, Almeda, Ida, Hay- don and Mary, are living : Demaline (Ist) died when three years old; Demaline (2d) was killed by being run over; and Alden died when one month old.
The mother and wife died Aug. 14, 1877, and Mr. Martindale was a second time married Nov. 3, 1878, to Miss Ann Valentine, a native of New York.
Mr. Martindale, politically, is a National. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner three years and School Assessor one year. He enlisted in 1864, in Co. B, roth Mich. Vol. Inf., and served nine months, receiving his discharge at Washington, D. C. He participated in Sherman's march to the sea.
elson K. Dean, farmer, section 24, Homer Township, was born in the township of Lee, Berkshire Co., Mass., May 12, 1852. His parents, Benjamin and Jerusha, (Dewey) Dean, were natives of Massachusetts, and in 1854 moved their family and interests +o Becket Township, in the same county. Ten years later they came to Midland, where they resided dur- ing the remainder of their lives.
Mr. Dean is the seventh of nine children born to his parents, and is the youngest of three sons. He remained a member of the paternal household until his marriage, which occurred Sept. 14, 1875, to Elizabeth S. Stowits, daughter of Henry B. and Car- oline C. (Huff) Stowits. (See sketch of H. B. Stowits.) She was born in Grand Blanc, Genesee Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1854. Her parents removed to Midland County when she was 13 years old. Later she went back to Genesee County, where she re- mained until 1874, when she returned to Midland County, and during the following year she was married. Mrs. Dean is a woman of decided char- acter and justly appreciated in the community where she resides. After the event of his marriage, Mr. Dean took possession of his farm of 160 acres, which is finely situated at the junction of Chippewa and Pine Rivers. He has improved 90 acres and placed it under a high degree of cultivation. The place is rated among the most valuable in the county. In political connection Mr. Dean is a Republican, and
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