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 19
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Mr. Covert is a Republican in political faith, and
has served several terms as a member of the Village Board. His marriage to Emma White occurred Oct. 1, 1865, in Belvidere, Allegany Co., N. Y. She was born in the township of Amity, Allegany Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1850, and is the daughter of Henry and Almira White. Maud, born Sept. 16, 1872, Jesse, born Jan. 7, -- and George E., born April 9, 1883, are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Covert.
The portrait of Mr. Covert, which appears on the opposite page, is that of a popular and influential citizen of this county.
ames Rooker, farmer, sections 14 and 15, Edenville Township, was born June 2, 1825, and is the son of Ichabod and Sylvia (Barden) Rooker, both of whom are deceased. His father descended from English parentage, and was by trade a tanner and currier.
Mr. Rooker is the eldest of the children born to his parents, and left home when a mere boy, since which time he has taken care of himself. He lived for some time with a Mr. Kendall, of Algonac, St. Clair Co., Mich., and he passed his time alternately between Canada and Michigan, until he was 23 years old. He was married Nov. 23, 1848, to Mary Ann Shier. Her father died in Ireland in her in- fancy, and her mother resides in Dresden, Canada She is 80 years of age. Mrs. Rooker was born Feb. 9, 1822, near Limerick, Ireland, and came to Amer- ica with her mother. Of the seven children born of her marriage with Mr. Rooker, five are living -- Joseph Augustus, Arthur L., Sarah L, Orlando C. and Cyrus A. William Henry and Caleb James were drowned in the Tittabawassee River, in 1870.
The life of Mr. Rooker has been spent in agricul- tural pursuit and in lumbering. In 1870 he removed to Midland County with his family, and purchased 40 acres of land in a good state of cultivation. He has since added 260 acres to his purchase, and has improved about 70 acres. He has spent the summers in farming, and devoted the winters to his lumbering interests. His business has met with varying success, and he has twice been tried by sharp misfortune and been obliged to witness the sweeping away of his frugal earnings. In the fall and winter of 1879 and 1880, he lost $1,800 by an adverse sea-
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son, and in the fall of 1880 he was again overtaken by disaster in the form of fire, which destroyed his house and its contents, involving a loss of $1,200, with no insurance. He immediately rebuilt his house, and two years later increased the value of his property by the erection of new barns. He has been in the employ of the Hon. Amasa Rust, of Saginaw, 12 years, engaged in buying logs. He is a Republican in political sentiment.
ohn Sugnet, farmer, section 9, Midland Township, is a son of Louis and Catherine Sugnet, natives respectively of France and Switzerland. He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1849, lived in that State until the fall of 1867, then three years in this county, then a year in his native State, when he returned to Midland County and has since made his residence here.
About 1872 he purchased 40 acres of land, where he now lives. He once sold the place, however, but bought it back. He has about IS acres improved, and has a prospect of a home ever increasing in value. In his political views, Mr. S. is a Repub- lican.
Mr. Sugnet was married in Saginaw City, Mich., June 21, 1879, to Philomene, daughter of Frank and Angeline Yott, natives of Canada. She was born on the Island of St. John's, Ont., May 7, 1858. The two living children of Mr. and Mrs. S. are William and Mary L. One died in infancy.
illiam R. Haskins, farmer, section 9, Geneva Township, was born in Starks- borough Township, Addison Co., Vt., Feb. 22, 1851. His father, Leonard Haskins, was a native also of Vermont, of English ancestry, and died in June, 1869; and his mother, Louisa E., nee Grace, is a native of Maine, and is now living with her three unmarried sons in the above mentioned township in the Green Mountain State. Of the seven children in this family, six are living, and the subject of this sketch is the third.
The latter worked out by the month from the age of 10 to 21, contributing a part of his wages to the support of his parents. When a grown man he bought a farm in Vermont, but soon sold it, and in 1879 came to Midland County, worked a rented farm a year and a half, and then purchased So acres of unimproved land, where he has resided since the fall of 1883 and has four acres improved.
Mr. Haskins was married Dec. 12, 1876, to Alzina A., daughter of Alvin H. and Mercy (Eddy) Lilly, in Starksborough, Vt. Her father, a native of Ver- mont and of Scotch descent, died when she was ten years of age; and her mother, also a native of that State, of immediate American and remote English ancestry, died when she, the daughter, was 20 years old. Mrs. H. was born in Starksborough, Vt., Sept. 1, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have had six chil- dren, three of whom have died. Following is the record : Willie D., born Jan. 6, 1867; Minnie M., July 24, 1869, and died April 13, 1870; Bertha Anna, born June 6, 1872; Flora A., Oct. 3, 1875 ; Letta L., April 16, 1878, and died May 29, 1880 ; an infant unnamed, born in Detroit, Dec. 26, 1880, died May 17, 1881. All except the last one were born in Starksborough, Vt.
Mr. Haskins is at present a school officer, and in politics is a Republican.
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amuel Wilkinson, farmer, section II, Edenville Township, was born Dec. 29, 1832, in Galesburg, Kalamazoo Co., Mich. His parents, Samuel and Hannah (Martin) Wilkinson, were born respectively in New York and Ohio. They removed when the son was in early childhood, to Augusta, where they resided 12 years. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that calling 50 years. In 1845 the family removed to Barry County, where the father bought 120 acres of land in Johnstown Township, . and established a shop on his farm for the pursuit of his trade. Later on, the senior Wilkinson removed to Gratiot County, where he bought 160 acres of land and again followed his two-fold calling.
Mr. Wilkinson is the eldest of eight children born to his parents, with whom he remained until he was 23 years of age. His first marriage occurred in
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April, 1861, when Susan Warren, of Clinton County, became his wife. Of this union one child-Mary Elma-was born, March 8, 1862. The daughter is the wife of Jared Rockford. The second marriage of Mr. Wilkinson, to Margaret Anderson, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Reid) Anderson, took place Jan. 2, 1865. Her parents are natives of Scotland, and are residents of Lapeer County.
Mr. Wilkinson became a resident of Midland County in 1861, arriving in the township of Eden- ville on the 15th day of November. He spent all the seasons of two years in lumbering, and in 1863 he became the proprietor by purchase of 160 acres of unimproved land. On this he made some im- provements and sold the entire tract for the purpose of relieving himself of all other responsibilities, in order to open a blacksmith shop at Edenville. He conducted that business three years, sold out and bought 40 acres of land in Hope Township, on which he repeated his former experience of slightly improving and selling. Later, he bought 15 acres of land under improvements and fair cultivation, which he sold after a brief ownership and bought his present homestead, which includes So acres. Of this, 12 acres are improved, and the place is made more valuable and avai able by a good house and barn.
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atson Harris, farmer, sec. 28, Hope Tp., ? was born in Tora Tp., Oxford Co., Can., July 2, 1838, the son of Alanson and Polly (Halleck) Harris, Mr. H., Sr., came to La- peer County, this State, in 1842, and died within a month of his wife, at Matamora, that county.
Their son Watson was reared on the farm until 16 years of age, when he learned the blacksmith trade. This he followed in Lapeer County for 18 years. He bought his farm in this county in 1878, and first lived in a log house just below his present frame house." He first bought 80 acres, but has since added 60 acres. Of this estate he has 75 acres improved.
Feb. 12, 1882, was the date of his marriage to Miss Ada Thompson, daughter of Howley and Betsey (Gooder) Thompson. Mr. T. died in March, 1872, aged 52, and Mrs. T. lives at Midland. Mrs. Harris
was born Ang. 28, 1841, in Ray Township, Macomb Co., Mich. By a former marriage, Mr. T. has two daughters, Ella E., born June 13, 1860, married Feb. 12, 1879, to John J. Ryan. of Midland; and Minnie B., born Dec. 3, 1862, married Jan. 1, 1879, to Carl Tower, of Roscommon T'p., Roscommon County.
illiam Higgins, farmer, section 26, Mid- land Township, is a son of Harvey and Laura (Whitman) Higgins, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Cat- taraugus Co., N. Y. They moved to Penn_ sylvania, thence to Trumbull Co., Ohio, and two years later, namely, in the fall of 1858, they came to Midland County. He died in the fall of 1859, and she Ang. 7, 1875. They had eight chil- dren, named Albert, Alvin, Mary, Henry, Henrietta, William, Lydia J. and Leonard,-all of whom lived to the age of maturity.
The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford Co., Pa., Aug. 1, 1847. In August, 1863, when he was but 16 years of age, he enlisted in the war for the suppression of the great insurrection, in the 16th Mich. Inf., and served three years. He participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and in the battles of Gettysburg, Petersburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, etc., etc. At the battle of Gettysburg he received a slight wound in the hand.
Since the war he has resided in this county. He now owns 170 acres of land, 140 of which he has in good cultivation. In regard to political views he is counted among the Republicans.
sylvester Erway, farmer, section 12, Eden- ville Township, was born Nov. 23, 1828, in Catherine Township, Chemung Co., N. Y. His parents, Daniel and Hilah (Clark) Erway, were natives of the State of New York. His father was born Sept. 2, 1807, of Irish and Dutch parentage, and died Sept. 26, 1883. The mother was born Jan. 17, 1807, and is of Dutch descent.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Erway launched his boat in the tide of effort, by working by the
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month and also engaging in the manufacture of shingles for his own benefit. He was thus occupied five years, and then removed to St. Clair Co., Mich., where he was engaged one year in the management of a shingle mill. At the end of that time he came to Edenville Township, Midland County, arriving during the last days of November, 1854. There was but one settler in the township before him, and his marriage was the first event of the kind within the limits of Midland County. His first business move- ment was to buy 160 acres of land. It was in an unbroken state of nature, and of the 100 acres he now owns he has placed 60 acres under cultivation. He sold 60 acres in 1858 to his brother.
Mr. Erway was married April 6, 1855, to Julietta, daughter of Daniel and Jane T. (Dempster) Bow- man. The mother was born of Scotch descent in May, 1820. The father was born of Dutch and French ancestors, Sept. 12, 1819. The birth of Mrs. Erway occurred Sept. 23, 1840, in Gorham, N. Y. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Erway, seven in number, were born as follows: Highley, May 20, 1856, at Saginaw; Dora H., Aug. 6, 1858; a third child was born July 24, 1860, without life; Charles W., March 16, 1864, and died Sept. 28, 1865; Wil- lard Lincoln, Feb. 2, 1866; Mandana, Feb. 20, 1869; Susan Viola, Feb. 18, 1872; Matilda M., March 23, 1874; Leslie G., June 29, 1878.
The parents are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Mr. Erway is a zealous Repub- lican, and during the days of struggle through the civil war was an active member of the committee which regulated war matters in the community to which he belonged. He has been Supervisor a num- ber of years.
eorge A. Thurber, farmer, section 9, In- gersoll Township, was born in Canada, May 11, 1845; his parents were Calvin and Frances (Craig) Thurber, who were also natives of Canada. He was engaged in farm- ing, in his native domain, until March, 1872, when he came to Midland County and purchased So acres of land, in Ingersoll Township, where he has since resided and has 30 acres under cultivation. He has been School Treasurer nine years. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party.
Mr. Thurber was married in Ingham Co., Mich., Nov. 2, 1870, to Miss Maria, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Robinson) Lewis, the latter natives of New York State. Mrs. T. was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1838.
eter L. Tremper, farmer and real-estate agent, residing on section 2, Midland Town- ship, is a son of William and Catherine (Vanderbogart) Tremper, natives of New York, and of German and English extraction. The parents were married and settled in Rockland Co., N. Y., from which place they came to Oakland County, this State, in 1846, where, Nov. 26, 1882, the father died, and in which county the mother is still residing. Their family comprised seven children, namely : Thomas N., John W., Peter L., Albert D., Sarah C., Mary A., and William I.
Peter L. Tremper, the third son of his father's family, and the subject of this sketch, was born in Rockland Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1842. He received the advantages afforded by the common schools, and at the age of 14 years attended the high school at Port Washington, Wis. He remained at the latter school for about 16 months, when he returned to Oak- land County. He soon afterward, in about four months, began the study of medicine with Dr. F. S. Smith, and continued under his instruction for a year and a half, at the expiration of which time he aban- doned the study, and again returned to Oakland County.
In April, 1861, Mr. T. enlisted in the 5th Mich. Vol. Inf., Co. A, and served eight months. July 26, 1862, he re-enlisted in the 22d Mich. Vol. Inf., and served for three years and nine months, receiving his discharge at Detroit, Mich. He participated in five regular engagements and numerous skirmishes, and while skirmishing opposite Atlanta, Ga., he re- ceived a flesh wound in his right leg, which however did not incapacitate him from service.
After receiving his discharge he returned to his home in Oakland County. He remained there for about two months, and then moved to Colorado. His intention was to engage in and continue mining in that State, but he was taken sick with typhoid fe- ver soon after he began mining, and returned to Oak-
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land County. He remained in the latter county until 1877, and then came to Midland, this county, where he resided for one and a half years, following the carpenter's trade for a livelihood.
In the spring of 1879 Mr. Tremper purchased Go acres of wild land on section 2, Midland Township, on which he located. He has since added 80 acres to his purchase, and of the total has about 38 acres under improvement.
Mr. Tremper was married in Oakland County, this State, Nov. 6, 1867, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Robert and Mary (Neat) Crickmore, natives of Eng- land. Mrs. T. was born in Oakland County May 29, 1848. She is the mother, by Mr. T., of eight chil- dren, namely: Robert T., William V., Mary C., Harry P., Mabel A., Grace E., Thomas N. and Ger- trude.
Mr. Tremper has been Moderator of his school district for several years. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and also a member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, G. A. R., of Midland City. He is also an honorary member of three different sports- men's associations, and is President of the Midland Sportsmen's Association. Politically he is a National. He is largely interested in the affairs of this county, and in the fall of 1882 ran against Michael Ryan for the office of Sheriff, but was defeated by 151 votes. He is at present a real-estate agent, and has a large number of acres of land entrusted to him for sale. He furnishes abstracts and gives warranty deeds.
lonzo M. Hawley, farmer, section 35, Eden- ville Township, was born April 5, 1846, in Allegany Co., N. Y., and is the son of Daniel and Sarah (Huff) Hawley. The father died Jan. 28, 1880, in Jerome Township; the mother, now Mrs. William Matthews, resides in Ros- common County.
The parents of Mr. Hawley removed to Sanilac County in 1859. After a residence of two years they came to Midland County, where the father bought a farm of 80 acres. He soon disposed of the property by sale, and trafficked in lands about ten years, when he settled upon a farm, which included 20 acres, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. Hawley was under the paternal guidance until
he was 17 years old, and worked winters in the lum- ber woods and during the spring seasons on the river. When he reached the age of 21 years he bought 147 acres of land on which he made a small improvement, and sold the place. His next invest- ment was in 120 acres, which he retained about six years, removing the lumber from it. He then sold it and bought the farm, which is now his homestead. It contains 72 acres, and at the time of his purchase was under slight improvements. He has placed 22 acres in a highly creditable condition, and built a small frame house and a large barn. He is a Re- publican in political connection, and has served in the school offices.
He was married Oct. 8, 1864, in Midland County, to Alida, daughter of Harrison and Mahala (Fox) Averill. Her father was born April 7, 1813, and is living at North Bradley. The mother died near London, Can. Mrs. Hawley was born May 15, 1846. Their two children are : Ada M., born Aug. 1, 1865, is now the wife of Richard Trim, of Montcalm County ; Frank A., born July 23, 1876, died March 13, 1880.
curtis J. Winslow, farmer, section 2, Rich- land Township, Saginaw County, is a son of Loring S. and Mary (Brown) Winslow. (See sketch of J. J. Winslow.) He was born in Barnard, Windsor Co., Vt., April 13, 1851 ; at the age of 15 he came thence to Midland County, with his brothers, J. J. and Loring S., and for about four years he worked at clearing up the land which had been taken up by his father some 20 years pre- viously. He was next employed for about four years in lumbering, in the woods and on the river, and in the spring of 1873 he purchased the small stock of groceries-including a small house-then owned by Levi B. Chamberlain, at Lee's Corners. Two years later he formed a partnership with James A. Cham- berlain, under the firm name of Winslow & Cham- berlain, and thus continued over a year, when Mr. W. bought out the entire stock of goods and continued in business at Lee's Corners until Jan- uary, 1883, when he sold out to his brother Charles. He then went to a point in Saginaw County on the Midland County line and purchased
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74 acres of land; and, on quitting business at Lee's Corners, he at once began to build a fine house of modern style, which he now occupies. Ten acres of his land is cleared and in a good state of cultiva- tion.
Mr. Winslow has held the office of Supervisor of Ingersoll Township one year, and of Township Clerk four years. In 1873 he was appointed Postmaster at Lee's Corners, under President Grant, and still holds that commission. By Mr. Winslow's influence, this postoffice was established. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Mr. Winslow was first married in Ingersoll Town- ship, April, 1873, to Miss Clara A., daughter of Erial and Mary A. Chamberlain, and they had two chil- dren,-Rollin C. and Frank. The latter died in August, 1877. Mrs. W. died April 12, 1875, and Mr. WV. was again married, in the same township, Jan. 6, 1877, to Miss Eva A., daughter of Solon T. and Joanna (Cooley) Hutchins. (See sketch of S. T. Hutchins.) Mrs. W. was born in Ingersoll Town- ship, Midland County, Jan. 6, 1860. By the latter marriage there have been two children,-Susan D. and Cora E.
homas Brine, farmer, section 12, Midland Township, is a son of James and Ann (Kehoe) Brine, natives of the Emerald Isie, in which country the subject of this sketch was also born, March 5, 1847. When he was six years of age the family emigrated to Canada, where he lived till the fall of 1865, when he came to Midland County. Here he has been engaged in the lumber woods during the winters and on the river during the summers. In the summer of 1877 he bought 80 acres of land where he now lives, and settled upon it the following year. He now has 30 acres of this in a well improved state of cultiva- tion.
Mr. Brine was married at Port Huron, Mich., May 22, 1876, to Miss Maggie Haley, a native of Canada. She was born Jan. 18, 1855. Her father, John Haley, and her mother, Ann (Dolan) Haley, are natives of Ireland, and now reside in this county. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Brine were born as follows: Annie, June 22, 1877; Thomas, Jan. 1, 1880; Margaret E., Jan. 30, 1883.
Thomas died when 19 months old. Mr. and Mrs. Brine are members of the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. B. is a " National."
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ohn M. Hall, farmer, section 8, Midland Township, is a son of James and Margaret (Ferguson) Hall, who were natives of the State of New York. He was born in Genesee Co., Mich., Feb. 26, 1839, received a common- school education, and remained at his parental home until he was 27 years of age, engaged in farm- ing and other occupations.
August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 23d Mich. Inf., participated in all the battles in which his regi- ment engaged,-as the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Duck River, Tenn., siege of Atlanta, etc.,-and was discharged in July, 1865. He then lived in Saginaw Co., Mich., until the spring of 1867, when he came to Midland County and purchased 80 acres, where he has lived since 1871. 'The intervening time he spent in Midland City, following carpentry. He now has 20 acres of his land in a good state of cultiva- tion.
March 4, 1866, in Saginaw Co., Mich., Mr. Hall was married to Miss Frances, daughter of William and Margaret (Francis) Hopton, natives of England. She was born in Ireland, Jan. 23, 1839. Their living children now are, Charles W., Guy E. and Curtis J .; and the deceased, Lewis C., John R. and an unnamed infant.
Mr. Hall has been constable and Pathmaster since his residence in Midland County. He is a charter member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, G. A. R., of Midland City, and in politics votes with the Demo- cratic party.
ott S. Holmes, farmer, section 35, Eden- ville Township, was born Jan. 15, 1838, in Ridgeway, Orleans Co., N. Y., and is the son of Jeremiah and Laura (Smith) Holmes. His father was born in 1800, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he was brought up to the pro- fession of farmer, and was also taught the trade of carpenter. The mother was born in Bristol Co.,
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Mass., Sept. 27, 1806. They removed with their family to Allegany Co., N. Y., where the father pur- chased a small farm. In the fall of 1856 they set- tled in Crawford Co., Pa., where they resided until 1859, on a rented farm. In the year named, he came to Midland County, whither two children had preceded him. He was accompanied by his wife and three younger children. He remained in Midland Township the winter following his arrival, and in the spring ensuing settled upon 60 acres of land he had purchased in Jerome Township. Its improve- ments consisted of a shanty and a few acres on which the timber had been slashed down. Here he conducted a kind of lumbermen's hotel until the time of his death, Oct. 8, 1868.
The home of his parents was that of Mr. Holmes until he was 30 years of age, and he was occupied in some of the various departments of lumbering in his own interest and in that of others. He was mar- ried Dec. 27, 1868, to Lucia O., daughter of Angel L. and Harriet (Wait) McAllister. Her father was born of Scotch parentage, in Vermont, Ang. 24, 1804, and died July 1, 1861, in Northumberland Co., Can., where the mother was born Dec. 30, 1812, and descended from Welsh parents. She is a second time married, and resides in Hope Township. Mrs. Holmes was born Sept. 28, 1848. Following is the record of the children born of her marriage to Mr. Holmes : Elbert L. was born Nov. 4, 1869; Jerry W., Oct. 4, 1871, died Ang. 20, 1882; Eva May, Nov. Ir, 1873; Grant, Oct. 5, 1876; Maggie B., Dec. 1, 187 -. Mr. Holmes has had a reasonably successful career as a lumberman. He is a member of the Republican party in politics, and has been Highway Commissioner two terms.
ilton M. Boies, farmer, section 9, Mid- land Township, was born in Genesee Co., Mich., Sept. 19, 1845. His father, Tim- othy Boies, was from the Bay State, and his mother, Martha, nee Yorton, was a native of the Empire State.
His education was mostly received at the common school and at home, and at the age of 19 he started out in life for himself, working by the month at different kinds of business. Two years he spent in
Ohio. In the spring of 1869, in company with his uncle, Merritt Yorton, he bought a quarter-section of timber land. After continuing together five years, they divided their land, and Mr. Boies now owns 77 acres, about 40 of which is under cultivation, con- stituting a very nice farm.
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