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 21
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He came to his present location in 1877. The first year he ran a shingle-mill on shares, and during
the two years following he was interested in lumber- ing. In 1880 he established the business which he has since prosecuted with satisfactory results, although two years after the purchase of his mill his property was burned without insurance. He immediately rebuilt his works, and has been prosper- ously engaged since. He has owned a fine farm of 80 acres, with 60 acres under cultivation. On this he resided one year and sold it in 1883. The aggre- gate of his business interests is about $1oo per day.
Mr. Morrison was married in August, 1865, to Ellen Foote. She was born May 18, 1843, at Can- ton, N. Y., and is the daughter of Mitchell and Margaret (De Bar) Foote. Her father was a soldier of the Union army, and died June 5, 1865. He was made a prisoner and was confined in Libby Prison three months, was released on parole, and returned home, but died before he was exchanged. Her mother is 78 years old, and lives at Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Nellie May, born Feb. S, 1869, and Harrison Allen, born April 1, 1874, are the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Morrison. The latter died in 1876.
Mr. Morrison belongs to the National Greenback party, and has officiated one term as Town Clerk.
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ohn A. Whitman, farmer, section 1, Inger- soll Township, is a son of John and Dor_ cas (Davis) Whitman, natives of New Hampshire, who lived 30 years in Rutland Co., Vt., then in Genesee Co., N. Y., Livingston County, same State, Saginaw County, this State, five years, and finally Ingersoll Township, this county, where they died,-the former in April, 1865, and the latter in the fall of 1862.
Of their family of five sons and three daughters, John A., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest son, being born Jan. 18, 1814, in the township of Tin- mouth, Rutland Co., Vt. On arriving at 21 years of age he went to Crawford Co., Pa .; three years after- ward to New York State, and finally to Michigan. On coming to Saginaw County he followed land- clearing for five years; cleared 100 acres for Jas. Fracier, then known as the Bloomfield farm, now owned by A. B. Payn; then he purchased a tract of 600 acres, in Midland and Saginaw Counties, settled
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in this county, in Ingersoll Township, on the Titta- bawassee River, building a log house and commen- cing to clear his land. This was in 1844. In 1872 he built the house which he now occupies. He has since disposed of all his land but 250 acres, 200 of which he has in a fine state of cultivation. He keeps about 300 head of sheep, 10 head of cattle and seven head of horses. Mr. Whitman was the first settler in Ingersoll Township and the first per- manent settler in Midland County. His eldest daughter, Jane, who is now the wife of Joseph Bar- ton, of Mt. Haley Township, was the second white child born in Midland County, and the first in Inger- soll Township.
Mr. Whitman was first married in Livingston Co., N. Y., in June, 1833, to Lucinda Cogswell, a native of that State, and they had four children, namely : John, James, Mary and Jane. John died when about 14 years old. Mrs. W. died in 1848, and Mr. W. was again married, June, 1850, in Saginaw County, to Joanna Moran, a native of Waterford, Ireland, and by this marriage there have been nine children, seven of whom are living, viz .: George W., Daniel W., Ellen, Ellis, Frank, John and Laura. The two deceased were named John and Kate.
Mr. Whitman has held the office of Township Treasurer, in Saginaw County, for five years, Justice of the Peace, in this county, before the township of Ingersoll was organized, six years, and was the first Treasurer of the county, being appointed at its or- ganization by the County Board. Also, before the county was organized, he was Highway Commissioner two years, and has been School Director several years. With reference to national issues he is a Re- publican.
The portrait of Mr. Whitman may be found on another page of this work.
rial Rockwood, deceased, was a resident of Midland Township from 1874 until his death. His parents, Reuben and Polly Rockwood, were natives of the Bay State. He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., March 1, 1820, and lived in his native State, following the vo- cation of agriculture, until March, 1867, when he came with his family to Saginaw Co., Mich., and bought 80 acres of land at Freeland, which he sold
seven years afterward and, in the spring of 1874, came to Midland County and bought 40 acres in Midland Township. Here he lived until his death, which occurred Feb. 19, 1884. He was an active temperance worker and a worthy citizen.
1Ie was married in Erie Co., N. Y., May 25, 1856, to Emily, daughter of Orin and Rowena (Ross) Bab- cock, parents natives respectively of Otsego Co., N. Y., and Massachusetts. She was born in Erie Co., N. Y., May 27, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. R. had three children, viz .: Eliza R., Frank H. and Emma A. The first named married Milton M. Boies, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this ALBUM. Mrs. R. is a member of the Baptist Church.
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M. M. V. Chambers, farmer on section 34, Hope Township, was the first male white born in the city of Milwaukee, Wis. He was born Nov. 2, 1843, the son of Robert and Eliza Ann (Stevens) Chambers. Mr. Chambers, Sr., was of English and German descent, was born near Hamilton, Ont., and was a pioneer in the State of Wisconsin. He owned So acres in Kilbourn Township, now the heart of the city of Milwaukee; and after selling this, bought a farm ten miles north of the Cream City, on the Green Bay road. He shortly sold this, and bought a place near Sheboygan, where he lived eight years. He then came to St Clair Co., Mich., where he cul- tivated five or six years a farm rented of a widow by the name of House, before his death, at the age of 72. His wife was 62 years old at her death, in 1875.
The subject of this biograhy left home in his 13th year, and commenced to earn his own livelihood, working at whatever employment offered. He came to Saginaw in 1857, and was a fireman on a river steamer for three years, then engineer two years.
Nov. 24, 1862, he enlisted in Co. H, 28th Bat. Mich. Vol. Inf., which was incorporated with the 27th, under Col. Fox. The regiment was assigned to the 9th Army Corps, and contained two of Mr. Chamber's brothers, Joseph and Robert. He was discharged at Ypsilanti, on account of disability, in March, 1863, before his command left for the front. Coming to Edenville, this county, the following
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autumn, he engaged in lumbering in the winter and driving logs in the summer. He bought his present farm of 38 acres in 1872, and moved upon it in 1878. He has worked in the woods every winter but two. Previous to making his location here, he owned 40 acres in Edenville Township, which he sold. He bought 80 acres in Minnesota, but sold this also, and returned to Midland County. He also made a start in Gladwin County.
He was married March 9, 1878, to Miss Almira Holden, daughter of Augustus Holden, who resides seven miles east of Clio, Genesee County. Mrs. Chambers was born March 9, 1853, and is the mother of one daughter, Laura Ann, born June 20, 1879, in Hope Township.
Mr. C. is politically a Greenbacker.
ames Odell, farmer, section 7, Jerome Town- ship, was born April 16, 1844, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., and is the son of Palmer and Jemima Odell. The father was drowned in 1855 in Jack Rift's River, Onondaga County. The mother is living at Fremont, Stenben Co., N. Y. She married a second time, and is again widowed. Both parents were natives of the Empire State, and the mother is of mixed German and English descent. The family included six children, all of whom are dead but two. Susan Ann (Odell) Monroe, sister of Mr. Odell, survives. Jacob, a brother, became a soldier for the Union, and was twice wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was taken to Mound City Hospital, where he died.
Mr. Odell came to the township of Orrin, Branch Co., Mich., when he was 17 years old, and has since been a resident of the Peninsular State, with the excep- tion of one year, which he spent in Onondaga County. While he remained in Branch County he labored by the month as a farm assistant. In the spring of 1869 he came to Lansing and spent a summer in Ingham County. In the fall of that year he bought So acres of land in Jerome Township, three miles from his present location, for which he paid one- fourth of the purchase money. He retained its ownership about five years, sold out and bought ro acres, for which he paid and entered upon the work of improvement. The following spring he bought
So acres of Charles Cochrane,-with the privilege of paying for it at his own convenience,-on which he remained about 15 months. He decided that he should not be able to pay for it, and he returned to his 10-acre farm, to which he has added eight acres additional. He also owns So acres on the same sec- tion, but not adjoining. Fifteen acres of his property is in tillage. Mr. Odell was married Dec. 25, 1869, at Midland, to Charlotte M. Lavier. She was born Jan. 18, 1854, in Canada, and is the daughter of Charles and Philadelphia (Parks) Lavier. Her mother was of English descent, and died in 1873, in Jerome Township. Her father is residing in Cana- da. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Odell are recorded as follows : Reuben J., born Jan. 24, 1871 ; an infant, born June 10, 1872, died the same day ; Mabel J., June 23, 1873; Cora A., May 4, 1876; Clare M., July 7, 1877; Pearl W., Nov. 21, 1881.
Mr. Odell is a Republican in political sentiment and action, and has been in public life to considera- ble extent in the township where he resides. He has served two years as Justice of the Peace, and has filled the school offices. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
avid E. Thurber, farmer, section 9, Inger- soll Township, is a son of Calvin and Frances (Craig) Thurber, natives of Can- ada, and was born in the county of Megantic, Lower Canada, Feb. 28, 1844; in 1864 he came to Monroe Co., Mich., and in a short time he W went to Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he remained about six months. After spending a short time in Canada, he returned to Michigan, resided in Wash- tenaw County almost six months, in Ingham County about a year and a half, in Saginaw County a year and a half, and in the fall of 1868 he came to Mid- land County, resided in Midland City about three years, being engaged for a year and a half by Geo. F. Keep as a foreman on his farm, and in lumbering.
In 1873 he purchased So acres of land in Ingersoll Township, where he has since resided, and has now about 55 acres under cultivation. In political mat- ters Mr. T. is a "National," and in his community he has been honored with the office of Township Treasurer one year.
Mr. Thurber was married in Mason, Ingham Co.,
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Mich., to Miss Rebecca J., daughter of William and Eleanor (Wilson) Horton. She was born in Dela- ware Co., N. Y., July 15, 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. T. have been born three children, namely : Calvin E., Laney B. and David H.
ichael E. Kane, farmer, section 9, Mid- land Township, is a son of Lawrence and Esther (Fox) Kane, parents natives re- spectively of Ireland and Canada. He was also born in Canada, April 29, 1851, went to common school and worked on the farm until 1871; then spent three summers in Washtenaw Co., Mich., working in the woods during the winter ; next, he bought a farm in Lenawee Co., Mich., where he lived until the spring of 1878, when he exchanged this farm for 90 acres of land where he now resides, and has 20 acres in cultivation.
Mr. Kane was married in Flint, Genesee Co., Mich .. July 1, 1879, to Miss Eliza, daughter of Alson and Alice (Butler) Sanborn, the latter natives of Canada: she is a native of the Peninsular State. Mr. and Mrs. K. are members of the Catholic Church. They have had three children, namely : Lawrence, Michael, who died when about a year and a half old, and James Alson.
On national questions Mr. Kane holds the views of the "National" party.
ohn Swanton, farmer, section 12, Edenville Township, was born Feb. 24, 1842, in To- ronto, Can., and is the son of John and Elizabeth Ann (Aikens) Swanton. His father was born in Ireland, in 1807, and died in Pick- ering, Can., in March, 1847. His mother was born in Ireland, and is now the wife of Thomas Gransden, Sr., of Edenville Township. The parents emigrated to Canada in 1819, and the father made the first brick used in the construction of the cele- brated Gore bank building at Toronto.
On the death of his father, Mr. Swanton became an inmate of the family of Augustus Simons, with whom he remained until he was 11 years old. They removed to Erie Co., Pa. Mr. Simons was a man of unsteady habits and finally abandoned his family,
and Mr. Swanton was placed under the charge of a farmer in Erie County, named John Melhorn, with whom he resided until the age of 18 years. In 1860 he went to the township of Walsingham, Can., where he worked one year as a farm assistant. At the end of that time he returned to Pennsylvania and spent several months of the year 1862, in the employ of Mr. Melhorn, with whom he had previously resided.
He became interested in the issues of the civil war and determined to risk the fate of a soldier. He en- listed Aug. 15, 1862, in Co. A, 145th Pa. Vol. Inf., Col. H. L. Brown, and was mustered out of the United States service Aug. 9, 1865, at Baltimore. The command was assigned to the Second Army Corps, First Division, and was attached to several brigades. It was a part of the Army of the Potomac, during the engagements at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the fall of 1863 Mr. Swanton was wounded near Bristow Station, dur- ing the retreat from the Rapidan. He became dis- abled by a wound in the hip from a fragment of shell, was captured by the rebels and sent to Belle Isle. After five months he effected his escape by strategy, and made his way to Annapolis. He rejoined his command at Cold Harbor and continued in active service until June 16, 1864, when he was wounded by a grape shot, in an attempt to capture a rebel battery near Petersburg. He was sent to Lincoln Hospital at Washington, D. C., and two months later was transferred to the Haddington Hospital at Phil- adelphia. In the spring of 1865 he was transferred to the Invalid Corps, and sent on duty to Jarvis Hospital, Baltimore, where he was mustered out of service.
He returned to Erie, Pa., and went to work for his former employer, Mr. Melhorn, with whom he re- mained until April, 1867, when he came to Edenville Township, in Midland County. He worked during the summer on a farm and through the winter in the lumber woods. He returned to Fairview Township, Erie Co., Pa., and was married June 9, 1868, to Catherine, daughter of Christian and Catherine (Fry) Brown, a native of Wirtemburg, Germany. Her par- ents were also born and died there, and at the age of 13 years, accompanied by a sister three years older, she emigrated to America, and joined two brothers in Erie Co., Pa. They landed in the city of New York, in 1857. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
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Swanton were born in Edenville Township, as fol- lows: Ida May, Aug. 7, 1869; Alma Edith, July 12, 1872; Otto C. B., May 12, 1878; Katie Mercedes, July 14, 1881.
Mr. Swanton has served his townsmen five terms as Township Clerk.
ra B. Cronkright, farmer, resident on sec- tion 26, Jasper Township, was born Jan. 12, 1841, in Midland Township. He is the son of Charles and Lydia (Snyder) Cronkright, and is the second white male born in Midland County. He grew to manhood on the Michigan frontier, his first experiences in life being those of the pioneers. He remained with his parents until he was 27 years old, working on the farm summers and in the lumber woods winters, after he attained suitable age and strength. After that he operated as a lum- berman until his marriage, which took place Nov. 9, 1867, in Homer Township, Midland County. His wife was Adriana V. Adams, daughter of Ransom and Sarah J. (Westbrook) Adams, formerly residents of Oakland Co., Ont., where the daughter was born Jan. 30, 1848. She came to Michigan when she was 13 years old with her grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Cronkright have had eight children, six of whom are living: William, Minnie A., Edna A., R. B. Hayes, Clyde E. and Effie P. The deceased were named Edward and Arthur, Mr. C. is a Republican in political faith and has held various local offices.
oseph C. Townsend, Midland. One of the most familiar faces in Midland County is that of the man whose name heads this sketch. From Saginaw to the northern frontier every one knows "Uncle Jo," as he is famil- iarly called. Reared within the corporation of Midland, and living here continuously for more than 30 years, he is possessed of an intimate acquaint- ance with the growth and prosperity of the county he loves so well. The historian is under special ob- ligations to him for information upon many subjects. He is the youngest of 11 children, of whom three survive. His parents, Joseph and Polly (Cronkright)
Townsend, emigrated from Mt. Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1842, and after residing a short time in Saginaw County, settled near the "Forks," now Mid- land City. Joseph was a lad 12 years old when his parents came to Midland, and his schooling in New York to that date was very limited. When Henry Ashman taught the first school in the county Joseph was one of the first scholars, nearly all of whom were Indians. In fact, for several years after coming here, Indian children were the only play- mates the Townsend children had. Together they hunted, fished, swam the rivers and played hide-and- seek among the bushes; but a mere handful of the race yet remain that were the friends of his boyhood. Joseph was a great lover of the chase, and a number of his exploits are related in another part of this work.
As he grew to manhood, he wooed and married Miss Evaline Patterson, the daughter of Henry W. and Harriet Patterson. The former is one of the most influential and worthy citizens of Midland, who still resides near his daughter, and is fully satisfied with Midland County as a place in which to spend his declining years. The marriage of Mr. Townsend and Miss Patterson was celebrated in 1856, by Chas. Fitzhugh, Esq., who for many years was a resident of the township and one of its first settlers. Joseph and his wife have lived happily together for more than a quarter of a century, and have been the par- ents of 11 children. Harriet, the eldest daughter, wedded George Pick, and now resides at Tonawanda, N. Y. Iantha is the wife of Albert Sidelinker, and Angelina married John Bancroft. Both the latter live in Midland City, and the younger children, Chester, Sophronia and Geneva, are with their par- ents, thus forming an almost unbroken family circle. Five children are buried beneath the trees in the village cemetery, which is thus made the dearest spot on earth to the parents who loved them so dearly.
Joseph is a radical Republican, but the Greenback and Independent parties have maintained him in office for a long term of years. Gov. Jerome ap- pointed him a Notary Public, and Gov. Begole, County Agent of the State Board of Charities, which office he has filled acceptably for many years. He has been for 14 years Superintendent of the Poor, and County Coroner for 12 years.
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Owning a dray line, and having a comfortable home in the suburbs. his days are passed in compar- ative ease and comfort. He is always the same jolly, good fellow, an honest man, a courteous neigh- bor and an upright Mason.
illiam E. Hewitt, lumberman on section S, Larkin Township, is a son of Benjamin H. and Sarah (Westcott) Hewitt, natives of Vermont, and was born in that State Aug. 18, 1851. He came to Midland County in 1871, and has since made his home here. In October, 1883, he purchased a shingle mill on section 8, Larkin, where he is now doing a thriv- ing business. He employs seven men, and his mill has a capacity for turnit g out 25.000 shingles daily.
He was first married in Lincoln Township, March 8, 1873. to Miss Christina J. Howe, daughter of James Howe, of Larkin Township. Mrs. H. died Oct. 24, ISS3, leaving two daughters, Sarah E. and Phebe E .; and Feb. 22, 1884, he chose for his present wife Miss Viola Howe, a sister of the first Mrs. Hewitt. Politically, Mr. H. is a Democrat.
illiam Mills, farmer, section 27, Hope Township, was born Sept. 29, 1851, in Ontario, Can., and is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Filmore) Mills. The parents are of English descent and were born in Nova Scotia. The family moved to Ontario in 1849, where they remained until their removal to Midland County in 1861.
Mr. Mills, of this sketch, was six years old when he made his first acquaintance with the Peninsular State, and grew to man's estate in the township in which he now resides. He is the proprietor of 70 acres of land, which includes 30 acres improved and cultivated.
His marriage to Annie Ostrander occurred June 11, 1877. She was born March 8, 1859, in St. Clair Co., Mich., and is the daughter of John C. and Anna (Pratt) Ostrander. The mother of Mrs. Mills died
before she was three years old, and, her father marry- ing soon afterward, she grew to womanhood under the care of a step-mother. Following is the record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mills : Ernest W., Nov. 19, 1878; Estella R., Nov. 10, ISSo; Clay- ton D. W., Aug. 2, 1883. They were born in Hope Township.
Mr. Mills has been Township Clerk two terms, and is now discharging the duties of Treasurer for the second time.
B enjamin G. Beden, farmer, section 25, Ingersoll Township, is a son of Smithfield and Rebecca (Melvin) Beden, the former a native of the Green Mountain State and the latter of the old Granite State. Their residence was first in Wyoming Co., N. Y., then in Wayne County, same State, and finally, in 1836, they emigrated to Lapeer Co., Mich., where he died Feb. 26, 1853. She afterward lived with her daughter in Genesee Co., Mich., and died Feb. 10, 1874. In their family were ten children : Walter M., C'alista, Diana, Benjamin G., William, Seth N., Amanda, Laura, William (2d) and Susan.
The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1822; was 14 years old when his parents came to Lapeer Co., Mich., and lived at home with them until 20 years of age, assisting on the farm and attending school. At the age inen- tioned he started out in the world for himself, at first working by the month for a few years. He then learned the cooper's trade, which he followed about two years; then for about 16 months he worked at farming and as clerk in a store. Then he purchased a farm in Hladley, Lapeer Co., Mich., where he lived from 1848 to 1858; he then sold out, and in the fol- lowing February he came to Midland County and settled on 120 acres of land in Ingersoll Township, which he had bought the previous year. He has since added 40 acres by purchase, and he now has about 60 acres in a good state of cultivation.
Mr. Beden has been Justice of the Peace six years, Deputy Clerk several years and Township Treasurer one year. He was once elected Coroner, but did not accept the office. In his political views he is a Re- publican. In 1873 he joined the Patrons of Hus- bandry.
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At the time of the Revolutionary war, his grand- mother was met by some American soldiers who de- sired some flannel for making cartridges. She gave them her petticoat, which they hung on a pole, and around this they cheered and vowed they would die rather than suffer defeat.
Mr. Beden was married in Oakland Co., Mich., March 16, 1853, to Harriet P., daughter of Harvey C. and Melinda (Compton) Mills. (See sketch of David A. Mills.) Mrs. Beden was born in Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1836. They have one child, Rodney A .. born April 24, 1858.
homas Moore, farmer and proprietor of Moore's Hotel at Edenville, was born Aug. 18, 1839, in Dundas Co., C'an., and is the son of Michael and Alice (O'Connor) Moore. The parents were natives of Ireland, and are deceased. They emigrated to Canada respect- ively in 1828 and in 1830.
Mr. Moore spent the first 14 years of his life on a farm and at school. He had a natural taste and aptitude for books, and at the age of 14 years he be- gan teaching in the Dominion. At the age of 17 years he went to Syracuse, N. Y., and spent some time as a farm laborer. He then entered a drug store, in which he operated four years, when he re- turned to Canada and engaged in rafting one season on the river Trent. The season following he spent in assisting his father on the farm, when he returned to his former employment as a raftsman. In the fall of that year (1862) he came to Ann Arbor, and after working there three months as a farm assistant, he went to East Saginaw with the intention of engaging in lumbering; but happening to meet his former em- ployer from Syracuse he entered his store at Saginaw as a salesman. He served in that capacity three years. On terminating that connection he engaged in hand- ling dairy products, and in six months netted $1,000. Associated with two partners, he purchased a mer- cantile establishment at Chesaning, Saginaw Co., Mich., and four months later sold his interest to his partners. He then engaged in hotel life at Chesan- ing, and conducted the Chesaning House one year.
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