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 25
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Mr. Marsh remained with his parents as long as they lived, and managed the homestead property until the fall of 1868, when he purchased 120 acres of land where he now resides. It was all in a wild, unbroken condition, and in the midst of a wilderness. The exact condition of things may be apprehended from the fact that soon after their arrival a daughter of Mr. Marsh, aged 13 years, killed a deer which had been chased by a dog upon the drive in the river. The animal could not run over the logs, and she followed it with an ax, with which she killed it by a blow on the head.
Mr. Marsh has now 35 acres of his farm under cultivation. In the year 1883 he conducted the
Desermia House at Ithaca. He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace for eight years, has been Township Clerk three years, and Highway Com- missioner two terms, besides holding the minor local offices. He is a Republican in political connection.
Mr. Marsh was married July 30, 1855, in Ashta- bula Co., Ohio, to Nancy, daughter of James and Almira (Herrick) Sargent. She was born May 18, 1836, in Pittsfield, Mass. Her parents removed, when she was about r8 months old, to Erie Co., Pa. and later to Ashtabula Co., Ohio. She was at that time 13 years old and obtained the greater part of her education in the Buckeye State. Following is the record of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Marsh : Adell was born Jan. 26, 1859, and was mar- ried Sept. 24, 1877, to George Freeland, a native of Saginaw Co., Mich., and a farmer of Homer Town- ship, by whom she has become the mother of one child-Pearl-born July 21, 1878. Lavinia was born March 21, 1863, and was married in November, 1883, to William Fox, now resident at St. Louis, this State. Louis was born March 22, 1867; May Belle, Aug. 30, 1870 ; James L., Dec. 18, 1876.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh form valua- ble additions to the collection of likenesses of promi- nent personages in Midland County, and are given on pages in proximity to this sketch.
ewis Rogers, farmer, section 17, Warren Township, was born in Saginaw Co., Mich., Sept. 18, 1854, and is a son of Henry D. and Rebecca (Ellsworth) Rogers. His father was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., June 20, 1817, and died March 7, 1875. His ancestry was English. Lewis' mother was born March 1, 1818, in the town of Phelps, Ontario Co., N. Y. (calls herself a "Yankee "), and came to Midland County in 1862. She is now living with her daugh- ter, Nettie, in this county, but she visits around among her children. She has had 14 children,- four at one birth, which, however, died before they were a month old.
Mr. Rogers, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until of age, when, Jan. 1, 1876, he married Miss Lucy L., daughter of Samuel and Martha (Putnam) Ellsworth. Mr. E., a Yankee of Puritan
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sto k, died in 1862; and Mrs. E., of German descent, died at the age of 37, when her daughter was very young. In their family were seven children, besides two half brothers. Mrs. R. was born March 25, 1854. The children of Mr. and Mrs. R. are: II. Lee, born Nov. 3, 1876, in Midland; Clifford E., born Dec. 26, 1879, died May 10, 1880; and Lewis Alton, born Sept. 5, 1881, in Coleman.
Mr. R. in politics is a Republican, and he has held the office of Highway Commissioner one term.
eorgo O. Rockwell, lumberman and dealer in real estate, resident at Midland City, was born Aug. 29, 1848, at Cam- bridge, Crawford Co., Pa. Ilis father, Durius Rockwell, was also a farmer by occupition, a native of the Key-stone State, and was born June 28, 1816. Eleazer, father of Darius Rockwell, was born in the State of New York, was a man o active business habits and took a deepinterest in the issues of the period in which he lived. He was a soldier of 1812, and participated in the battles at Eric, and at Waterford, N. Y. He was of English parentage, and operated heavily in lumber and as an agriculturist, being the proprietor of 800 acres of land. Darius Rockwell married Eunice Herrick, who was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Aug. 17, 1821.
George Rockwell attained to the age of 16 years in his native place, passing the seasons in alternate attendance at school and in farm labor. The locality where he lived and the circumstances by which he was surrounded, awakened and kept alive his interest in the progress of public affairs after the Southern Rebellion had become a substantial fact. He was a mere boy when the re- echoes of the first shot at Sumter roused the natives of the earth to a conscious- ness that the death-knell of property in man was sounding, and the sensation he experienced only be- came more intense as the fruitless months succeeded each other, and the Nation seemed in the throes of dissolution. Mr. Rockwell became a soldier for the Union in his sixteenth year, Feb. 25, 1864, enlisting in Co. E. Second Pa. Cav., Capt. Swartz. The com- mand, under Col. Briton, was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Potomac, Maj .- Gen. Gregge commanding. He was in the
service until he received honorable discharge, July 26, 1865, at Philadelphia, and was a personal partic- ipant in the following battles: Ashland Station, May 11, 1864; before Richmond, May 12; Hanover Ferry, May 28; Old Church Tavern, May 30; Cold Harbor, June 2; Franklin Station, June it and 12; Prospect Hill, June 21, 1864 ; Jerusalem Plank Road, July 12; Malvern Hill, July 28; Lee's Mills, July 30; White-Oak Swamp, Aug. 14 and 15 ; Deep Bot- tom, Aug. 15 and 16; Charles City Cross-Roads, Aug. 18; Reams' Station, Aug. 23 and 25; Wyatt House, Sept. 29 and Oct. 1; Boydtown Plank Road, Oct. 27; Stony Creek, Dec. 1; and Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, 1865. During the week succeeding the last named engagement his regiment was detailed to take part in the raid on the Weldon Railroad, in which 30 miles of track were destroyed and the bridge burned across the Roanoke River. Mr. Rockwell was in the final fight before Petersburg. After the last battle his regiment was on provost duty until it was mustered out of the United States service.
He returned home and passed the nine months in foreed inaction from disability, resulting from priva- tions and exposure. After regaining his health to some extent he attended school one winter, and in the following summer, that of 1866, he joined his brother-in-law, Daniel Herrick, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio. He remained there until the following Octo- ber, when, in company with a cousin, Charles Iler- rick, he made an overland trip to Midland City, making the journey hither with a two-horse team. He was ill two weeks after his arrival, and on recov- ery found employment so scarce as to admit of no choice. He took advantage of the first thing that presented, and for a fortnight struggled with a hod, endeavoring to accomplish his duties with skill and courage. At the expiration of 14 days he engaged as a lumberman with George Frost and remained in his employment until spring. About that time the educational project of Cornell became matter of newspaper comment, and Mr. Rockwell proceeded to Ithaca, N. Y., to make personal application for a situation in the manual-labor department, whereby a scholarship might be secured. But he was preceded by a retinue of applicants, much greater than could be accommodated, and soon after he returned to Michigan. He engaged in the lumber woods in the employment of John Sias (see sketch), where he
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operated until the spring of 1868. At that date he began to take contracts in the lumber business and to conduct matters in his own interest. Later on he became a clerk in the store of Dr. Whitehouse, and during that period he bought a lot on Ellsworth Street and built a dwelling. He sold the property and engaged in the grocery and provision trade, in which he was interested about three months. He disposed of that business and embarked in the manufacture of shingles, in which he operated nearly five years. In 1873 he sold out and bought 165 acres of land in Homer Township, which he occupied and managed until 1876. In that year, associated with James Herrick and John R. Evans, he built the first grist- mill in Midland County, and named after Midland ('ity, where it is located. Two years later he and Mr. Herrick became sole proprietors by purchasing the interest of Mr. Evans. They continued its management one year, when the business firm of James Herrick & Co. was formed.
The concern sunk a salt well and built a salt block. The relation existed until March, 1881, when Mr. Rockwell sold his claim and bought 180 acres of land in the township of Ingersoll. He retained the property until the spring of 1882, when he sold and embarked in real-estate and lumber business. In political matters Mr. Rockwell is a Republican of decided principles. His marriage to Jessie F. Dean occurred Dec. 20, 1871, She was born June 23, 1856, in Berkshire Co., Mass., and is the daughter of Ben- jamin and Jerusha Dean (see sketch of Benjamin Dean). Lenora E., eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell, was born Sept. 27, 1874, and died July 20, 1876; Dewey Dean was born Sept. 20, 1876; Bennie D. was born March 15, 1880, and died July 15 of the same year.
ilas E. Wright, farmer on section 34, Hope Township, was born in Cramme, Ont., Oct. 7, 1836, the son of Eben and Lucy (Me Allister) Wright. (See sketch of Eben Wright.) He came with his parents to this State in 1855, and lived for three and a half years in St. Clair County, on a rented farm. From St. Clair County they came to this County in 1858. After one year in what is now Edenville Township, they
settled on the present homestead, where Mr. Wright has since lived.
He was married Sept. 30, 1860, to Louisa Erway, daughter of Demiel and Hilah (Clark) Erway. Mr. E. is deceased, and Mrs. E., 78 years old, and nearly blind, lives with her son Sylvester. Mrs. Wright was born Oct. 25, 1843, in Steuben Co., N. Y. She is the mother of it children, as follows: Sibyl A., born April 25, 1861; Delia R., Oct. 16, 1862; Edgar L., Dec. 14, 18644; Gertrude A., March 31, 1867 ; Eben D., Feb. 8, 1869: Walter M., July 16, 1871; Bertha Kate, Sept. 6, 1873; Albert, March 10, 1876; Edna A., Sept. 23, 1878; Elsie R., Dec. 8, 1880; Clara M., Feb. 27, 1883. They were all born in Hope Township.
Mr. W. is in political matters a supporter of the Republican party. He has been Justice of the Peace several years, and Highway Commissioner three years. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
O. MeFarland, merchant at Averill, and proprietor of the Hamilton House, was born July 9, 1856, in Hancock Co., Me. He is the son of Charles and Mary Elizabeth (Hig- gins) McFarland. Ilis father is a sea captain and resides in the Pine-Tree State. His mother died in 1860, in the county of Hancock in that State.
Mr. MeFarland was but four years old when his mother died, and he went to live with his grand- parents, in whose charge he remained until he was 15 years of age. In 1861 he went to Ellsworth in his native State, where he continued about one year, officiating as a clerk in a mercantile establishment. He was again employed in a similar manner in the same place, and a few months afterward went to Bangor, where he served upwards of a year as a clerk, going thence to Boston, Mass., where he became connected with the Oriental Tea Store as traveling salesman. Less than a year later he termi- nated that connection and returned to Ellsworth, Me., and passed a year in the capacity of a sales- man. His next remove was to Kingsfield, Franklin Co., Me., where he spent one winter in the lumber woods. In 1876 he came to Midland County, where he has since resided. The first winter he passed in
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the lumber woods and the two succeeding he engaged in teaching. He was occupied part of the time summers in a store at Midland, and the remainder of the time he followed the river. On the first day of May, 1881, he went into business with Messrs. Wright & Ketchum, and has since been associated with them as an employe. He is a Republican in political sentiment and is serving his second year as Township Clerk ; he also holds the position of Justice of the Peace.
Mr. MeFarland was married Aug. 1, 1883, at Toledo, Ohio, to Clara A., daughter of Caleb J. and Cynthia A. (Blakely) Mallory. Her parents reside at Smith's Creek, St. Clair Co., Mich.
ben Wright, retired farmer on section 17, Hope Township, was born May 14, 1800, in Addison, Addison Co., \'t., the son of Ebenezer and Polly (Warren) Wright. Ebenezer W'right was of English descent, was born about 1776, and lived most of his life in Vermont, in the pursuit of agriculture. He died at Bredport, Vt., aged 68. His first wife was of English descent, and died about 1807. He had by this marriage two daughters, and by a subsequent marriage he was the father of two daughters and a son.
The subject of this sketch was the eldest of his father's family, was reared on the paternal farm, and at the age of 18 went forth into the world to seek his fortune. Hle first lived for a few years in Canton, N. Y., with his uncle Caleb. Marrying, he bought 50 acres in Canton, where he lived five years. He then sold and moved to Canada, where he rented a farm and also worked in a saw-mill for seven or eight years. At the end of this time he came to St. Clair Co., Mich., and worked a farm on shares, with George Bowman, for four years.
In the spring of 1858 he came to Midland County and settled on the Tittabawssee River in what is now Edenville Township. He remained there with his family one year, working on land belonging to Mr. Egbert. The next year he moved on the same place where he now resides. At that time, he tells, there were at Midland City two dwellings and one store. The latter was kept by James Eastman, who lived in one house, while John Larkin's residence was in the
other. Mr. Wright purchased 160 acres, at the rate of 50 cents per acre. His deed was signed by Presi- dent James Buchanan. He retained 40 acres of this tract, having given the remainder to his son. He has improved 30 acres.
He was first married in Canton, N. Y., Jan. 9, 1820, to Rowena Abbott, who was born Sept. 12, 1800, and died June 6, 1825, leaving two daughters. One of these is yet living, at Cramme, Can. He was again married in Canton, Feb. 8, 1827, to Lucy Mc- Allister, who was born Aug. 17, 1796, and died Feb. 23, 1863, leaving two children. One of these is Silas E. Wright, and the other died in 1884. He was married the last time Feb. 23, 1865, to Mrs. Mc- Allister. She was born Dec. 12, 1812, and was first married in November, 1835, to L. McAllister, who was born Aug. 24, 1804, and died July 1, 1861. Eight children resulted from this union, and six of them are now living.
Mr. Wright's children were born as follows: Ame- lia M., March 5, 1822; Sarah E., Dec. 12, 1823; Lu- cinda R., Dec. 21, 1827; Emily I., Jan. 1, 1832 : Silas E., Oct. 7, 1836. Mrs. Wright's children, by her first marriage, were born as follows: David W., Dec. 22, 1837 ; Isabella, Aug. 14, 1841 ; Mandana, July 18, 1843; Emma A., April 13, 1845 ; Judith, Oct. 1, 1846; Lucia O., Sept. 28, 1848; Irena, July 1, 1852.
Mr. Wright commenced chewing tobacco when 21, and left off at 83, having been addicted to the habit for 62 years. He stopped because the injurious effects were becoming too apparent. He was afflicted with hiccoughing and with pains in the stomach. It is 11 years since he has performed a full day's work; and he has not labored at all for six years.
illiam Phelan, farmer, section 26, Porter Township, was born June 1, 1840, in the vicinity. of the city of Toronto, Can. At the age of 15 years he entered upon life in his own interest as a common laborer on a farm near Hamilton, Can., and remained in the same employment ten years. At the end of that time he came to Michigan, where he remained but a short time; proceeding to Tazewell Co., Ill, he there entered the service of C. WY. Morris, with whom he
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remained two years and seven months. He next made a tour through Missouri and Kansas, when he returned to Canada for two months. Coming then again to Michigan for a permanent settlement, he entered a homestead claim for 160 acres in Porter Township, Midland County, on which he has since expended his energies, clearing and improving 40 acres and erecting good and suitable farm buildings.
Mr. Phelan is a Democrat in his political views, and he has held all the school offices in his district. He is at present School Inspector and has been Town Clerk three years.
The first marriage of Mr. Phelan occurred Nov. 17, 1868, when he became the husband of Eliza J. Adams, of Brantford, Ontario. She was born in 1840 and became the mother of one child, Thomas J., who died in infancy. The mother died in Saginaw, Aug. 16, 1870. Mr. Phelan was a second time married July 8, 1872, in Canada, to Rachel Oliver, daughter of Francis Oliver. She was born July 2, 1854. Of her marriage five children have been born, who are all living except John, the second in order of birth, who died Oct. 17, 1880, aged five years, three months and three days. Ann Rachel, Joseph and Francis are the survivors. The family are communicants of the Roman Catholic Church.
harles Mills, farmer on section 26, Hope Township, was born March 3, 1847, in Goose Township, Cumberland Co., Nova Scotia, and is the son of William and Sarah Mills. The father died when Charles was a child, and the mother died in 1860, in South- would, Can. When Charles was six years old, he went to live with his uncle, Harding Mills, by whom he was reared and with whom he lived until he entered the military service of the United States.
He enlisted Nov. 28, 1862, in Co. H, 27th Mich. Vol. Inf., was assigned to the First Division, Ninth Army Corps, and was mustered out Feb. 11, 1865, at Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington, D. C., on ac- count of a wound in the arm by a minie ball, received in front of Petersburg, July 30, 1864. He returned to the house of his uncle, and for some time worked either for him or for other parties. In 1870 he lo-
cated on 40 acres where he now resides. He has 20 acres improved.
Sept. 4, 1871, he was married to Susanna How- land, daughter of Robert G. and Mary (Davidson) Howland. Mr. H. was born in Canada, May 5, 1810, of English descent; and the mother in Canada, Nov. 14, 1814, of Scotch and American parentage. They reside on a farm in Norfolk Co., Ont. Mrs. Mills was born June 29, 1848, in Ontario, Can. In politi- cal faith, Mr. Mills is a Greenbacker.
evi B. Chamberlain, merchant, Lee's Cor- ners, Ingersoll Township, is a son of Erial and Mary A. (Barnes) Chamberlain, the former a native of the Empire State and the latter of Ohio. After marriage the parents lived in Saginaw County 15 years, and then located in Ingersoll Township, this county. He enlisted in the 16th Mich. Inf., and was in the ser- vice almost a year when he was stricken down with typhoid fever, and died Nov. 1, 1864. His widow is now a resident of Saginaw City. In their family were five sons and three daughters.
Levi B., the second son, was born in Saginaw County, March 30, 1843, and was 13 years old when the family emigrated to this county, cutting their way through the wild forest to their new home. Aug. 13, 1861, when 18 years old, he enlisted in the service of his country, in Co. D, 16th Mich. Inf., and was in the army more than four years. Among the numer- ous engagements in which he participated were the battles of Hanover Court-House, Gaines' Mill, Mal- vern Hill, etc. After serving about a year he was transferred, on account of disability, to the Veteran Reserve Corps, where he remained until his discharge.
Then for five years he mostly followed painting in Pennsylvania. In 1870 he came to Lee's Corners, and in 1872 opened the first store at that place, which derived its name from his cognomen of "Lee." He afterward sold out that store to C. J. Winslow, and during the years 1873-4 he lived in Pennsylvania, employed at painting. Returning to the "Corners," he purchased a tract of land on section 35, Ingersoll Township, where he has since resided. In May, 1883, he opened the store where he is at present prosperously engaged. Since 1879 he has carried
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the mail between Lee's Corners and Midland City. He has held the office of Township Clerk four years, Constable three years and School Moderator three years, and has been Notary Public since March, 1883. He is a member of Dwight May Post, No. 69, of Midland City. He maintains Republican views of national policy.
Mr. Chamberlain was married in Northampton Co., Pa., Nov. 8, 1864, to Emma C., daughter of George and Clara Schwab, the latter being natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. She was born in the above county, July 25, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. C. are the parents of three children, namely : Anna C., Mary E. and John J. S.
rank J. Holman, farmer, section 20, War- ren Township, was born in Susquehanna Co., Pa., Dec. 22, 1835. He is a son of Sumner and Rebecca (Ellsworth) Holman. His father was pushed from a running train some 15 years ago and was instantly killed. It is supposed the party or parties who committed the murder did it to procure his money and insurance, but they were never identified or convicted. His mother is living in Midland City. She married a Mr. Henry D. Rogers, after the death of her first husband, and he also is deceased, and she is now again a widow. She moved to Ontario, Co., N. Y., after the death of her first husband, where she con- tracted her second marriage with Mr. Rogers. He was a farmer by occupation, and Frank was brought up on the farm and remained with him until 21 years of age. In the spring of 1850 the stepfather moved to Saginaw, this State, and purchased 40 acres of land within nine miles of that city. Frank accom- panied him and remained with him on the land until the stepfather came to Midland City.
Jan. 25, 1862, Mr. Holman was united in marriage to Julia A., daughter of William C. and Barbara M. (Curavo) Spicer. Her father was a native of New York and her mother of Vermont.
Mrs. Holman was born June 26, 1845, in Ticon- deroga, Essex Co , N. Y. She is the mother, by Mr. Holman, of six children, one of whom is deceased. The living are Mable B., born Feb. 18, 1863, mar- ried May 22, 1881, to Otto S. Lewis; Maremna, born April 29, 1865; Frankie S., born Sept. 25, 1873;
Maud S., born Oct. 11, 1875; Murray C., born Dec. 4, 1880. Berdie, born June 2, 1868, died May 3, 1875.
Politically, Mr. Holman is a believer in and sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party. In religious affairs he and his wife are members of the Seventh-Day Advent Church.
acob W. Kime, farmer, section 32, Porter Township, was born Aug. 8, 1854, in Ing- ham Co., Mich. His parents, John and Martha (Minick) Kime, are residents of Wheel- er Township, Gratiot County. They removed in 1860 to Livingston County, where Mr. Kime, of this sketch, resided until he was 22 years old, when they settled in Gratiot County.
In 1878 he settled on So acres of land in Porter Township, where he has since devoted his time and energies to the improvement of his estate. He has placed 20 acres under tillage, and has erected a good residence thereon. He is a skillful and progressive farmer, and in all his management displays good sense and correct judgment.
His marriage to Ida Slough occurred Dec. 6, 1882. She was born in Ohio in 1862, and came to Midland County when five years old, and resided with her parents until her marriage. Of her marriage one child has been born-Carl R., June 10, 1883.
ougald Currie, farmer, section 35, Midland Township, was born June 6, 1853, in Hal- dimand, Can., in the county of the same name. He is the third son of John and Mary (McDonald) Currie, who were natives of Scot- land. The parents came to Canada two years after their marriage, settled in the county above named, where all their children save one were born. (See sketch of Gilbert Currie.) In 1860 they re- moved to Michigan and settled on a tract of unim- proved land in Midland Township, where the father died, April 2, 1875.
Mr. Currie was a lad of seven years when his parents became residents of Midland. He obtained a common-school education and was reared to the calling of his father. On the death of the latter he
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became the possessor of 123 acres of the family homestead, to which he has since added 43 acres, and the farm now includes 140 acres of finely culti- vated land. He is a substantial citizen of Midland County, is a Republican of decided type, and, to- gether with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
He was married in Canada, Dec. 18, 1878, 10 Flora, daughter of James and Sarah (McDonald) Cress. The parents of Mrs. Currie were natives of Scotland, and came to Eramosa Township, Welling- ton Co., Can., where she was born, March 14, 1855. Mary, born Oct. 5, 1879, and Gilbert, born Sept. 20, 1882, are the names of the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Currie.
braham Fraser, farmer, section 2, Warren Township, was born in Ontario, Can., Dec. 27, 1814, and is a son of Donald and Martha (Kilbreth) Fraser.
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