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 27
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The subject of this sketch lived in that county until he was 23 years of age, when he was married, and shortly afterward went into the army to serve
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Phineas Swift-
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for the Government, enlisting in Co. E, 135th Ohio Vol. Inf., in the Army of the Cumberland. He was in the service four months, engaging in the battle of Harper's Ferry, and was also a member of the Ohio National Guard for five years.
Returning to Licking County, he followed agricul- ture upon his farm of 160 acres until recently, when he sold out, purchased 280 acres on sections 1 and 2, Porter Township, all heavily timbered land.
In his political action Mr. Hughes votes inde- pendently.
Oct 8, 1863, in Licking Co., O., Mr. Hughes mar- ried Miss Sarah Ann Shaw, a native of that county, born Feb. 11, 1843. To Mr. and Mrs. H. have been born nine children, as follows: John E., Frank, William W., Lillie, George, Mary B., Charley A., Nellie G. and James A. (deceased).
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hineas Swift, farmer, section 33, Homer Township, was born March 27, 1826, in Livingston Co., N. Y. He had the train- ing and education of a farmer's son, and was under his father's guidance until he reached his majority. He was married Jan. 1, 1847, to Caro- line Stone, a native of Connecticut, born in 1829. Four sons and five daughters have been born of this marriage : three of the latter are dead. The mother died at her home in Mecosta County, Sept. 9, 1875. In 1850 the family removed to Fair Plains, Mont- calm Co., Mich., where they resided until the second year of the war, when the husband and father be- came a soldier of the Union. He enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in the 21st Mich. Vol. Inf., enrolling in Co. F. The command was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He became disabled soon after reach- ing the field, and was discharged, on a surgeon's certificate, April 11, 1863. He had contracted a pulmonary disease from his exposure and he was wholly incapacitated a year after his discharge.
On recovery, he came to Midland County and bought 160 acres on section 4, Homer Township, which he exchanged two years later for 200 acres in the same township. Later on he sold this and went to Mecosta County on account of the ill-health of his wife. He located near Big Rapids. The change proved futile for the purpose sought, as the wife and
mother died about one year after the removal. In 1880 Mr. Swift bought 80 acres of land in Kent County, which he sold the same year, and in 1881 he bought 64 acres where he has since resided. He is a Republican and held the office of Justice of the Peace one year during his first residence here.
Mr. Swift's likeness may be found on the opposite page. It is that of a brave soldier and representa- tive citizen of the State of Michigan as well as of Midland County.
ohn C. Sias, farmer on section 32, Jasper Township, was born at Ann Arbor, Wash- tenaw County, this State, Feb. 16, 1835, and is the son of John and Lucretia (Dudley) Sias, natives of Vermont and New York. The father was of French-Irish descent, followed agriculture, and died at the residence of his son John in the spring of 1876, at the age of nearly 82. The mother lives with Mr. Sias, at the venerable age of 86.
The subject of this outline is the fifth son and ninth child of a family of ten-three sons and two daughters of which number are now living. He lived with his parents in his native town until 15 years old, at which age he was apprenticed to learn the trade of millwright, under a Mr. Waite, of Ann Arbor. He remained with him but one year, and then for three and a half years was employed as a cabinet- maker at Dexter, Mich. Going to Wapawma, Wis., he worked there one year, and then visited Minne- sota, Iowa and Dakota.
While in Iowa, Oct. 15, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 14th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was assigned to the com- mand of George H. Wolf, in the Army of the North- west. He was discharged in February, 1864, having been employed in the frontier forts. On the 26th of the same month he re-enlisted in the same company, which was made Co. M, 7th Iowa Vol. Cav. He served till the conclusion of the war, and was honor- ably discharged in June, 1866, having lived nearly five years in the army. He fought at Deer Moun- tain, and the Bad Lands of the Little Missouri River.
He then traveled through Minnesota and Wiscon- sin to Michigan, arriving in Midland County in Oc- tober, 1867. He located a land warrant of 160 acres on sections 32, 33 and 28, Jasper, and proceeded to
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make a home. In December, 1868, at St. Louis, he was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Mary Small (nee Sias) daughter of Solomon and Emily (Copeland) Sias. Her father was of French descent, a native of Ontario, and died in Pine River Township, Gratiot County, in February, 1884. Her mother was of Eng- lish lineage, was a native of the State of New York, and died in that State in 1855.
By her first marriage, Mrs. Sias has a daughter, Cora; and by her second she is the mother of three children, Jessie, Edgar and Ashley.
Mr. Sias has improved 40 acres of his place, and has sold 40. He has held the office of Supervisor from 1868 to 1870, inclusive, and also in 1876. He has been Township Treasurer two years, and has filled minor positions of trust. In political belief, he is a Republican.
obert D. Cody, farmer on section 25, Lar- kin Township, is a son of Alonzo and Fanny (Fullmer) Cody, natives respectively of New York State and Ohio; and was born in Buffalo, N. Y., June 10, 1861. His parents re- moved to this State when he was one year old, and he has resided since in Michigan, except 10 years in Iowa. He came to Midland County in the fall of 1879, and has now 20 acres of an So-acre tract im- proved.
April 1, 1883, in Midland City, Miss Florence Per- kins, a native of New York State, changed by mar- riage her last name to Cody. In political sentiment Mr. C. is a Republican.
onis Riefenberg, farmer, section 34, Inger- soll Township, is a son of Christopher Riefenberg, a native of Germany, who passed his entire life in that country. He was born in Germany June 6, 1830; from the age of 14 to 22 he attended bar; he then came to America and for three years followed farming in Pennsyl- vania; in May, 1856, he came and bought 80 acres of unimproved land in Ingersoll Township. where he still resides. Since his first purchase he bought So
acres more, and he now has about roo acres under cultivation and in good condition.
He is School Assessor of District No. 1, and was elected Township Clerk last spring (1884). Politi- cally he belongs to the National party.
Mr. R. was married in Pennsylvania Feb. 16, 1862, to Margaret, daughter of Balsar and Elizabeth Hil- debrand, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. R. was born also in that country, Jan. 27, 1844. The children in her family are, Louis H., John G., Sarah E., William L., Mary E. and Minnie A.
3 arshall S. Depue, general farmer, section # 31, Jasper Township, was born in Trum- bull Co., Ohio, June 12, 1833. His parents, Nicholas and Charlotte (Allen) Depue, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of French and Yankee ancestry. Mrs. D.'s father was one of the first settlers in the State of Ohio. Mr. Nicholas Depue died, it is supposed, somewhere in the State of Michigan, the time and place being unknown; and his widow died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Fields, at St. Louis, Sept. 25, 1883. The old log cabin erected by Nicho- las Depue, the first built in the township, is still standing. Formerly it had not a sawed board in it. It is preserved in memory of the first days of Mid- Jand.
The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm, to the vocation of his father, and was married March 8, 1859, in Milton, Mahoning Co., Ohio, to Miss Lois R. Baldwin, who was born in that county April 27, 1833, and before her marriage taught ten terms of school. The children by this marriage are : Charles C., William B., Lottie M. and Scott (de- ceased). Mrs. D. died at her home in this town- ship, Nov. 4, 1883, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn the loss. She was exceptionally a kind and loving wife, mother and member of society. Ever since she was 15 years of age she had been an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
After his marriage, Mr. D. started immediately for Michigan, and located on a quarter of section 31, where he has since made his home. He was one of the first settlers of the township. On his estate of 225 acres, he has 125 acres finely improved,-one of
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the best farms in the county He also has recently erected a residence which compares favorably with the best in the county.
Mr. Depue is a staunch Republican, and has been honored with the offices of Supervisor and Treasurer. He helped to organize the township.
charles F. Marcy, farmer, section 26, In- gersoll Township, is a son of Alanson and Mary A. (Bowen) Marcy, who were natives of New York State. (See sketch of Alanson Marcy.)
The subject of this sketch was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1836, and was seven years old when the family came to Oakland Co., Mich. In 1856, at the age of 20, he came to this county, where he has since resided. In 1857 he pur- chased So acres of unimproved land in Ingersoll Township, on section 26, and at present has about 45 acres under good cultivation.
In political action Mr. Marcy works for Republican principles, and he has officiated as Township Clerk one year.
He was first married in Lapeer Co., Mich., Dec. 31, 1872, to Clista J., daughter of Harrison and Philinda Young, residents of Ingersoll Township. She was born in Henrietta, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1851. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Marcy are: Philinda E. and Henry H. Mrs. M. died Jan. 5, 1880, and Mr. M. was married April 14, 1881, to Mrs. Harriet A. (Wilsey) Pangbum, widow of George W. Pangburn, a native of Vermont, who died in Saginaw, April 16, 1873. She had by her first marriage two children .- Viola H. and George J. Mrs. M. was born in Lucas Co., Ohio, Jan. 24, 1847.
H. Peck, station agent and telegraph oper- ator at Sanford, was born Dec. 17, 1853, in Fair Haven, Mass. He is a son of Joseph N. and Lydia C. (Blaisdell) Peck. His father was a native of the State of Rhode Island and was of English parentage. He was a cooper by trade, and passed the greater portion of his life in that and in farming, except five years,
when he was engaged in mercantile business. He died May 25, 1865, in New Bedford, Mass. The mother was born in September, 1813, in Maine, of Scotch ancestors, and is yet living, at Fairhaven, Mass. Seven children born to the parents reached maturity.
In May, 1878, Mr. Peck came West and engaged in farming in Ortonville, Oakland Co., Mich., where he spent about four months. He then went to Sag- inaw and spent three months as an assistant in a saw mill. At the end of that time he engaged as a brake- man on the F. & P. M. Railroad, and not long after met with an accident which crippled him for life. He fell from a wood rack and received an injury to his left leg, which caused the loss of the foot below the ankle. The railroad company took entire charge of him during his illness, and on his recovery he came to Sanford, where he fitted himself for the duties of the position he now occupies. He has had full and entire charge of the office since September, 1882. He was married Dec. 24, 1882, to Victoria Wallace.
aron Havens, farmer, section 27, Hope Tp., was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., June 1, 1826, the son of Samuel and Amy (Bennett) Havens. His father was of Scotch descent, was born in New Jersey, moved to Wayne Co., N. Y., thence to Hartland, Niagara Co., same State, thence to Seneca Township, Seneca Co., same State, and finally to Lenawee Co., Mich., where he died, aged about 60. Mrs. Havens, Aaron's mother, was a native of New Jersey, and died in Wayne Co., N. Y., having been the mother of three sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Ha- vens, senior, married for his second wife Miss Sarah Ann Tubbs, in Wayne Co., N. Y.
The subject of this biography was ten years old when his father came to the Peninsular State, and he lived at home with his father and stepmother until of age, assisting on the farm. He then worked as a farm laborer by the month for two years in Niagara Co., N. Y., and three years in St. Clair Co., Mich.
March 23, 1854, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Ellsworth, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Hewett) Ellsworth. Her father died at Johnson's Creek, Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1839; and her mother in St.
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Clair Co., Mich., in 1856. Mrs. Havens was born June 10, 1836, in Hartland, Niagara Co., N. Y. Fol- lowing is the record of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Havens: Sarah, born Ang. 28, 1856, at Saginaw, Mich .; George, Dec. 2, 1857, in Edenville Township, this county; Florence A., Jan. 22, 1860, in same township; Lewis, April 23, 1862, in Hope Township; Ella, July 6, 1864, in same township; Hiram W., Oct. 31, 1868, in same township; Samuel Wallace, Aug. 13, 1870, in same township; William Clarence, April 17, 1875, in same township, and died Dec. 9, 1878.
For one year after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Havens lived in St. Clair County. They then settled in this county, first in Edenville Township, and later on their present farm in. Hope. Mrs. Havens relates that her children, Sarah and George, lost themselves one day, when aged respectively four and two and a . half years, and were out all night, in a marsh two miles from home, with a cold rain falling all night:
In political sentiment, Mr. H. is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Church of God.
rank S. Burton, editor of the Midlar.d Sun, is a son of David and Emeline (Cope- land) Burton, and was born in Dexter, Me., July 17, 1846. The father was born in Garland Township, Penobscot Co., Me., in Sep- tember, 1801; has followed farming all his active life, having cleared four farms in his time. He came to Dexter, Mich., in 1851, and settled on a tract of wild land, which he subdued to cultivation; and in March, 1855, he came up the Saginaw and Tittabawassee Rivers to this county, arriving at Eden- ville on the 31st of that month. Ile pre-empted 160 acres on section 12, in what is now Edenville Township, and by industry and perseverance made it one of the finest farms in the county. After losing his wife, he sold, and he now resides alternately with his son Edwin D., in Edenville Township, and with Mr. Burton, of this sketch. The mother was born in Coreana Township, Penobscot Co., Me., in 1815, and died on the farm in Edenville Township, this county, in April, 1882. Their family included eight children, Frank S. being the sixth.
The subject of this record lived with his parents
until 18 years old, attending school in the winter seasons. At that age he taught one, winter term of school. He then entered the State Agricultural Col- lege at Lansing. Here he studied four years, teach- ing during the vacations, and was graduated in November, 1868. After this he taught a select school at Midland, then one term in the city schools of Big Rapids, and then for one summer engaged in farming in Edenville, with his brother Edwin. After studying a term in the Law Department of the State University, and teaching a few months in Edenville, he then, in company with his brother, purchased a small water-power saw-mill. This they operated a few months and then sold. Returning to Ann Arbor, he completed his course in law, receiving his diploma April 1, 1871.
He practiced a few months at East Tawas, Iosco County, and then came to Midland. In December, 1871, he purchased a one-third interest in the Mid- land Independent and the Farwell Register, and com- menced his journalistic career. The following month, by the withdrawal of one partner, John Haynes, he became proprietor of a half interest, and before the end of the year he bought the remaining stock of the Register. This he conducted over one year, and then sold, in the fall of 1872, to his brother. In July of the ensuing year he again bought, and re- tained possession until December, 1880. In Febru- ary, 1881, he purchased the Democrat office and founded the Sun, which he is now conducting, his first issue appearing Feb. 17. He employs three as- sistants, has a good job trade, and his paper has an encouragingly large circulation.
In 1877 he purchased 320 acres of land, a half of section 33, Larkin Township. He now owns 480 acres, of which 16o are under cultivation. He takes a deep interest in thorough-bred short-horns, and has the only pure ones in the county (four in number), besides 12 to 15 high-graded animals. He resides on his farm, which is located three miles from the court-house.
June 20, 1873, at Detroit, he was joined in matri- mony with Miss Vina E. Belknap, daughter of Julius K. and Lydia Place, of St. Clair County. Mrs. Bur- ton was born at Oswego, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1852.
Mr. B. was nominated in the fall of 1876 for Pro- bate Judge, on the Republican ticket, against William Kelley on the Democratic ticket, and was elected.
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He filled the office creditably four years. In the fall of 1882 he was nominated on the Fusion ticket for State Senator, but was defeated by John W. Hance, of Mt. Pleasant. He received a good vote, but his party was not strong enough to win. In the spring of 1884 he was chosen Supervisor of Larkin Town- ship, which office he now holds. Politically, Mr. Burton was a Republican for many years, and con- ducted his paper in the interest of that party until the fall of 1881, when he changed its politics, taking up the banner of the National party. He was for six years Chairman of the Republican County Commit- tee, and since June, 1882, he has held a like position in the National. or Greenback, party. He has been, since August, 1832, a member of the State Central Committee. He has attended three State Conven- tions of the Republican party, and one (August, 1882. at Grand Rapids) of the organization to which he now belongs.
Mr. Barton is quite a student, having perhaps the largest library in the county; and he is in every ·ense a public-spirited man, taking a deep interest in agricultural and school affairs.
srael W. Martin, farmer, section 11, Homer Township, was born May 18, 1829, in Dum- 49 fries Township. Canada West. He resided in his native province until he was 15 years old, when he went to the State of New York and worked for a lumberman on the Erie Canal. He returned to Canada, where he wa- occupied some time as a stage driver. His next venture was as a sailor on the lakes, where he operated two years. He again engaged in stage-driving. in which he was occupied until the year previous to that in which he came to Michigan.
He was married March 18, 1865, in Canada, to Sarah Wells, who was born in Ontario in 1833. One of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin is deceased. Della L .. born Dec. 25. 1868, was mar- ried Dec. 25, 1882, to Albert Green, a native of Mid- land County. born June 35, 1861.
On coming to Michigan Mr. Martin was employed in the saw-mill of Wright & Co. Late in the same
year they came to Midland County, where he pur- chased 83 acres of land, which has since been his home. He is a Republican, and has been Justice of the Peace three years, School Treas rer 15 year-, and has served several terms as Highway Commissioner.
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- oseph L. Campbell, farmer, section 22, Jerome Township, was born in the town of Poland, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 17, 1838. and i- the son of Jonas and Cynthia (De Jane) Campbell. His parents were born in Orleans, Genesee Co., N. Y., and are still liv- iug, in Chautauqua County, in the Empire State.
In the paternal line, Mr. Campbell is of Scotch . descent, and on his mother's side he comes of French stock. He remained under the paternal roof until he was 23 year, old and operated as his father', as- sistant on the farm after, as before, he attained his majority.
On the outbreak of the Southern rebellion, he en- listed as a soldier, enrolling Aug. 28, 1862, in Co. C, 9th N. Y. Vol. Cav., and was rolstered out Jan. 3º, 1865, after a long and ardvous service. His first fight occurred at Berryville, in the valley of the Shenandoah, four days after he joined the command. His next engagement was at Co, Rin, and he next fought at Fredricksburg, under Burmide. On the first of August, 1863, he fought from the Pappahan- nock and Rapidan through Culpeper. and on the last day of the mouth he fought the same ground over again, the sharpest contes: being at Brandy Station. He was wounded May 6, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, receiving an injury from a min'e ball in the upper part of the left arm. which necessitated the removal of about five inches of the bone. The operation was performed at the field hospital, when.ce he went to Douglas Hospital, Washingon, and was transferred to the ho pital on Blackwell's Island. He was sent therce to Fort "chyler Hospital, and was there discharged. He re' med to il's home ir Chautauqua Co., N. Y., ard soon after was placed on the pension Kot.
He became the proprietor of a house and lot in the village of Jamestow ., Chantacqua County, which he sold in 18,5, and reached Miclard County on the
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3d day of April of that year. Hle at once entered a homestead claim of So acres in the township of Jerome, and has about 12 acres under the plow, and eight acres chopped ready for clearing.
Mr. Campbell was married June 21, 1873, to Edsia E., daughter of Eliscom C. and Lucy (Stearns) Rob- inson. Her father is living in Jamestown, Chautau- qua County. Her mother died in 1868, in Poland, in the same county. Both parents were natives of Chautauqua County, where Mrs. Campbell was born, Nov. 17, 1851. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born as follows. Irving, Nov. 19, 1874, at Jamestown, N. Y .; Lucy, Nov. 13, 1876; Frank, Feb. 14, 1879; Joseph L., April 27, 1881; Edith, April 26, 1883. All but the eldest child were born in Jerome Township.
Mr. Campbell is independent in politics, and has been elected Justice of the Peace this present year. He has declined all other offices tendered him.
ames C. Howe, farmer, sec. 4, Larkin Town- ship, is a son of William and Almira (Ken- (all) Howe, natives of Jefferson Co., N. Y., and was born in the Dominion of Canada, March 11, 1827. He was quite young when his parents removed to Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he lived until 23 years old. He then came to Emmett County, this State, where he was engaged principally in fishing for five years. Next he lived a short time in Wisconsin and for a brief period in his native county; and in October, 1870, he came to this county and bought 80 acres in Lincoln Town- ship. After six years' residence there he removed to Larkin Township, and purchased 160 acres. He now owns 53 acres, 30 of which are in cultivation.
Nov. 29, 1847, was the date of his marriage in Jefferson Co., N. Y., to Miss Fidella Gotham. She was born Nov. 3, 1831, the daughter of Solo- mon and Elizabeth E. (King) Gotham, natives of New Hampshire and New York, respectively. Of 12 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Howe, the eight sur- vivors are named William H., Phineas, Mary E, Amanda V., Isaac A., Elmer E., John T. and Rachel R. The four deceased were named James B., Phi- lena A., Emma E. and Christiana J.
Mr. H. is in political sentiment a National, an
has been Justice of the Peace and Drain Commis- sioner of Larkin Township. In Lincoln Township he was Highway Commissioner and Township Treas- urer. He and wife are members of the Christian Church.
li Hubbard, farmer, section 35, Midland Township, is a son of James and Fanny (Pumaville) Hubbard, who were natives re- spectively of Massachusetts and Lower Can- ada. After a residence in New York State, they emigrated to Saginaw Co., Mich., in 1835, where Mr. HI. died. His widow afterward died in Genesee Co., Mich.
The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., Jan. 6, 1824, and was it years old when he came to Michigan with his parents, with whom he remained most of the time until their death, con- tributing to their support. He was married in Gene- see Co., Mich., to Miss Marcia Hurd, a native of the State of New York. The names of their five chil- dren are, John S., James R., Polly, Laura O. and Frances I .. The first-mentioned died May 8, 1880, when 33 years of age. Mrs. Hubbard died Nov. 20, 1880.
Mr. Hubbard has held the offices of Highway Commissioner and Constable, and the various school offices of his district. In politics he coincides with the Republican party. He is now the owner of 70 acres of land in Midland Township, and has about 50 acres in a good tillable condition.
oseph R. Cradit, farmer, section 14, Homer Township, was born June 4, 1851, in Che- mung Co., N. Y. He is the son of Sylves- ter and Sarah (Trumbull) Cradit. His parents are natives of the State of New York, of New England parentage, and descended respectively from German and Scotch ancestors. His father is a skilled blacksmith and farmer, and has been a resi- dent with his family in Homer Township 12 years. They are aged 75 and 76 years, and have been the parents of nine children.
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