USA > Michigan > Newaygo County > Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo County, Michigan : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 18
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June 27, 1838, he was married, in the village of Brighton, to Miss Laura Roe, daughter of James and Rebecca (Arnold) Roe, natives of Connecticut, who was born in New York July 7, 1809. She was edu- cated in Ontario Co., N. Y., and came with her par- ents to this State. She died Jan. 7, 1850, at her home in Brighton, leaving two children, Caroline H. and Levi; Mortimer and Charles died in infancy. March 15, 1850, Mr. Pond married Mrs. Frances M. (Hutchinson) McDonald, who was born in Connect- icut Jan. 13, 1806. She is now 77 years of age ; remarkably active, does her housework and attends to customers in the store. Mr. Pond is an active member of the Masonic Order, No. 180, at Fremont ; has held the office of Justice of the Peace six consec- utive years, Notary Public 25 years and still holds that position, and Deputy Sheriff two terms. In pol- itics he is a Republican.
3 rs. Julia Jarse, proprietress of the Jarse House at Newaygo, was born at St. Mary's, Canada, Jan. 1, 1821, and is the daughter of Peter and Margaret LeMay. The par- ents were of pure French descent. Her father removed to Burlington, Vt., when she was 12 years old, where he engaged in farming about ten years, returning to Canada with his wife, where both remained during the closing years of their lives. The daughter was married at Vergennes, Vt., Dec. I, 1838, to John Bailey, a native of Three Rivers, Can. By this marriage she became the mother of five chil- dren-Julia, Rosa, Josephine, John and Joseph. Mr. Bailey died in 1850, and not long after that event she went with her children to Glens Falls, Washington Co., N. Y., and after a widowhood of three years was married, July 4, 1853, to David Jarse. He was of French lineage and a native of Montreal. In 1854 Mr. Jarse came to Michigan with his family and set- tled at Newaygo, where he operated about ten years as a saw-filer. In 1865 he built a commodions house, which was utilized as a boarding-house until its de- struction by fire in April, 1883. Mr. Jarse died in 1875. The burning of her house with no insurance involved a loss of $4,000, and Mrs. Jarse rebuilt with as little delay as was possible. The new structure is a handsome edifice, built of brick, at an expenditure
of $5,000, and contains quarters for the accommoda- tion of 30 guests. Mrs. Jarse owns, besides the hotel and two lots on which it stands, a residence and one acre of ground in the village, and 80 acres of farm- ing land in the township of Garfield. She has one son, John Bailey (see sketch), in business at Ne- waygo.
ohn T. Dean was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1843.' His parents, James and Mary (Meller) Dean, were natives of Eng- land, and came to America about 1842, lived 12 years in Pennsylvania, and since that time in Berrien County, this State. He was 12 years of age when the family came to Michigan, and when IS he went to McLean Co., Ill., and worked as a farm hand two years. He then enlisted in the 5th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years, but was honorably discharged at the end of a year on account of disability. He returned to Berrien County a few months, and then came to Newaygo County, in 1864, buying 40 acres of wild land in Dayton Township, on section 16, where he now resides ; he has bought So acres more, and now has a farm of 120 acres, 92 of which is cul- tivated.
. Mr. Dean was married in Dayton Township, this county, June 21, 1870, to Emma, daughter of Warren and Alvina Broadway, natives of New England. She was born at Hillsdale, Mich., July 26, 1853. Their children are : Mary I .. , Eula C., Coral A., John O., Clara A. Charles S. died in infancy. Mr. D. is a Republican.
erman E. Fowler, farmer, section 21, Day- ton Township, is a son of John and Abigail en
Fowler, natives of New York, and was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 11, 1854. When he was about a year old his parents came to Berrien Co., Mich., and afterward moved to La Porte Co., Ind., thence to Eaton Co., Mich. He lived at home until 18 years of age, when he was employed by the month in farming until 1877. He then came
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to Newaygo County and bought 120 acres of land in Dayton Township, where he now resides. He was married in Eaton County, Sept. 26, 1878, to Maria L. Benedict, who was a native of that county, where she was born, May 30, 1858, and where her parents re- side. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have had two children, only one, Belle, surviving. They are members of the Congregational Church, the I. O. G. T., and Mr. Fowler is a Republican.
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ilbert G. Day, Attorney, resident at Ne- waygo, was born at Glens Falls, N. Y., April 6, 1845. He is a son of Pliny and Martha (Putnam) Day, and was educated in the schools of his native town. At the age of 18 years he engaged as a clerk in a general store, where he continued until the spring of 1864, when he came to Newaygo.
He found employment in the mercantile establish- ment of S. K. Riblet and acted in the capacity of salesman until the summer of 1867, when he went to Cheyenne, making the trip from Ft. Laramie as an attache of a mule train. He came back to Chicago and remained during the winter. In the spring fol- lowing he went to Muskegon, where he passed a year as a lumber inspector. In November, 1868, he re- turned to his former employ with S. K. Riblet, and operated as clerk and book-keeper until Novem- ber, 1869, when he entered the law office of Wm. D. Fuller, preparatory to engaging in the duties of his profession. He was admitted to practice in Septem- ber, 1870, and from the establishment of his office has had an extensive business, which is constantly in- creasing.
Mr. Day has been connected with the local and general interests of Newaygo since he entered upon his business career. He was elected President of the village in 1878-'9. In 1872 he was elected Prose- cuting Attorney of Newaygo County, and held the position four years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Day was married at Jackson, Mich., in March,
1874, to Libby, daughter of Charles S. Laird, who was born on Prince Edward's Island. One son has been born of this marriage.
illiam C. Sidler, son of Jonathan and Agnes (Frazier) Sidler, natives of Penn- sylvania, was born in Northumberland Co., Pa., Feb. 8, 1844. When he was nine years of age, his parents came to Kalamazoo County, this State, where he worked on his father's farm. He received a good common-school education, and Feb. 26, 1873, he was married, at Schoolcraft, same county, to Miss Mary Judson, daughter of Albert and Mary Judson, natives of Connecticut and Nova Scotia respectively. They emigrated to Kalamazoo County, where Mary was born, March 19, 1850, and where she received a good education in the district schools.
After marriage Mr. Sidler managed his father's farm until the spring of 1883, when he moved to this county and settled on a farm of 70 acres of fine land, in the vicinity of Hesperia. He has a fine res- idence, costing $4,500. Mr. Sidler is a staunch Re- publican, and although he has been here but a short time, he is destined to be one of the most prosperous farmers of Denver Township. Mr. and Mrs. Sidler have had three children, all deceased : the eldest, a girl, died in infancy ; Roy W., born Aug. 14, 1876, died Nov. 17, 1877 ; Mildred K., born Feb. 22, 1879, died Sept. 15, 1881.
dward Nelson Jones was born in Medina County, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1837. His parents were Hamilton and Saloma (Jenne) Jones, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Vermont. Soon after their marriage they settled in Medina County, Ohio, where they lived until his father's death. His mother then re- turned to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where she passed the remaining years of her life .. Edward N. was but four years old when his father died. He was taken to New York by his mother, and lived with his grandfather in St. Lawrence County until
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he was 17 years of age. In the spring of 1855 he came to Michigan, spent a few months in Allegan County, and in November following came to Dayton Township and located 40 acres of good land, pay- ing $1.25 per acre. He then returned to St. Law- rence County, N. Y., where he was married March 27, 1856, to Elizabeth W., second daughter of Dex- ter and Mary (Wood) Glazier, natives of Massachu- setts; she was born in Worcester County, Mass., Feb. 4, 1837. When five years old she went to St. Lawrence, N. Y., with her parents, and remained with them until her marriage. After this event Mr. and Mrs. Jones returned to their new home in Day- ton Township, where they now reside. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Jones pre-empted 80 acres of land ad- joining his original purchase. In September, 1866, he purchased 60 acres more, and he now owns one of the finest farms in Michigan; 180 acres all in one body, with 140 acres in good cultivation, and fine buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of eight chil- dren, all of whom are living, viz : Ida M., born Aug. 25, 1857 ; Dexter M., Oct. 21, 1859; George W. Aug. 12, 1861 ; Judson E., Nov. 13, 1863 ; Clark A. Aug. 25, 1866 ; Effie M., Oct. 2, 1868 ; Elda A., April 15, 1870; Mary S., April 3, 1878.
In June, 1882, Mr. Jones purchased 420 acres of, timbered land on section 32, Troy Township, with a grist and saw mill on the same. In June, 1883, he sold the mill, and at the same time purchased 100 acres more of partly improved land in the same township. He now owns over 500 acres of land in this county, a portion of which is well improved.
When Mr. Jones commenced life he had nothing but willing hands and a good constitution ; but by hard labor and persevering industry he now enjoys a fine home, surrounded by an intelligent family and all that tends to make life enjoyable. He has given his son Dexter 80 acres of fine land in Den- ver Township, where he now resides, 40 acres of which are well improved. He introduced the first blooded stock of Durham cattle into the county, in 1873, which he purchased in Oakland County, Mich., and has just taken the four first premiums for blooded stock in the fair, in which Newaygo, Oceana and Muskegon Counties compete. This is known as the " Hesperian Agricultural Society." Mr. Jones built the first frame barn in Dayton Township, in 1858. He bought and operated the first eight-horse-power
separator, and also put up the first windmill in the township. When he first came into this county he was obliged to chop trees in order to make a road, all being a dense forest. He has seen these forests converted to beautiful farms, the log cabins give way to modern structures, and school-houses built with all modern improvements : truly he is a pioneer.
Mr. Jones held the office of Constable one year in Dayton Township. He used to be identified with the Republican party, but now affiliates with the National party.
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christopher Kempf, farmer, section 32, Sheridan Township, is a native of Germany and came to America when 20 years of age. He first settled in Muskegon, this State, and lived there about nine years. In the fall of 1860 he came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township. He has since purchased 540 acres more and has 130 under cultivation. He was married in Muskegon to Catherine Kopf, who was born in Strasburg, Germany, in 1825, and they are the parents of three children : Robert, Gustaf and Emiel.
Mr. K. has held the office of School Director nine years, and in the spring of 1883 he was elected Highway Commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Kempf are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. K. is independent.
hebe E. Bigelow, daughter of Daniel I .. and Elmira (Fuller) Bigelow, natives of Vermont, was born in that State March 26, 1823. She came with her parents to the State of New York, and they afterward moved to Ohio, where they remained about 19 years, and finally moved to Michigan, settling in Newaygo County, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Miss Bigelow remained at home until after her moth- er's death, then left her father's home, and for 16 years lived in the township of Everett, this county. In the fall of 1880 she purchased 40 acres of land
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of A. P. Bigelow in Dayton Township, where she now resides. About 20 acres of this land is well improved.
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eorge H. Millis, farmer, section 26, Den- ver Township, is a son of John and Lois (Porter) Millis, natives of New England, and was born in Erie Co., N. Y., June 5, 1828. He was engaged upon his father's farm and in attending the district school until 21 years of age, then came to Monroe County, this State, via Lake Erie, taking passage on the propeller Detroit. During the voyage, which lasted ten days, he experi- enced that terrible storm of October, 1850, in which the fine boat, Henry Clay, was sunk, the Detroit be -. ing only one-half mile from the ill-fated vessel. He remained in Monroe County one year, during which time he was married, in the township of Dundee, to Miss Philena Weatherby, daughter of Reuben and Catharine (Harmin) Weatherby, natives of Saratoga Co., N. Y., who was born in Monroe County, this State, March 4, 1834. She was educated in her native county, and remained at home until her marriage. In October, 1851, Mr. Millis moved to Van Buren County, where he was engaged in various kinds of labor until the fall of 1856, when he came to this county and settled upon a farm of 120 acres in Den- ver Township,. At that time it was a wild, unbroken forest, and many privations were endured before the land could be made productive. But Mr. Millis stemmed the tide, and now has 45 acres under the plow and in good farming condition.
Owing to the many hardships and severe labor consequent upon being obliged to provide for a large family under so many difficulties, he contracted a disease of the liver, and has for many years been an invalid. But notwithstanding all this he has been able to secure a good home for his children. Mrs. Millis, an ambitious lady of remarkable physical powers, has been of great assistance, both at home and abroad ; being always ready to aid the needy and nurse the sick at a moment's warning. She en- dured, with great fortitude, the trials of their pioneer life. Many times their children were obliged to go barefoot all winter, through rough, cold, stormy weather and deep snows.
Mr. Millis is a member of the I. O. G. T. at Den- ver, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and himself and wife are identified with the Second- Advent Church. They have had nine children, four of whom are living: Ella M., born April 7, 1864; Melvin J., July 17, 1867 ; Ortha, Aug. 17, 1871 ; Lois, May 23, 1880 ; Albert, born Feb. 20, 1854, died Nov. 20, 1879 ; Sarah, born May 23, 1857, died Sept. 25, 1863; Gilbert, born March 17, 1878, died Oct. 23, 1879; George, born Jan. 22, 1860, died Dec. 22 1862 ; one died in infancy.
aniel R. Joslin, resident at Newaygo, is supposed to be the second oldest pioneer settler in Newaygo County. He was born Sept. 1, 1816, in Madison County, N. Y., and is a son of Daniel and Martha (Jenks) Joslin. Before he was a year old his parents removed to Cohocton, Steuben Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1836. Meanwhile his brother, John J. Joslin, had located at Utica, Macomb Co., Mich., and he went thither when he was 20 years old and remained a year. In 1837 he came to Grand Haven, where he obtained employ as a sawyer and acted in that capacity two seasons, operating as a lumberman in the succeeding winters. In 1839 he went to Mus- kegon, where he found ready employ because of his skilled ability in the management of mill machinery. In 1843 he went to Croton, Newaygo County, where he rented a mill of Joachim & Bone, which he stocked and operated one year, shipping the products to Chicago. The next year (1844) he went to Alle- gan, Michigan, and after a residence of three years he went to Saugatuck and opened a grocery, which he managed one year. In 1848 he went to Manistee and engaged in his former occupation in a mill, con- tinuing two years. In 1850 he returned to Newaygo County and purchased 320 acres of land in the (now) township of Fremont, becoming with his family the first permanent settler in the township. He retained the ownership of the property until 1853, when he disposed of it by exchange, receiving as part payment a house and lot in what is now the village of Newaygo, where he has since been a resident and variously
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employed in different mills. He owns considerable property at Newaygo.
Mr. Joslin was married in Allegan, to Sarah A. Yeldom, a native of England, born near London, in 1826. Of eight children born to them Daniel (Ist) and David are deceased. Daniel D. is the manager of Squier's Mills, located six miles south of Newaygo. Ellis is the wife of James Odell, druggist at Fre- mont. Franklin resides at Newaygo. Fleety A. is the second daughter. Fremont Jackson was the first white child born in Fremont Township and was named therefor, the town having been named a few days before his birth. Byron is a job printer at Ne- waygo. The wife and mother died Dec. 2, 1860.
ucker Dragoo is a son of Uel and Jane (Barnhouse) Dragoo, natives of Virginia, and was born in that State July 9, 1842 ; he came with his parents to Berrien Co., Mich., when three years of age and lived there 24 years engaged in farming. In the spring of 1869 he came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of wild land in Dayton Township, where he now resides, and has 55 acres under cultivation. He was married Jan. 22, 1865, to Sarah Kirkendall, a native of Ohio, who was born Dec. 25, 1841, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Kirkendall. They have three children : Adelbert J., Lawrence V. and Ida M.
Mr. D. is a National in politics.
amuel R. Wilbur, blacksmith, Hesperia, is a son of Job and Alice (Everts) Wilbur natives of New York, and was born in Bel- fast, Allegany County, that State, Sept. 25, 1835. He attended school until 14 years of age, when his parents moved to Cattaraugus County. When he was in his 17th year he returned to his native county and learned the blacksmith's trade, under the instruction of Harrison Noble, of the town of Rushford. After serving three years' ap- prenticeship he went to Smithville, Chenango County,
and established a large custom shop, where he was quite successful. He afterward returned to Cattar- augus County, where he was employed in various places until Sept. 25, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. K, 112th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., Army of the Potomac, roth Division. He participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Juries' Bluff, and many other minor battles. He was honorably discharged June 15, 1865. Returning to Cattaraugus County, he worked at his trade until his marriage to Miss Esther A. Booth, who was born in East Bloomfield, Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1843. Her parents, Thomas and Harriet (Hunt) Booth, were natives of New York, and of German ancestry. Esther attended school in her native town. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur moved to Michigan, and located in Hesperia, this county, where he established his bus- iness, and he is known far and near as a skilled work- man. They have had four children : Maud E., born Nov. 23, 1873; Lena M., Aug. 6, 1874; two died in infancy.
Mr. W. is a member of the G. A. R , of Hesperia, also of the A. O. U. W. He has held the office of Deputy Sheriff four years, and Constable two years. Politically his sympathies are with the Greenback party.
kennis Miller, farmer, section 28, Sheridan Township, was born in Paris, France, Jan.
coor 12, 1846. His parents, Ignatius and Teresa Miller, were natives of Germany. They came to America when Dennis was a year old and settled in Detroit, afterward moved to St. Clair Co., Mich., where the mother died in 1854. The father still resides there. Dennis lived with his parents until he was ten years old. After the death of his mother he went to live with a man named Joel Hart, with whom he remained nearly nine years. He then worked on the farm by the month until 21 years of age. In the fall of 1865 he came to Newaygo County and bought 160 acres of land in Sheridan Township, where he now resides, and has 140 acres cleared.
He married in Macomb Co., Mich., Oct. 3, 1865, Rhoda S., daughter of David and Lydia Crawford, who was a native of Macomb Co., Mich. Her par-
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ents were natives of New York, and came to Michi- gan in an early day, settling in Macomb County. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of nine children : Charles J., Fannie M., Louise H., Egbert R., Frank D., Allison I., Lewis H., Chauncy O. and Eva G. Mr. Miller has held the office of Constable about seven years, and Highway Commissioner six years, and in politics is a Republican.
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eorge L. Bigelow, farmer, section 9, Day- ton Township, is a son of Daniel L. and Almira (Pratt) Bigelow, natives of Mary- land, and was born in Vermont, March 30, 1827 ; he came to Michigan in the fall of 1858, first settling about two miles north of Newaygo, where he lived about three years, and in the spring of 1861 purchased 80 acres of wild land, and now has 50 acres under cultivation. Nov. 4, 1850, in Ohio, he married Betsey A. Ames, daughter of Lemuel H. and Hannah (Chamberlin) Ames, natives of the State of New York, born in Seneca Co., Ohio, Oct. 19, 1832, and their children since born are: Pryntha J., Hannah A., Edwin L. (died when seven years of age), Edwin D., George N. and Phebe L.
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Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mr. B. was once chosen Con- stable, but declined to serve. Politically, he is a Republican.
8 OC arlow Smith, farmer, section 11, Dayton Township, is a son of Elias and Mary E. (Yates) Smith, the former a native of Ger- many and the latter of New Jersey. He was born in Crawford Co., Pa., May 8, 1844. He lived in his native State until 13 years of age, when his parents came to Steuben Co., Ind., where they lived two years, then to Branch Co., Mich. He remained at home with his parents until he W 18 years old. He then enlisted in the Ninth Mich. Inf., and was in the service 49 months. He was in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he was aken prisoner, but held only a short time, then pa-
roled. He participated in the battle of Stone River, Chickamauga, siege of Atlanta, and numerous smaller engagements. He was mustered out of the service at Nashville, Tenn., then returned to Branch County a short time, and in the fall of 1865 came to Ne way- go County and purchased 90 acres of wild land in what is now the township of Sheridan. He lived here about two years, then sold out and bought 80 acres in Dayton Township. This he afterwards sold . and took 11p 40 acres of Government land, where he now resides, and has 25 acres under improvement.
He was married in Quincy, Branch Co., Mich., Sept. 6, 1862, to Minerva Kirby, a native of New York, and they had one child, Marietta L., born Sept 25, 1868. Mrs. Smith died April 25, 1879. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and a member of Henry Dob- son Post, No. 182, G. A. R.
ohn Bailey, of Newaygo, was born at Ver- gennes, Vt., Dec. 8, 1848, and is a son of John and Julia (LeMay) Bailey. His father died at Vergennes in 1850, and his mother was married again in 1853, to David Jarse, of Glens Falls, N. Y., who two years later removed with his wife and her children to Ne- waygo. The pleasant, promising village was then al- most in a state of nature; Main street was a thor- oughfare of stumps, and civilization was represented by the energetic prosecutors of the lumber interests, which almost wholly attracted hither and held the population.
Mr. Bailey found his first employ at Newaygo in the shingle-mill of Fairchilds, and afterwards in that of George H. Hess and others, where he spent some years. In May, 1876, the year after the death of his stepfather, he rented the Jarse House of his mother and conducted it as a hotel one year. In 1877 he began to manage a saloon business on Main street, where he operated successfully until April, 1883, when the fire destroyed his business and two build- ings where he was located. He sustained a loss of $3,000, with no insurance. He at once entered upon the work of re-construction, and has erected on the same site an elegant building of the same variety of white brick used in the edifices on Main street that are rapidly replacing those destroyed in the " big fire "
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NEWAYGO COUNTY.
which, ruinous as it was, paved the way for the grow- ing and substantial beauty of the chief street in Ne- waygo. The block erected by Mr. Bailey is a double front, 50 x 75 feet in dimensions and two stories high. Mr. Bailey occupies one front and rents the other. Besides his village property he owns 40 acres on section 2 in Grant Township. In addition to his regular business he operates as a loan broker quite extensively.
Mr. Bailey was married at Newaygo, June 20, 1874, to Sarah E., daughter of Silas and Aurelia Bement, a native of Centerville, Crawford Co., Pa., born Jan. 29, 1855. March 15, 1875, Lola and Lulu, twin daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey ; also, June 21, 1877, John, and Dec. 26, 1882, Harry. The latter died Sept. 22, 1883. Lulu died Sept. 25, 1876.
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