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 19
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ohn F. Evans, farmer, section 20, Dayton Township, is a son of William and Ann (Biddle) Evans, natives of England, and was born in that country Sept. 8, 1815. He came to America in the fall of 1831, and lived in the city of New York one year, then went to Niagara County, where he lived until 1855. In the fall of that year he came with his family to Oceana Co., Mich., and purchased 160 acres of land. He afterward took up 40 acres adjoining, and had 100 acres under cultivation. He also owned 80 acres near by. He gave his three children 40 acres apiece, in Oceana County, and then sold the remainder of his land and came to Newaygo County in the spring of 1882, and traded for 40 acres of land where he now resides.
He was first married in Niagara Co., N. Y., to Mar- garet Tonks, a native of Erie Co., N. Y., and of Eng- lish parentage. They had 13 children, five only surviving, having lost by death four at one time and three at another. The names of the living are : Ann M., Charles, Franklin, Margaret E. and Rosa- belle; the deceased are Charlotte L., Sarah L., John F., Margaret E., William H., Mary, Joseph and Ed- win. Mrs. Evans died in March, 1880, and in July, 1880, Mr. Evans married Amanda A. Dutton, widow of David R. Dutton, who died in March, 1872, leav- ing five children : Frank P., Florence E., Florene
M., Eugene W. and Emigene D. (twins). Leslie M. died when six years old.
Mr. E. has held the office of Supervisor in Oceana County, and has been Justice of the Peace, Highway Commissioner and held various other offices. In politics he is a Democrat.
enry D. Clark, son of John and Dorcas (Sweet) Clark, was born in Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y., April 18, 1822. His parents were natives of New York, and moved from Seneca to Wayne County, where they lived six years, and where the father died; the mother then moved to Ohio, where she is still a resident. Henry D. Ieft home when 12 years of age and went to live with John De Mott, who was a Brigadier General in the war of 1812. He remained with him four years, going to school and doing chores, then went to the town of Lyons, Wayne County, and worked for his uncle on a farm during the summer season and attended school during the winter. He remained with his uncle four years, then went to Sen- eca Co., Ohio, with a cousin, for whom he worked two and a half years, clearing land, then went to Wyandot Co., Ohio, where he married Elmira Dunn, a native of Ohio. They lived here nearly three years, when Mrs. Clark died, leaving two children, Orral and Olive; the latter died when six months old. Two years subsequently, Mr. Clark married Barbara, daughter of Nicholas and Barbara Ish, all natives of Germany.
After his second marriage, Mr. Clark moved to Hillsdale Co., Mich., and purchased 80 acres of land, which he partly cleared and occupied five years, then sold out and went to Oceana County in September, 1855, his wife following him the next December. In the meantime he had built a good log house and had it in readiness when his wife came. The nearest railroad station was at Kalamazoo, and Mr. Clark was obliged to get his provisions at Newaygo and White Lake. He built the first house in Greenwood Township. In the fall of 1857 he returned to Ohio with his family, and rented a farm for which he paid $200 a year. His object in making this change was to obtain better school privileges. In fact, there
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was hardly a school-house in this section of the county at that time. Mr. Clark remained in Ohio eight years, and in the fall of 1865 again came to Oceana Co., Mich., and occupied the old log house he had built ten years previous. He lived in this house two years, then built a good frame house, which he now occupies. Two years afterward he built a fine barn, being at that time the largest barn in the State.
Although Mr. and Mrs. Clark have no children of their own, they have reared five that were without homes. Their names are : Alice Ish, Milford Hitchne, Mary Nelson, Minnie B. McCormick and Willard Greene. Minnie is their adopted daughter.
Mr. Clark is a Democrat. He never aspired to county or town offices, but takes a deep interest in educational matters and in all the reforms of the day. When he first came to this county the nearest voting place was 32 miles distant. He cut ten acres of wood where the town of Fremont now stands. He now owns 350 acres all in one body, and has 200 acres improved. He keeps over 30 head of Short- horn cattle, nine horses and a herd of sheep, and from 30 to 40 head of swine.
illiam H. Norton, farmer, section 1, Sher- idan Township, was born in Maine, Sept. 3, 1834. His parents were Samuel and Charlotte (Waugh) Norton, who were natives of Maine, where they still reside. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the Regular Army, serv- ing five years. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he was in San Francisco, Cal .; and in August, 1861, he enlisted in the Ist Reg. Cal. Vol. Inf., and served over three years. While stationed at Fort Yuma, Cal., he was injured in the back while on guard duty, which laid him up six months. His reg- iment was engaged most of the time in fighting Indians.
After his discharge he returned to the East, and in April, 1865, came to Newaygo County. The follow- ing May he came to Sheridan Township and pur- chased 73 acres of land, mostly wild, where he now resides : about 30 acres are under cultivation. He was married in Fremont Oct. 24, 1867, to Rose Ann
Pitman, of Dayton Township, and they have two children : Lincoln G. and Bradford S. Mrs. Norton died in February, 1874, and April 1, 1876, in Sheri- dan Township, he married Cornelia Knowlton, widow of William Douglas, who died in 1872, leaving five children : Ida M., Alice S., Mary S., Nettie B. and Ora D. Mr. Norton is a member of Henry Dobson Post, No. 182, G. A. R., at Fremont, and in politics is a National.
ashington Seaman, farmer, section 15, Ashland Township, was born in Cattarau- gus Co., N. Y., May 16, 1834. His par- ents, John and Lucretia (Willis) Seaman, were natives of New York and Massachusetts, of English and German descent. They came in 1842 to Hillsdale Co., Mich., where the father managed a farm ten years, during which time the son devoted all his spare moments to obtaining such education as the times and circumstances permitted.
His parents again decided to change their location and fixed on Casnovia as a desirable point, where ยท they went in the fall of 1852.
Mr. Seaman remained with his parents until 1854, when he went to Mecosta County and located on a farm containing 80 acres in the vicinity where now stands the beautiful city of Big Rapids, en- gaged in farming and extensive prosecution of lun)- ber interests. In the spring of 1867, he returned to Casnovia and operated there until the summer of 1870, when he came to Newaygo County. He lo- cated on 80 acres of heavily timbered land, where he has since devoted his time and energies to clearing and otherwise improving a home. His place is finely located and his recently constructed house cost about $1,500.
He was married Aug. 30, 1856, in Casnovia, to Sarah M., daughter of Drayton and Sophronia (Loomis) Moore, natives of Ohio. The daughter was born, Aug. 25, 1840, in Portage Co., Ohio. Her par- ents removed to De Kalb Co., Ind., when she was six years old, removing eight years later to Casnovia, where she continued her efforts to secure an educa- tion in the common schools until she was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Seaman are held in high esteem in
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their community as energetic, enterprising, valuable members of society. Both are members of the Bap- tist Church in full and regular standing. Their seven children are all living, born as follows : Arthur E., Dec. 29, 1858 ; Julia C., Aug. 30, 1860; Ella N., July 26, 1863 ; Martin L., April 5, 1867; Frank R., Feb. 4, 187 1 ; Milton M., Nov. 18, 1872; Effie D., April 11, 1880.
Mr. Seaman is an adherent of the Republican party and a fearless advocate of the prohibition movement. He is present Township Clerk, and has held the position of Supervisor and other offices. He belongs to Grange No. 545; P. of H., at Ashland Center.
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kolly W. Crawford, farmer, section 31, Sher- idan Township, is a native of Macomb Co., Mich., and was born June 24, 1837. His parents, David and Lydia (Farr) Crawford, were natives of New York, and settled in Macomb County in a very early day. They afterwards moved to Oakland County, where the father died, and the mother came to Fremont, this county, and afterward died. Holly W. was 12 years old when his parents removed to Oakland County. He lived there three years and then returned to Macomb County, where he lived until he obtained his majority, then went to Illinois and remained about three years.
In June, 1861, he enlisted in the 11th Ill. Inf. and served three years. He was wounded in the hand and shoulder in the battle of Fort Donelson, and re- ceived a furlough of two months. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., and returned to Ma- comb County, where he lived one year, and August, 1865, he came to Newaygo County and purchased 80 acres of wild land in Sheridan, in what was then Bridgeton Township, where he now lives, and has 50 acres under cultivation. He was married in Sheri- dan Township, in 1869, to Luella A., daughter of John and Sarah Nelson, natives of Ontario, Canada, and New York, respectively. She is a native of On- tario, Canada, where she was born Feb. 16, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are the parents of seven children : Rilla M., John C., Reuben E., Perrin H., Guy W., Lydia A. and Geo. N.
Mr. Crawford has held the office of Township
Clerk two years, Justice of the Peace 17 years and Supervisor one year. He was appointed Postmaster at Sitka in 1868, under P. M. Gen. Randall, and has since held that office. He is a staunch Republican.
eorge D. Overly, carpenter and joiner, and City Marshal, Hesperia, was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Sept. 29, 1844. His parents were Daniel and Mary A. (Glacon) Overly, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Ger- man-Scotch ancestry. When he was two and a half years old his parents moved to Wabash Co., Ind., and settled on a farm in Chester Township; and in 1856 they went to Miami County, same State, where George attended school. When the civil war broke out he enlisted, Sept. 13, 1861, in Co. D, 29th Reg. Ind. Inf., and joined the Army of the Cumber- land, commanded by Gen. Buell. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone Kiver, Chickamauga, and sev- eral minor ones, without receiving even a scratch, and was honorably discharged Oct. 11, 1864. He immediately returned home, and Feb. 1, 1865, he again enlisted in Co. A, 155th Reg. Ind. Inf., and joined the Eastern army ; but before he was called into action the war closed, and he was discharged at In- dianapolis, Aug. 12, 1865. Again returning home, he went to learn the carpenter's trade, under the instruc- tions of David Cooper, where he remained one year, then commenced to work for Jacob Harman, remain- ing two years. In Oct., 1870, he came to Michigan and settled in Hesperia, working at his trade, until 1877, then engaged in milling two years; after this he became proprietor of the Hesperian Hotel, which he has operated until quite recently ; he left the hotel to attend to his duties as City Marshal.
Sept. 14, 1873, Mr. Overly was married to Mary E. Greyson, daughter of Martin and Mary (Font) Grey- son, natives of North Carolina; they moved to In- diana, where her father finally died. She was born in Indiana, March 27, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Overly have had three children: George, born Sept. 12, 1874; Maggie, Nov. 25, 1876; Nellie, born Oct. 3, 1878, died May 1, 1880. Mr. O. is a staunch Re-
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publican ; is City Marshal, an office he fills very ac- ceptably, and is a member of the I. O. G. T., and Odd Fellows.
eter Daly, farmer, section 20, Denver Town- ship, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Agen) Daly, natives of Ireland and of Irish descent. He was born in the town of Gal- loway, Ireland, June 16, 1838. At the tender age of eight years, he and a younger sister came by themselves to America, landing at New York, June 28, 1844. Shortly afterward he went to Long Island to work on a farm for nine months, thence to Sara- toga County for a year, thence to New York city, where he engaged himself as cabin boy on a steamer. He remained here some time, and then, in company with his brother, came to Michigan and settled on a farm of timber land in what is now known as Climax Prairie, Kalamazoo County. They succeded in cul- tivating a farm that took the first premium at the State fair for five consecutive years. Mr. Daly then removed to Grand Rapids, where he was employed on the steamboat Empire, as steersman, on Grand River, until 1856, when he sailed on Lake Michigan one year. While on the lake he was accidentally thrown overboard one midnight in November, and almost miraculously rode the waves for 12 hours on a part of a bale of shingles, when he was finally picked up by a passing vessel. After this he came to White Lake, Muskegon County, where he has since been engaged as pilot during the summer season, and winters en- gaged as foreman in the camps of the pineries of this and Oceana Counties.
In 1867 Mr. Daly purchased 80 acres of land in Denver Township, which he has partly improved, and has since bought 90 acres more, partly under cultivation. Dec. 26, 1868, he was married, at White- hall, to Miss Annie L. Rossiter, daughter of Jere- miah and Bridget (Fortune) Rossiter, natives of Wex- ford, Ireland, where Anna was born, March 4, 1850. When 18 months old her parents emigrated to Lower Canada, and after three years came to Port Huron, Mich. Here she received her education, and afterwards came to Denver Township, where she has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Daly are the par-
ents of seven children : Maggie, born April 25, 1869; Katie, June 30, 1871; Nellie, Sept. 17, 1873; Anna S., May 24, 1876; John, April 11, 1878 ; Jennie, Aug. 15, 1881 ; Bessie M., born Jan. 20, 1868, died April 3, 1868. They are active members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. D. has held the office of School Director and Postmaster for 13 years, and in politics is a Republican.
ndrew Gerber, tanner, Fremont, was born in Valparaiso, Ind., Aug. 6, 1856. His (a parents, Daniel and Rebecca (Comfort) Ger- ber, were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Michigan about the year 1863, settling in Douglas, Allegan County, where they now reside. Andrew attended the Presbyterian and Methodist Colleges at Valparaiso, and afterward attended the High School at Douglas. He remained at home un- til he was of age, then came to Fremont, and was admitted into the firm of D. Gerber & Sons, tanners, having previously had charge of his father's tannery about three years. Mr. Gerber was married in Fre- mont, May 13, 1883, to Sarah Mallery. He is a member of the F. & A. M., K. of H., and Order of Chosen Friends. In politics he is independent.
homas H. Stuart, farmer, section 6, Gar- field Township, was born in Washington, Macomb Co., Mich., Sept. 26, 1829, and is the son of Wilkes L. and Frances (Hopkins) Stuart. When he was 12 years old his father went to Tyrone, Livingston County, and took charge of 1,000 acres of timber land belonging to John A. Wells, Cashier of the Farmers & Mechanics' Bank, of Detroit, where the family resided seven years, clearing 100 acres.
In 1845, Mr. W. L. Stuart bought 100 acres of wild land in Hartland Township in the same county, and lying adjacent. He retained the place but a short time and went to Cambria, Hillsdale County, where he bought 40 acres of land, and by additional
Orvin Headley
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purchases increased his farm to 160 acres. In 1856 he sold out and came to Newaygo County, ac- companied by his son, Thomas H., where, in com- pany with Daniel Weaver, he bought 320 acres of land on the present site of Fremont Center and east of that village. Under the regulations of the Home- stead Act they could not hold the land in partnership, and it was consequently divided, Mr. Weaver taking the portion now constituting the village site. The entire tract was wild and covered with the primeval forest. Mr. Stuart and his companion made their way from Newaygo through unbroken woods, cutting their road as they advanced. On arrival they cleared a small space and built a cabin of logs, 18 x 24 feet in dimensions, on the present site of the residence of William Webber. The structure was occupied the succeeding winter by James B. Mallory and wife, Mrs. Stringham, Samuel and Henry Shupe and Philip Weaver, who kept open house for all new comers. Mr. Mallory built his house in the spring. Mr. Stuart, his son and Mr. Weaver returned to Hillsdale County for the winter. In the spring Mr. Stuart removed his family, consisting of his wife and three sons, to the new home.
On arrival in Newaygo County, Thomas H. Stuart bought 160 acres of land adjoining the farm where he now resides, located on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 36 of town 13, range 14 west, where he built a house and resided about two years. In 1858 he went back to Hillsdale and passed one year, returning afterwards to his farm, where he cleared 50 acres, and resided until 1865, when he exchanged his farnr for the Mateva Hotel at Newaygo. He managed the house about 18 months, when he again exchanged his property with his father for 80 acres of land where he is now located. Only ten acres of this was under improvement at that time, but he now has 60 acres under cultivation with good residence, barns, orchards, etc., upon it.
Mr. Stuart has accepted his share of the respons- ibilities of public life in the county. He was Su- pervisor of the old township of Fremont one year, served 12 years as Justice of the Peace in Sherman Township, and filled the same position in Garfield Township after its re-organization. He has been Township Clerk several times and is at present High- way Commissioner, which office he has filled several years. He was one of the organizers of the Grange, No. 494 at Fremont, in which he has held all the
important offices. He was also one of the organi- zers of Pomona Grange, No. 11, at Newaygo, where he is an active worker in the interests of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Stuart was married in Reading, Hillsdale Co .. Mich., to Sarah. A., daughter of Matthew and Sarah Mallory, and a native of the State of New York. Their two children, Wilkes C. and Mary A., were born on the first farm in (now) Dayton Township. The son married Mary Du Bois and resides at home. The daughter has been a teacher since she was 16 years old, and is now a student in the Literary De- partment of the Normal School of Michigan.
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rvin Headley, farmer, section 35, Ashland Township, was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1831, and is the son of John and Celia (Coburn) Headley. His parents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. They were of German descent, and when the son was in his sixth year they removed to De Kalb Co., Ind. The father there engaged in farming and educated his children in accordance with his means and the facilities afforded by the locality and period.
Mr. Headley was married June 12, 1853, in De Kalb Co., Ind., to Julia A., daughter of Drayton and Sophronia (Loomis) Moore. Her parents were born in Massachusetts and New York and were of Puri- tan lineage. Mrs. Headley was born Jan. 7, 1834, in Portage Co., Ohio, and while she was yet an in- fant her parents removed to Medina Co., Ohio, and from there to De Kalb County. She secured a good education and was engaged a number of years in teaching in Indiana, and continued to follow the pro- fession for two years after coming to Michigan. The family includes an adopted daughter. Minta A. Co- burn, born July 4, 1869. Her parents were Orson and Ann (Headley) Coburn. Mr. and Mrs. Headley belong to the religious denomination known as Christians and hold their membership at Bailey.
In 1854, Mr. Headley came to Michigan. He moved his entire earthly outfit, consisting of his wife. household effects and farm stock. The locomotive power consisted of an ox-team and the journey con-
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sumed 12 days. (He has since made the entire trip between " sun and sun.") He settled first in Mus- kegon County, occupying the cabin which had been the home of Dr. Tatman, a name well-known in Ne- waygo County. During the first year he was en- gaged at chopping in the woods, and his wife taught school. He bought a farm under the Graduation Act. (This statutory provision related to Govern- ment lands which had been in market for various periods with reference to which it had been con- structed. The prices for such lands varied in accord- ance with the time; those longest in market were offered at twenty-five cents an acre, and they were graded upwards to one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre.) Mr. Headley arranged for the purchase of a tract of 40 acres in Ashland, at 75 cents per acre. This land was situated in so dense a wilderness that he was obliged to cut a road thereto. He cleared a piece of land of brush whereon to set his house, and devoted all the time he could spare to the improve- ment of his place, his leisure for that purpose being regulated by the question of supplying the necessaries of life. He was in vigorous health, with a disposition to work, and found his resources in plentiful demand among neighbors who had more money than available strength ; and he worked at clearing land until he had sufficiently improved his own property to sustain his family. The prosperity of Newaygo County is no mystery to an observer who considers what the ne- cessities of its early settlers really were and all the privation and hardship they entailed, and the class of men who brought victory from such conditions. The generation of to-day would stand appalled if one simple condition of that period prevailed-that of obtaining supplies from remote points-even with the present facilities. The contrast proves the value of time and strength in the development of a new country, and that money may not always be a necessary means. Probably the most supreme mo- ment of disgust experienced by Alexander Selkirk was that in which he discovered the nugget of gold and realized its intrinsic worthlessness. It is a sig- nificant fact that they who were compelled to carry supplies from Grand Rapids until their land became sufficiently productive to be made sustaining, feel so well compensated by their achievements that those . days of effort have sunk to comparative nothingness, and it is certain that their cheerful, even joyous, re- cital of their experiences convey no impression of
suffering or struggle. To his original purchase, Mr. Headley has added 60 acres, and has 40 acres under fine improvement.
Mr. Headley is a Republican in political belief and action. He ranks high in the esteem of his towns- men and has accepted the duties and responsibilities of many official positions. He has been Township Treasurer 13 succeeding years and is holding his sec- ond incumbency as Supervisor; is also Assessor and Treasurer of his school district, a position he has held 12 years. He belongs to the Order of Good Templars and is connected with Lodge No. . 369, of Ashland, in which body he occupies the position of Lodge Deputy.
As a representative pioneer agriculturist of Ne- waygo County, the portrait of Mr. Headley is pre- sented in this work.
argaret E. Tibbitts, resident on section 28, Denver Township, was born in De Kalb Co., Ind., March 9, 1845. Her par- ents, John and Mary (Warren) Milliman, were natives of New England. They lived in Cleveland, Ohio, several years, and afterward moved to Indiana. Margaret was educated in her native State, and remained at home until her mar- riage, Oct. 4, 1864, to James Brownlee. Just pre- vious to this event . Mr. Brownlee had been in the army. While there, he contracted the measles, . which terminated in the quick consumption, from which he died May 14, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. He belonged to Co. A, 9th Ind. Inf., but was not in any battle, owing to disability.
Sept. 4, 1868, Mrs. Brownlee married Shepard Tibbitts, of Fremont, this county. He was a son of Arza and Adaline (Shattuck) Tibbitts, natives of Brown Co., Ont., where he was born, April 8, 1825. He came to this State in 1851, after having spent some time in Vermont and New York. Very soon after marriage they settled on a farm of 160 acres of timbered land in Denver Township. This land is now in a good state of cultivation, with a residence upon it, built at a cost of $1,500. Mr. Tibbitts died at his home March 3, 1882, leaving four children and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. He had
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led an honest, active life and was highly respected by all who knew him. He was buried with Masonic honors. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbitts had six children : Jennie, born July 16, 1869; Willard, Nov. 12, 1871; Bertha A., March 28, 1876; John A., Oct. 17, 1877 ; Bertie, born Aug. 19, 1873, died Sept. 24, 1873 ; an- other child also died in infancy.
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